Thanks in part to the Waunakee Rotary Club, 600 students in Kenya, Africa, are attending school and receiving an education they otherwise would not.
James Yegon of SOAR Academy in Kenya attended the Oct. 15 Waunakee club meeting to talk about how the school began and its progress since, and to thank the club for its contributions.
James said Kenya has a great deal of poverty, and as one of 10 children, James was the only one able to attend school and then earn a master’s degree in community development.
He did so with the support of Don and Mary Hoffman, two Springfield residents who later joined the Rotary Club. After James graduated, the Hoffmans asked him what he would like to do. He said he wanted to offer the same opportunities in his community, citing Nelson Mandela who said the only way to end poverty was through education.
With the help of the Waunakee Rotary Club and other organizations, SOAR Academy began in 2011. Today, in addition to providing education to the 600 students, it employs 23 teachers and 10 support staff.
Over time, the Rotary Club and other groups have helped to add dormitories, buildings, clean water for the community and electricity.
Projects have also included a drip irrigation system and greenhouses for the farm so the school is sustainable.
The SOAR Kenya Community Foundation also addresses community needs, such as providing sanitary towels to girls, who would otherwise miss four days of school a month without them. The foundation also provides sponsorships for families unable to afford the low tuition and holds Anti-FGM seminars to educate girls about female genital mutilation.
The Waunakee Rotary Club also helped fund a water treatment project to remove excessive fluoride, which causes severe tooth decay, James said, adding that children are able to smile again.
Today, SOAR Academy is in need of more lavatories and handwashing stations, dormitories, a computer lab and new books for the library. The best way to contribute to those projects are through the Waunakee Rotary Club, James said.
Other news:
Rotarians can still enter a fundraising raffle for Polio Plus at the Oct. 22 meeting. Tracy is ready to host the club for the Euchre FUNdraiser party at her house, as well, on Saturday evening starting at 5 p.m.
Ken Pesik and Max Ujdak gave an update on the arch project, saying it should be ready for the Nov. 16 ribbon cutting.
The Interact Club has raised $6,000 toward its $10,000 goal for the Clean Water Campaign, Kylie West said. . On Oct. 16, Lundy’s will host a share night from 3-8 p.m. Plus the students will soon be selling Culver’s calendars.
Coming Up
Oct. 16: Euchre party at Tracy’s house.
Oct. 17: Halloween on the Farm
Oct. 25: Packers watch party at the Lamphouse
Nov. 16: Rotary Arch ribbon cutting
Nov. 22-Jan. 1: Rotary Lights
Greeters: Oct. 22, David Rupp and Bernie Kennedy; Oct. 29, Katie Ujdak and Carol Bleifield; Nov. 5, Nick Mischler and Tom Kennedy.
To sign up to greet or to find out when you are greeting, visit:
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/805054CAAAA2CA7F85-44320149-2023#/
