Celebrating 10 Years: Oasis Kindergarten continues to impact lives in Kibra

Oasis Kindergarten is celebrating 10 years since opening its doors to the first intake of pupils living in Kibra slums.

The school has over the years helped to navigate and eradicate barriers to good education in the slum area.

“I was inspired to start this school because I saw a complete lack of affordable education for the kindergarten age. I would see lots of children just at home, not being able to go to school until seven years old, with no basic literacy skills like how to sit on a chair or even hold a pencil,” says Sarah Vohya, Founder Maisha Trust.

Sarah established the kindergarten school in Kibra slum in close partnership with two local teachers.

The initiative was borne out of their shared concern about the lack of affordable pre-primary schools in the slum, and the recognition that, because of this, children in Kibra began life disadvantaged, setting precedence for their future prospects too.

“The vision of the school was and still remains to provide quality and affordable education to the poorest of the poor,” says Sarah.

According to Tom Vohya, the Director at Oasis Kindergarten, once applications are received from needy and prospective learners, vetting is done, which includes planned home visits to be able to understand the level of need.

“At Oasis we are looking for the really underprivileged. Learners here pay only Ksh 200 per week, translating to Ksh 800 monthly. And with that, we cater for their stationery, one pair of uniform, nutritious meals and other things,” says Tom.

Sarah notes that God gave her a vision; to create an oasis in the middle of a slum, to create place of abundance and life in the midst of disappear and scarcity.

“Today we have a beautiful compound, with tall trees and grass, a beautiful playground with a space that is safe and secure for children to learn, grow and develop their gifts and talents as a foundation for life,” says Sarah.

After helping to establish the school on the ground in 2006, Sarah, then aged 19 years, went back to England and registered a UK charity to raise funds to support the project.

Today the school has grown, and continues to impact the community.

The school focuses on developing pupils’ literacy, numeracy and verbal skills while giving plenty of room for creativity and exploration.

To the locals, Oasis Kindergarten is a source of life in the midst of a landscape of scarcity.