On 18th February 2012 a group volunteers came to visit our orphanage, they were related to Papa Kevin & Mama Mary. One of them was Lorraine McAleer from Omagh Co.Tyrone, Northern Ireland. She has so much experience working with children as she trained as a teacher and after two days realised that we were in need of a nursery for our younger children and toddlers as the existing Baby Class was not child friendly. Also the Mamas needed a break from the children so it was decided that from 8.30am until 12 midday the children needed some stimulation through educational play. Lorraine & I visited the Imara Primary School to help get an understanding of the Kenya system of education, from there we also visited the local bookshop so as to get the learning material i.e books, toys and paints among other things.

Lorraine doing her homework !!!

Auntie Rosemary who works at the GLO is actually a trained Early Childhood Teacher(ECD) so with Lorraine’s help they spent time organising the schedule and what exactly was needed to set up the nursery paying particular attention to the children’s needs. We hired some local carpenters to make tables and chairs suitable for the children and “stole” the painter and the artist from the school for a few days to paint the rooms and make it child friendly. With some resources from our office and extra shopping from Mtwapa the new nursery was ready and Auntie Rosemary was happy to see her well organised class ready for action.

Fundi at work

Symon hard at work !!

Papa Kevin and Mama Mary, visiting volunteers who included Lorraine’s Mum Rosemary, Mr. Moses Head Teacher from St Bernadette & St Mary’s School and all the staffs were called to witnessed the official opening of the new nursery. The nursery is divided into two groups, Caterpillars which is 1.5 years – 3 years old and Butterflies which is 3-4 years.

Papa Kevin's Joinery Work

We hope that our children will have their best in life with firm foundation in education starting at this young age. To acknowledge Lorraine’s hard work it was decided to name the nursery Learning Space as this is the name of Lorraine’s shop in Belfast.

Learning Space NI Nursery

Setting Up

Many thanks to Lorraine for your dedication, hard work & experience in helping us,
May God Bless You
By George Ayieko

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