wfn.org | CWS Intends to See School Safe Zones Across Sub-Saharan Africa

[Worldwide Faith News <wfn@igc.org>]

KENYAN GOVERNMENT, CHURCH WORLD SERVICE DELIVER FIRST SEED GRANTS TO PILOT
SCHOOLS IN SCHOOL SAFE ZONES INITIATIVE

CONTACTS: Ann Walle/CWS/New York,
 (212) 870-2654, e-mail: awalle@churchworldservice.org

Jan Dragin/New York/Boston ­ 24/7,
(781) 925-1526, e-mail: jdragin@gis.net

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

KENYAN GOVERNMENT, CHURCH WORLD SERVICE DELIVER FIRST SEED GRANTS TO PILOT
SCHOOLS IN SCHOOL SAFE ZONES INITIATIVE

School Fences for Security, Clean Water, Sanitation, Desks Top List for 10
Pilot Schools

CWS Intends to See School Safe Zones Across Sub-Saharan Africa

NAIROBI, KENYA ­ Thurs March 17­ If a national task force in Kenya has its
way, boys and girls in that country will be able to go to school without
fear of violence or rape and will find adequate school supplies, clean
water, sanitary facilities and a solid meal every day.

That was the message this morning as officials distributed the first seed
grants to ten public primary schools in Kenya, heralding the formal launch
of an ambitious School Safe Zones initiative that promises to deliver
security and better facilities and learning resources in public schools
across that nation.

And it¹s a program its founders designed to eventually spread across other
sub-Saharan countries.

This morning Kenyan Education Ministry officials distributed Kshs. 1.1
MILLION (US$14,700) in startup checks to the program¹s ten pilot schools, in
an event at Kawangware Primary School that attracted students, parents and
educators from Kawangware District, Kenyan government officials, local
authorities, regional religious leaders, UNICEF¹s Country Director for
Kenya, and representatives from UN HABITAT and other non-governmental
organizations.

Global agency Church World Service, who conceived the program, contributed
funds for the seed grants.

In a country that has embraced public education in recent years but is faced
with increased school dropouts, violence and lack of adequate facilities,
School Safe Zones Kenya is initially aimed at building security and school
resources for students in the country¹s public primary schools.

Kenya¹s Assistant Minister of Education Hon. Beth Mugo told the gathering,
"Communities must reclaim their important role of good stewardship in
ensuring that ?it takes a village to raise a child¹.

" Issues like truancy in schools, hunger among poverty stricken children and
rapes need not be taken lightly," said Mugo.

The School Safe Zones initiative has been in planning stages for the past
two years, between its founder international humanitarian agency Church
World Service (CWS), CWS¹ East Africa office in Nairobi, the Kenyan
government and Ministry of Education, and a national task force formed to
guide and help implement the effort.

" All of us must be alert and be able to identify obstacles and barriers
that have the potential to interrupt the education process," Mugo said.

Initial School Safe Zone funds to the pilot schools will focus on what have
been determined as immediate priority needs, such as fencing and perimeter
walls to provide safety, classroom rehabilitation including desks and
teaching aids, sanitation facilities and water storage, and advocacy for
girls to attend school.

School Safe Zones¹ first beneficiaries include Kawangware, Mutuini and Wangu
Primary Schools in Nairobi; AIC Girls Rescue Center, Paranae; Moipei and KMQ
(Kenya Mines Quarry) Primary Schools in Kajiado District; and Mjini,
Kiangage and Gikandu Primary Schools in Muranga District.

According to Kenya¹s School Safe Zones National Task Force Chair Dr. Agnes
Abuom, stakeholders say they want all schools in Kenya to have reached
School Safe Zone status by the end of 2015.

Church World Service Initiating U.S. Fundraising Campaign, Partnerships to
Accelerate School Safe Zones¹ Success

CWS¹ Chief Development Officer Peter Crouch says the agency is mounting a
broad fundraising campaign and search for School Safe Zone partnerships. As
part of CWS¹ multi-year Africa Initiative, Crouch says the School Safe Zones
program has already received commitments for nearly $80,000.

School Safe Zones for Africa is the vision of Church World Service Executive
Director Rev. John L. McCullough, an African American who worked in Kenya
earlier in his career. "The program is a community model," says McCullough.
"The work plan for each school was developed and certified in consultation
with parents, community, the national task force, and ministry of education
officials. It¹s our vision to see all schools across Africa safe and a place
for solid education and at least one good meal a day."

Kenya¹s Churches Supporting Public School Effort

While focused now on Kenya¹s public school system, the country¹s churches
and ecumenical organizations, historically serving as de facto NGOs, are at
the frontlines in the program¹s development.

"Unrests and strikes in schools, as well as incidents of drug and substance
abuse are clear indicators of inappropriate learning environment," said
National Council of Churches of Kenya (NCCK) General Secretary Rev Mutava
Musyimi at today¹s ceremony in Kawangware.

"The School Safe Zones agenda offers all of us a chance to work together in
enhancing the ability to close the gaps in education (caused) by the factors
that mitigate against access to education. "

Musyimi said Kenya¹s churches are  "ready to accompany the initiative right
through the community level, taking advantage of our strategic niche and
instituting pastoral care and moral values to pupils and students.

"This initiative is very well in line with the historical mission of the
Church in promoting education as a service to God¹s people," he said.

" If we can guarantee healthy and nutritious meals during each school day,"
Mugo noted,  "prompt treatment for any illness detected, provide well
maintained premises with safe water and sanitation facilities, safe
buildings and spiritual upbringing, then our children will achieve their
basic education as a requirement."

Church World Service is a global humanitarian agency and cooperative
ministry of 36 Protestant, Orthodox, and Anglican denominations, providing
sustainable self-help and development, disaster relief, advocacy and refugee
assistance worldwide.

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