St. Elizabeth High School
St. Elizabeth High School was established as a makeshift school in the Eldoret showground IDP camp in 2008 following post-election violence that displaced thousands.
A number of humanitarian organisations coerced the Kenyan government into supporting the opening of the school, which had an immediate enrollment of over 3000 displaced children. Mr Paul N’gethe was appointed Director, his former school having been burnt down during the troubles. UNICEF paid volunteer teachers for a period of 6 months.
With the start of “Operation Rudi Nyumbani,” or “Operation Go Home,” in May 2008, all IDP makeshift schools were ordered to close, despite a continued volatile situation on the ground. Director Paul N’gethe acquired 1.5 acres of land on which to continue the school facility.
Since its inception in September 2008, St. Elizabeth High School has continually faced a number of challenges that include the provision of staff salaries, classroom equipment, school uniforms, text books, electricity and a lunch programme. Where parents struggle to meet the associated costs, the school has found alternative ways to provide for the students, largely by depending on well wishers.
Kenya Aid Programme visited St. Elizabeth School for the first time in December 2009. At this point the school had an enrolment of 412 students, with a projected growth to 500 throughout 2010. We were also able to visit the neighbouring transition camp which continues to be home to the majority of students following the post-election violence. The school subsequently hopes to be able to provide boarding facilities to students in the future.
Since our initial visit to the school in 2009, Kenya Aid Programme has welcomed the opportunity to assist St. Elizabeth High School with the installation of electricity. The installation and wiring of electricity by The Kenya Power & Lighting Company Limited (KPLC) will improve the learning environment for existing students, as well as opening up a number of possibilities for the future, such as computer learning.
