educatenotmutilate

Mpirrishi Primary School is located in Kajiado County, Keekonyokie Central, Kisamis Zone, about 90 km southwest of Nairobi and about 20 km from Oltepesi Trading Centre.

There are currently 217 students enrolled, 107 girls and 110 boys. Enclosed is the number of students per class:

Class	Girls	Boys	Total
Pre-Primary 1	20	15	35
Pre-Primary 2	33	21	54
Grade 1	15	20	35
Grade 2	10	11	21
Grade 3	14	7	21
Grade 4	6	7	13
Grade 5	1	11	12
Grade 6	4	6	10
Grade 7	5	6	11
Grade 8	2	3	5
Total	110	107	217

Several conclusions can be drawn from the student numbers. From the 4th grade on, the number of girls per class decreases dramatically. The reason for this is called FGM (Female Genital Mutilation), the girls are mutilated and thus considered women and marriageable. Also, from about 10 years on, the number of students also decreases, as they are then old enough to take care of them.

The absentee rate is high. There are several reasons for this:

1. illnesses especially with smaller children

2. necessity to look after the animals of the parents, especially in times of drought

3. distance from school

4. lack of food in the family

The water supply of the school depends on the rainfall. Due to the drought that has now lasted for more than four years, the parents have to pay for it. However, since the parents are already burdened by the death of their animals and the ongoing famine, it is almost an impossibility for them.

There is no aid program for the Mperrishi Primary School so that the children can get something to eat at school. Students arrive at school hungry after a long walk to school without breakfast. Hungry, thirsty and tired, they are then almost unable to attend classes.

Many students also do not come to school at all now because they are looking for a plant whose seeds are eaten by goats and the bitter tasting plant is chewed by people against thirst.

Since 2021, the WeCare-Association has been a regular visitor to Mperrishi. We have repaired one of the two existing water tanks there and purchased two more 5,000-liter tanks. Since the beginning of 2023, the school has been supplied with 20,000 liters of water per month. Since we have been regularly supplying water and food to the school, the number of students who regularly attend the school has increased. 

These are members of the Maasai tribe, who are traditionally herders and live from cattle breeding. A large proportion of them are women and children, as the Maasai still live polygamously. Men marry up to 10 women and there is no form of birth control. There are about 500 bomas (mud huts) there.

There is no medical care in Mperrishi. The nearest health center is 20 km away.

The nearest shopping opportunity is also a three-hour walk (one way!) away.

We are currently the only organization that comes regularly to bring water and food and to do education about FGM.

During our visit in November 2022 we noticed the desolate condition of the school. The classrooms are made of corrugated iron that heats up under the sun. They are in terrible condition and snakes are often encountered in the classes and ants build their piles there during the vacations. Termites eat the textbooks.

The long arduous journey to school, hunger and thirst also have a negative impact on the performance of the students. Enclosed is the overview of the performance of the six oldest girls from grades 7 and 8 supported by us. The last three girls have been attending secondary school since the beginning of February 2023, where they also live. We are sure that this will have a positive impact on the girls’ school performance.

Name	Term 1/22	Term 2/22	Term 3/22	Development Term 3/Term 2 (in %)
L. Florence	289	285	267	-6
L. Emily	282	249	231	-7
Y. Victoria	247	237	229	-3
S. Rhodah	291	257	239	-7
N. Emily	283	283	256	-10
S. Abigail	302	268	221	-18

Unfortunately, the picture is similar for the girls in the lower classes. The grading here is done according to a new system, since in Kenya a change of the curriculum and thus also of the grading system is currently underway.

Name	Term 1/22	Term 2/22	Term 3/22
S. Lilian	23	18	18
S. Sylvia	31	27	28
T. Rose	31	26	not available
K. Joy	27	24	not available
L. Susan	24	22	23
S. Purity	7	7	7

Rose and Joy attended 6th grade last school year and their results are not yet available due to the system change.

Purity’s poor performance is due to her almost complete blindness. We have also already discussed her case with several ophthalmologists in Switzerland. She would need a corneal transplant to be able to see again. Unfortunately, given Purity’s circumstances, this is not possible.

Purity eye of Purity Her vision is unfortunately very poor!

We are currently clarifying with Agnes Gitonga whether there is a perspective for Purity somewhere.

Of all three schools we had visited on our trip to Kenya, Mperrishi is really the worst off. It is imperative that we secure a water supply for 2023.  This is not a final solution to the problem, but at least for now it is a viable solution. The presence of water in the school is also a strong motivating factor for parents to send their children to school.

The water deliveries and the support of the girls through the WeCare Association should encourage the other girls and the whole population to renounce FGM. During our visit, we had contact with the circumciser, who also acts as a midwife. We brought her disinfectant, disposable gloves and disposable blades for births and held out the prospect that we would take over the education of her youngest daughter in return for her no longer performing mutilations.

We are looking for sponsors for a well project for Mperrishi, in order to be able to secure the permanent water supply for the nearly 5,000 people living there.

We are asking for donations for our water project in Mperrishi and guarantee that every cent goes directly to the project, as all administrative expenses are covered by a private donation.