Minutes:
TRUSTS FOR AFRICAN SCHOOLS
MINUTES OF MEETING OF TRUSTEES ON 6
MARCH 2023 AT FLADGATE, GREAT QUEEN ST.
Present:
in person: Luke Morris,
Will Jones, Gill Marshall-Andrews
On line:
Sangdeep Bakhshi, Tom
Marshall-Andrews, Johnnie Morris, Douglas Pinto, Norma Empringham, Lissa Campbell, Stephen Kameti.
Apologies: Ben Taylor
1.Minutes of the meeting on 21 November 2022 were agreed.
2. Matters arising
GAWPT’s work in
Kora National Park is continuing at
pace. Lucy Fitzjohn and her son Mukka are
leading on this and working with Stephen Kameti, the Kenya Wildlife Service, County and National governments to build up
the infrastructure in the park, particularly around Kampi y Simba. This will be GAWPT’s base for the foreseeable
future.
3. School and
country update
GMA and Stephen
presented Stephen’s report which gave an update on Kenya and the
schools. The drought throughout Kenya is
awful with consequences for children’s education and families’ survival. Everyone is hoping for a return of El Nino
next month.
The
introduction of the new CBC (Competency
Based Curriculum) has been chaotic. The first Junior Secondary class 7 was to
have been located in secondary schools but quite suddenly this changed to
primary schools. So primary schools are
struggling with a new curriculum, crowded classrooms and an injection of
secondary trained teachers. Future
arrangements are unclear.
Key points concerned:
Mitamysi Secondary School The
school is progressing well now with two full classes in Years 9 and 10. The number on roll is now around 80 and
recruitment is ongoing. The school management seems fairly
stable. Funding for an educational trip
and a library can now be re-started.
Asako
Primary The new borehole for Kora Secondary School has now
been located in the Primary School compound and the solar pump is operational. Piping
to the secondary school has been installed and a tank and piping for the
primary school will shortly be in place.
This means that both schools will have access to good quality water. Asako’s new fence is excellent, and trees
and a garden are already being planted.
Kora Secondary
School is taking the lead
in planning a regional debating competition centred on conservation. It is hoped this will encourage an awareness
of the National Park and GAWPT’s conservation work.
Kaseluni
Primary The
girls dormitory is finished and bunk beds for 80 students are in place.. Solar lighting is the next project.
Boka
Primary The excellent
headteacher is now in charge of setting up a new secondary school
nearby. Solar power to the staff area is
the next project.
El Rar Primary This school remains a real challenge. Several motivational projects have been
discussed eg holding a monthly ‘party’ for students who attend regularly. Also a printer which can be hired out to the
local community thus making money to buy cartridges and encouraging parents
into the school.
4. Banking and
accounts Sangdeep presented
the accounts which showed a balance of £101k in the UK account. Of this only £18 is unrestricted.
Sangdeep
reported that we are still able to transfer funds via World First at the moment
but he is still looking at alternative
agencies eg XE and GoodFX.
At Douglas’
suggestion we are progressively closing the sub accounts at Karui Ltd in
Nairobi. This will leave all funding
coming through the main account being initiated by Douglas and approved by GMA.
5. Proposals
for funding
It was agreed
that we re-start funding for Mitamysi with the library and a trip. Also agreed were some small initiatives at El
Rar to encourage enrolment and attendance.
The funds sent for a banda after the last meeting will be re-directed to
these projects.
Two donors are
considering projects at Eburru Primary
(water tank )and El Rar Primary (borehole). When/if these funds arrive they will be sent
out straight away.
6. Possible
trustees visit to schools
It was agreed
that the timing for this proposed visit be changed to Jan/Feb 2024. Will has negotiated an amazing deal with Elsa’s Kopje the luxury lodge in
Meru National Park for a grand finale to the trip! Transport and other arrangements will be
handled by Stephen and Gill so the total cost shouldn’t be too high. More detail to follow.
7. AOB
There was a
discussion about a new enterprise using waste plastic to make bricks. GMA will investigate this in the light of the
horrific littering in Boka.
8. Next meeting
27 June 2023.
The next meeting will be on Tuesday 27 June to coincide with
Stephen’s visit to UK. Venue to be decided - maybe at the Conduit Club with a dinner
afterwards to welcome Stephen.
Please keep this date free. More details to follow.
