The Key to Graduation

Hi friends. My post today is one of asking for your help--- I usually like to bring updates and happy thoughts, but now is a crucial time at Sud Academy. Last Friday was the closing ceremony of school for the holidays. It was a great day of festivities as students were awarded for academic & leadership excellence. After the ceremony, I held a meeting with the Gr. 11 students to chat about the new school year that begins in January.

Our issue is that we do not have Gr. 12, and thus a graduating class at Sud Academy. Gr. 12 requires us to have a lab, and proper facilities to prepare the students for standardized exams at the end of the school year. In order to graduate, they must pass this exam, and it is heavily based on the sciences.

UP & DOWN: Grade 12 hopefuls & I met on closing day.

In September, I encouraged the 24 Form 4 hopefuls to work hard, despite not knowing if they'd have the chance to enter Gr. 12. I told them last Friday that the lab still isn't a reality, but that I was now very confident that by next year, it would be. They listened respectfully and when they spoke their message was clear--- we are their only hope and they will wait, as they have no choice, for our solution. They are brilliant students who know all about life struggles and challenges- they understand this is a giant hurdle. I said I didn't know when, or with what money, but that I knew it would come. But we need your help.

UP: Form 3 (Gr.11) student Akol studying outside his class, where the air is fresher!

DOWN: The Top 3 Form 3 Students: William Deng, Mayar Aketch, and Joseph Deng hope to continue their academic excellence next year.

So many of you have already shown interest, even excitement about helping these students make it through the final leg of their tumultuous, extraordinarily difficult but truly honourable quest for education. Now it's time for action, and we must help these kids succeed.

We've raised just over 25% of the total project cost. A science lab, classroom, 2 teachers, books, science materials, electricity, and the furniture for these rooms will cost in the neighbourhood of $20, 000 CAD and time is of the essence. I encourage those of you who are inspired in any way, shape or form to please act now. We can get this science lab up and running by the end of the holidays with some help from Santa and all his little elves! My email is kelleejacobs@gmail.com, and my Mom the fundraiser in Canada's is susan@personalstyleconsulting.com.

These students are beyond serious about their education, and I'm as determined as they are to help them get it. I'm grateful that we all have this magical opportunity of changing the lives of hundreds of students. I wish you all Happy Holidays and invite you to be Merry-Makers with me in Africa!

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Pictures: A Lab in the Making

UP & DOWN: This is an example of a 20ft shipping container that contractor Dan Gunda refurbished into a car parts shop. The use of these containers as buildings is very common in the developing world. It is 20ft long & 8ft wide. The science lab container will be twice as long at 40ft.

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DOWN: The inside of the container is 8 ft wide. Using plywood and plaster, we will divide the container into different sections to make a science lab, classroom, storage room and office.

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UP & DOWN: Contractor Dan & I discussing measurements, parts, and the logistics of converting the container into a Lab.

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UP & DOWN: Dan told me to step into his office, which was some seats under a lean-to in the midst of a car junkyard. We haggled over labour charges & tried to cut costs. I've been told by many Kenyans that I'm quite the bargainer. Good news for Sud students!

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