These kids are just like us!

Our Lady of Nazareth Primary SchoolNairobi, Kenya

We hang out with our friends

We wear matching uniforms

We have wonderful teachers

The only thing separating us from these children is that fact that we live in the United States and they live in the Mukuru slum in Nairobi, Kenya.

• Most families in the slum live in single room homes about 10 square feet.

• The average house size in America is 2,700 square feet.

• The life expectancy in the Mukuru slum is 40 years.

• In the United States the life expectancy is 78 years.

• Of the children in the slums who are privileged to go to school, 44% will drop out for financial reasons.

• In the United States there are 26,407 public secondary schools students can attend for FREE.

• In the slum, the adults lucky enough to have a job make on average $2 a day.

• The average yearly income in America is $50,221 a year.

• In the slum there is no sanitation or running water, there is no waste collection and most of the waste goes directly into the nearby river.

• The average American home has at least 2 bathrooms.

The cost to attend Our Lady of Nazareth school is $125 a year, compared to over $3,000 for the average Catholic elementary school education in the United States, yet most people living in the slums cannot afford it.

Starts Ends Activity

7:00 am 8:00 am Morning Preps

8:00 8:55 Period 1

8:55 9:35 Period 2

9:35 10:15 Period 3

10:15 10:40 Tea Break

10:40 11:20 Period 4

11:20 12:00 Period 5

12:00 12:40 Period 6

12:40 1:40 Lunch

2:00 2:40 Period 7

2:40 3:20 Period 8

3:20 4:00 Period 9

4:00 5:00 Remedial

Starts Ends Activity

7:40 8:26 Period 1

8:30 9:16 Period 2

9:20 9:33 Advisory

9:37 10:23 Period 3

10:27 11:13 Period 4

11:17 11:42 Lunch A

11:42 12:28 Period 5A

11:17 12:03 Period 5B

12:03 12:28 Lunch B

12:32 1:18 Period 6

1:22 2:08 Period 7

2:12 2:58 Period 8

Gross Catholic Our Lady of Nazareth

• wake up to the alarm on our cell phone• are able to take a warm shower• turn the TV or music on while getting ready• put on clean clothes• eat breakfast if we so choose• walk outside into our cars with heating and air

condition

In the morning we…

• they put on the only uniform they own• if they do shower, it is with unsanitary water• put on their shoes• walk through dirty, sewage lined streets

When they wake up…

We…• walk into a heated/ air

conditioned school• have the option of

buying food from a vending machine

• complain about being at school

When we arrive at school…

They… • do not have seven

vending machines to choose from

• must walk across the campus to a restroom

• are completely grateful for being there

• do not wish to return home

When they arrive at school…

For lunch…At Gross CatholicWe have…• seven vending machines to

choose from • four microwaves to warm

our leftovers from last night’s dinner

• catered food from local restaurants

• the option of bringing our own food from home

At OLNThey have…• the only food they will eat

all day• a breakfast of porridge,

which is maize flour and millet flour boiled

• a lunch of boiled maize and beans

At Gross Catholic• We have a stomach ache• We are starting to notice

signs of a cold• We are unprepared for a

test

At Our Lady of Nazareth• They are battling:

– Malaria– Typhoid– Dysentery– Tuberculosis– AIDS

• They are too malnourished to walk to school

Sometimes we miss school…

• We often complain of hating school, rushing to leave and return home.

• We get into our cars and drive home, many times at night, thinking nothing of it.

• Once we are home, we can eat dinner, check out the internet, and watch our favorite show.

At the end of our day…

• Children attending Our Lady of Nazareth do not want to leave school. School is better than their home.

• If they were to leave at night, on foot, they would face dangers of attackers.

• Once at home, they face possibilities of work, eviction, or even fires, forcing them to leave what little homes they have.

At the end of their day…

Kindergarten to standard eightMore than 1,800 students Included: Sports Counseling Library Computer classes

• Gross has 17 sports and many organizations to choose from

• OLN has 8 sports and activities– Karate– Basketball– Music and dancing– Soccer– Scouts movement– Gymnastics– Netball

Sports

… they cannot afford a $30 sweatshirt for participating or a $10 t-shirt for every sport and organization they are involved in.

Most cannot afford the $125 it costs for tuition and lunch each year.

OLN has various activities, the only difference…

We spend….• $800 on the Marianist LIFE summer trip• $800 on the service trip• $500 on a trip to Washington, DC

$125 sends a student to OLN

Because of our Catholic and Marianist Tradition, we aim to educate the youngest and the poorest in the Mukuru slum area of Nairobi. Our mission is to work at the most fundamental of all development projects: the human person. We seek to develop the God-given life and talent of each child in the school, according to the Five Characteristics of a Marianist Education.

The Mission of OLN

• Educate for Formation in Faith• Provide an Integral, Quality Education• Educate in Family Spirit• Educate for Service, Justice, and Peace• Educate for Adaptation and Change

Our Lady of Nazareth and Gross Catholic are based on the same principles.

We would like to share what we have with students at Our Lady of Nazareth Primary School in

Nairobi, Kenya.

So…

There are 425 students at Gross.

We are trying to support 15 students at OLN.

It costs $125 to support one student at OLN.

If everyone donates $4.42, we will have raised

$1,875, which is enough to support 15 students.

"For it is in giving that we receive."

St. Francis of Assisi

“Oh God of all creationBless this our land and nation

Justice be our shield and defenderMay we dwell in unity

Peace and libertyPlenty be found within our borders.

Let one and all ariseWith hearts both strong and trueService be our earnest endeavor

And our homeland of KenyaHeritage of splendor

Firm may we stand to defend.Let all with one accordIn common bond united

Build this our nation togetherAnd the glory of KenyaThe fruit of our labor

Fill every heart with thanksgiving.”