Description
At the time we became involved with this school, the safety of the children was a significant concern for both parents and teachers. Alongside the school playground runs a well-used access route. While it may appear to be a simple dirt road, it is in fact a major thoroughfare for people travelling to and from the local community.
Unfortunately, child abduction and the sexual violence of young girls remain serious concerns in parts of Kenya. As a result, ensuring a safe and secure school environment is of great importance to both the school and the wider community.
At present, all food products, including fresh vegetables, must be purchased from the wholesale market through our supplier. To make the project sustainable in the long term, the plan is to establish a vegetable garden on the school grounds.
It is essential that the garden is protected by a sturdy fence to prevent wandering goats and other livestock from damaging or consuming the crops. The school’s night watchman, who is already employed by the school, will take on additional responsibility for overseeing and safeguarding the garden.
In a country where food insecurity remains a reality for many people and food can easily be taken, it is not unrealistic to expect that individuals may be tempted to enter the school garden, particularly during the night. Therefore, adequate protection and supervision of the garden are key to the success and sustainability of the project
Needs
- A sturdy fence surrounding the school grounds and the planned vegetable garden.
- An access gate to the property that can be securely locked during school hours and throughout the night.
Wishlist
- Planting vegetation alongside the fence (posts with barbed wire), such as shrubs and flowers, particularly bougainvillea, to give the security fence a more welcoming and attractive appearance.
Current status
The project initially began with a proposal to construct a stone perimeter wall around the school grounds, which are located in a natural, rural setting. However, the estimated cost of the wall, between €22,000 and €25,000, was far beyond what was feasible at this stage of the project.
Instead, it was decided to install a approximately 500-metre-long fence using hardwood posts and barbed wire. To improve its appearance and help it blend into the surroundings, the fence will be planted with bougainvillea, creating a natural and more welcoming boundary while still providing the necessary security.
September 2026: Working together with parents and members of the local community, fence posts were installed at three-metre intervals around the perimeter of the school grounds and secured with concrete foundations. Barbed wire was attached to the posts to a height of approximately two metres.
The fence was completed up to the planned entrance gate. Thanks to the active involvement of the community, labour costs were kept to a minimum.
As the community no longer has direct access to the free water supplied by the school’s own well due to the enclosure of the grounds, public water taps have been installed on both sides of the property for community use. This ensures that local residents can continue to access clean water while maintaining the security of the school premises.
Additional funding is required to complete the project.
Impact
Although the fence has not yet been fully completed, the sense of safety and security on the school grounds has increased significantly, providing great reassurance to both parents and teachers. Areas that were previously open and difficult to supervise have now been enclosed, while the remaining entrance is located within the direct line of sight of the teachers, allowing for effective monitoring of everyone entering and leaving the premises.
The planned vegetable garden is now protected from wandering livestock, allowing work on the garden to begin in October. The enclosure ensures that goats and other animals can no longer access the area, creating suitable conditions for cultivating vegetables to support the school’s feeding programme.
Financial
Executed in September 2026
| Description | Total in KES | Remarks |
| Hardwood poles | 76.000 | quotation |
| Barbed wire | 48.000 | and nails |
| Sand, cement and transport | 23.000 | |
| Labour | 20.000 | Strong community involvement |
| One time investment | 167.000 KES | € 1.175 |
To be executed
| Description | Total in KES | Remarks |
| Construction stone wall | quotaion requested | |
| Steel gate | quotaion requested | |
| Bougainvillea | quotaion requested | |
| Labour | ||
| One time investment | .. KES | € .. |
On Average € 1,00 = KES 150, with the cost of exchange and handling fee from banks and MPesa (Kenia mobile banking) the net amount of € 1,00 = KES 142,50 – so we calculate with this rate.
Pictures
A lot of children, but more poles (in the back)
