January 2008

New Books for the New Year

A grant has been received from the "Libraries Without Borders" program of the BC Libraries Association to purchase books for one of our new community libraries (part of the 4 schools being built with matching funds from CIDA). This grant will be combined with donations received through our gift catalog to provide primary school students, adult education learners, and community members with access to high quality, culturally-appropriate literature and textbooks for the first time in the community's history. Asante sana!

Post-Election Violence in Kenya

This monthly update is two weeks overdue. Not from lack of effort, but lack of knowing what to say. As we greeted a new year full of hope, our friends in Kenya were seeing their hopes dashed in anger, violence, and betrayal of the democracy they have worked so hard to achieve and to believe in. What message do we at ACCES have to send out to the world on this very day that public protests across the country may lead to more violence?

First, we can answer the many donors who have been calling in to the office to find out what's happening in Kenya, and how it is affecting our students. As of this writing (Jan.16), all of our staff, board members, and volunteers are safe, and we have had no reports of any students being hurt. Our primary schools have not yet opened, and the secondary and university students are slowly returning to school in accordance with their schedules.

We can tell you from first-hand reports that Kakamega did not escape the violence that affected most of the country. Stores and market stalls were burned, people were hurt, and over 3,000 people are still camped out at the police station for safety. For days it was unsafe to go out into the street, and food scarcity became a problem as stores and the market were closed.

We can assure you that the work of ACCES continues. When (and only when) it was safe to return to the office, the ACCES staff held a long meeting to assess the effects on our programs. There may be delays, increased prices, and changes in schedules to achieve our ambitious 2008 plans, but our staff are committed to continuing to serve the youth and communities we promised to work with.

But most of all, we can tell you that the work of ACCES is making a difference. Education is the cornerstone for the long-term changes that are needed to prevent this type of tragedy from repeating itself in the future.

Beth Scott, our founder, has often said that ACCES is a development agency, not a relief agency. As we identify students and community members in need of relief (food, shelter, medicine) we will refer them to the many other great organizations doing that important work. In the meantime, we will continue our long-term support for the deep societal change that comes about through education, and that will empower the people of Kenya to create their own stability and end to poverty.

How do we know that it makes a difference? Last year our CIDA-sponsored intern James Haga surveyed 200 of our 760 ACCES graduates and reported the measurable results of their education. There are many stats, but the following demonstrate the tangible ways in which education is allowing Kenyans to become involved leaders in their community and society:

In the midst of a sea of despairing emails and news stories last week, I learned about Rachel Wambui Kungu, an extraordinarily creative peaceworker living in Kangemi Slum District, Nairobi. In response to the burning of a church in Eldoret, she organized a Peace Caravan of young Kenyans from diverse tribes to engage people in Peace dialogue through creative art, theatre, and a parade through the town.

If a young woman like Rachel can lead such a revolution for Peace, imagine what 760 ACCES grads can do. Imagine what 1,200 primary students can do. Imagine what your support is doing.

Thank you for your hope. Thank you for caring. Thank you for being part of the long road to Peace and reconciliation - through education.