KCWCG AND KEEP COLLABORATION PROVIDES PROTECTION FOR SCHOOL CHILDREN DURING COVID TIMES
With the COVID 19 pandemic still hovering at our doorsteps and being a major concern in the world, education remains a basic need for children hence the focus and efforts towards controlling COVID 19 in the large population of students in schools. This has been the main aim of both the government and other concerned parties.
Considering the fact that even without the pandemic students with disabilities needed special care, this pandemic has made their life even more delicate and so they needed some extra attention which was not being given to them. This is what informed the efforts by Mr. Maurice Wanjala the founder of Kipsaina Crane and Wetland Conservation Group (KCWCG) to step in and find ways to mitigate the situation for the disabled students, being a priority, and also other students who cannot afford masks.
Mr Maurice Wanjala approached Barnard Castle school of United Kingdom through Kipsaina Education and Environment Partnership (KEEP) and asked them to facilitate him in making of reusable face masks for the students. Lucky enough he got the help and was able to produce over 10,000 reusable face masks which was a huge relief especially to the needy students.
Mr. Wanjala was able to distribute the masks to the students at the following schools each student getting at least 2 masks.
- ·St. Antony’s School of the deaf Webuye
- Nalondo Primary School of the physically challenged
- St. Patrick’s High School Kipsaina
- Kipsaina Primary School
- Matili High School
- Fr. Toror Primary School
- Kapsisiywa Primary School
- Kapsisiywa High School
- Sirinoi Primary School
- Sirinoi High School
- Sinyerere Primary School
- St. Christopher’s Girls Secondary School
The idea was well received by the schools as teachers said that was really what they needed at this time since most students could not afford a mask and yet it was a requirement. Anyone looking at the kids would sense a great relief. They felt motivated and new vigour to attend classes as there was an assured protection. Smiles could be felt, although covered by the masks, their eyes spoke a lot. Both the students and teachers were so happy and grateful as they said that was a prayer answered.
“Smiles could be felt, although covered by the masks, their eyes spoke a lot.”
Despite the high level of success of this process, there were some arising matters as most neighbouring school students also were in need of the masks and even pleaded to be given at least one, yet the masks were not enough to cover them. Also considering the situation of their homes, most of the students come from families that live below a dollar a day budget hence some said they needed extra masks for their siblings’ and parents’ protection of which the available masks could not cover. Therefore, there is need to step in and extend the same helping hand to the parents and the society around them at large just to ensure increased protection for them. The cost of making the reusable masks was also high making it a challenge to produce more due to lack of enough funds.
“Finally, as we all understand, face masks alone do not guarantee enough protection against the virus, students also need hand washing points to enhance protection hence more support is needed. It remains to be a consistent need and more donors and donations will go a long way to ensure not only the more vulnerable students are protected but also other students, their families, and the society at large who are also in equal need. This will ensure control of the virus in the entire society. “
Sharon Wanjala of KCWCG
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