Fred Afwai and the GEF Kenya Program
Fred Afwai understands how difficult the situation is for orphans in Nairobi, growing up as one himself. He also understands what a difference education can make to the future of orphans. Through the help of others, Fred was given the opportunity to attend school and become what he is today, a humanitarian leader championing for education within a network of orphanages and non-formal schools. "I am a helpful person in the community because someone helped me become what I am." Because of his integrity and determination, many community organizations look to him for guidance.
In the summer of 2007, Executive Director Liz Berry visited Kenya to better understand the educational challenges faced by the country's 2.5 million orphaned children. Fred Afwai was one of the many Kenyans who welcomed Liz and educated her about the plight of Kenya's most vulnerable children through visits to orphanage homes and schools across the country. The goal of the trip was to determine how GEF could make a difference by empowering local leaders to create their own solutions for vulnerable children. Liz said, "Fred's deep commitment to children, his community-based experience, and his shared vision, particularly for a scholarship program rooted in community service, made him a natural choice as a partner." Fred has become an integral part of the team, joining as the Director of GEF Kenya to help develop and oversee all of GEF's work in Kenya. A combination of programs is underway to address educational needs at multiple levels. A Leadership Program provides secondary school scholarships for young people who lack the funds required for high school, with a preference for young women and orphans. Participants gain leadership skills through community service and GEF sponsored events. "We are not just talking of sponsoring children, but also grooming leaders that will help other people," Fred has said about the GEF Leadership Program.
GEF will also support orphaned children through the development of libraries in orphanage homes across Kenya. The GEF libraries are stocked with a rich assortment of reading material for children who have often never had a book of their own. Fred states "Kenya has a poor reading culture…we are encouraging people to read." Fred describes the library books as "treasure" and believes that "education offers little compared to what one can learn through books!"
In addition, GEF is partnering with Kenyan publishing companies to provide local language textbooks and teacher training for schools that serve orphans and destitute children in the slums of Nairobi. GEF has provided many students with their first ever textbooks. These textbooks, along with professional teacher training, have greatly improved the quality of instruction in these resource-deprived schools.
In November 2007, Fred and his wife Alice visited the United States for the first time. In addition to visiting friends in other parts of the U.S., Fred and Alice spent time in Boulder, working with GEF staff to further refine the Kenya program, meeting supporters and speaking at a GEF event. "This trip has given me confidence in selecting our first group to benefit from our sponsorship program. I am very glad to be part of GEF. We have come back with hope for students to realize their dreams. "
Since Fred's and Alice's visit to Boulder, Kenya was thrown into countrywide turmoil after disputed elections in late December 2007. Despite the difficult times, GEF Kenya has made progress, which is a testament to Fred's determination to make the programs succeed. Correspondence with Fred highlights some of the challenges: "I was unable to get to the bank today due to rioting in the streets;" “I was unable to send the scholarship applications because companies have stopped their mail service due to their buses being set on fire because of the election chaos."
Despite this difficult environment, 47 students have been selected for the Leadership Program and are attending school. Libraries have been established in three orphanages and a rural school, with additional shipments on the way. Brand new textbooks awaited children at the opening of the new Candlelight School in the Kiyole slum. Thanks to Fred Afwai and the support of GEF's donors and volunteers, GEF will continue to make a difference in the lives of vulnerable children in Kenya. As Fred said, "I remember reading somewhere that a good husband and father is known by the kind of family he has raised. I believe GEF will be known by the kind of citizens we will raise."