Kusoma Tu Foundation Trust

Kusoma tu experiences by Gladys

kusoma2 — Sun, 24 May 2020 12:59:04 +0000

Colouring

We’ve been amazed that every time we get to the school, we find the kids eagerly awaiting their volunteer teachers. Their welcome is always so hearty- a humbling experience for us! This is definitely one of the reasons we keep going back, week after week.

Perhaps the main reason we remain consistent is seeing those who didn’t know how to read being the first ones to ask what we are going to read and write that day! It’s wonderful how they appreciate the little things we do for them; and it only takes 2/3 hours a week!

Volunteering has taught me what a difference a few hours can make. Some of the young men we met when we began teaching couldn’t even hold a pencil, and had no confidence to communicate with us. To see them confident enough to talk and colour makes me appreciate this opportunity. I know that our presence is highly valued by the students! .

Word Formation

Ever heard of consonant blends? I heard about them first at Kusoma Tu, teaching students. I suppose I would never have learnt about them if I hadn’t volunteered with Kusoma tu Foundation. Apparently, a consonant and a consonant make a consonant blend!

One learns a lot while teaching others. I never thought that the borstal institution students in Nairobi would be eager to learn and make complete and comprehensive sentences. I never really even considered their need to learn. Sometimes, we offer them sweets for motivation to answer questions. Even the most silent light up and answer questions! It’s priceless to see their reactions when they answer questions correctly. These guys have never been affirmed at school before- it’s a big deal for them, and we’re honoured to be a part of it!

There’s boy who couldn’t read or write fluently but his sentences amazed me. He was branded as a non-reader yet he wrote, ”I took a straight nail and nailed the mail and pained it”.

This made me appreciate the work we do as volunteers to help the kids. That’s why we say, ‘Volunteers make things happen’. Giving time and simple incentives motivates the children and they eagerly await our weekly visits!

Felix Testimonial

kusoma2 — Sun, 24 May 2020 10:30:28 +0000

My name is Felix Ndugu, I joined Kusoma Tu in 2010 when I was in Std. 7. I did not know how to read and this was affecting my relationship with family as I was performing poorly in all subjects.

I was so excited about the programme that I used to be the first one to get to the class. The way Kusoma Tu taught reading was different and engaging that I soon learnt to tackle difficult words. We would be given easy story books and read and read with volunteer teachers. It was so encouraging that I worked really hard knowing that one day I will make it. I had many distractions from friends but was determined to sit for the KCPE exams, which I did in 2011. I scored 183 marks but could not join secondary school.

After staying for years at home hustling through life I felt the need to go back to school. I asked my parent s for support but was quite discouraged by their reply ‘if you failed KCPE, how will you make it in secondary school.’ This was very disheartening, but I nevertheless looked for a school. Fortunately, there was a secondary school just opening and the fees was reasonable, so I enrolled. Since I could’nt get support from anyone, I would work and pay the fees, then attend class. When fees are due and I am ‘chased from school,’ I would miss class and go out to work.

Though I joined school late, I performed well after borrowing notes from other students and felt very encouraged. I am doing well now and scoring B’s in most subjects and the teachers have a lot of confidence in me and tell me I am an ‘A’ student. They cannot believe that I could not read in Std 7.

I am now in form 3 at Aquinas High School and being supported through Kusoma Tu. I thank the Almighty and Kusoma Tu as a I feel very excited about my future.

Kusoma Tu Trust – What you need to know

kusoma2 — Sun, 24 May 2020 09:13:55 +0000

I first learnt of Kusoma Tu Trust while working at Haba Haba. We had just launched this amazing learning and revision application – Revision844 and were looking to work with various schools to test the app. The fact that the Kusoma Tu had piloted in a primary school that I had attended got me really excited and I wanted to know even more about it.

Have you ever pictured yourself being in a situation where it’s just a few months to your final exams yet you do not even know how to write your own name? Not being able to read simple 3 lettered words? How then would you be able to read questions, understand them and provide answers in the so called National (final) exam? What value will you have gotten out of primary school with?

Well, as unbelievable as it may sound, there are kids who go through school just as routine. Classes in most government schools are too full (thanks to free primary education and the new rules that no child should stay at home). The teacher pupil ratio in classes is as bad as 1:80 (or even worse). The conditions at home aren’t favourable either – absentee parents for one reason or another.

Here are some questions (with answers) that have helped me get a deeper understanding of the organisation and what it’s doing to help salvage this wanting situation. I hope you get intrigued as I am right now.

Why did you start this organization?

Kusoma Tu Foundation Trust was established in 2009 to respond to the needs of children who were completing primary school and had not learnt how to read. It was established after the realisation that a number of school children were going through and completing primary school without learning how to read. A discussion withe the school administration revealed that a quarter of the children at the school had been labelled as “non-readers”. This phenomenon is not unique to Kawangware Primary School and the research carried out every year by Uwezo hghlights a similar scenario across the country

How has it grown or changed over time? Kusoma Tu Trust began in Kawangware with one volunteer and three books, reading regularly with the children. As time went by, people who heard about us donated books and began to volunteer their time to read with the children. Interest in our work has grown to the extent we have been approached by a number of individuals, organisations and schools to train them on addressing the issues of literacy facing some of the older children in their schools.Last year we began to develop a curriculum and learning materials that address these literacy needs. We hope to develop some training materials for teachers and volunteers working with children who cannot read.We also hope to develop an e-learning version of our materials that can be made available to a wider population both in and out of school.We have received support from a number of organisations including Nairobi Chapel who hold a reading camp every April and August at Kawangware Primary, Braeburn school continue to provide resources like books, a printer and other equipment like the desks and chairs that we use, AIESEC which recently gave us a group of volunteers, The Journey who’s members have taken part in the annual 100km fundraising walk and helped to raise awareness.

Exactly what do you do at Kusoma Tu? We basically teach children how to read, period. Hence the name “Kusoma Tu”. We work with children whose literacy skills are too weak to allow them to have meaningful interaction in the classroom in order to improve their reading and reduce school drop-out rates. Kusoma Tu has developed an innovative reading intervention program to give individualized attention to the children outside the classroom. We begin with an assessment to determine a pupil’s individual challenges, to establish what gaps there are and to identify his or her particular needs. We then design a reading program tailored for each child, based on his or her identified weaknesses. Each child gets an hour daily to help them improve their reading and comprehension skills.We also encourage the children to read books as much as possible to improve their reading and comprehension skills. We have a small library and are working with the school and other organisations to set up a reading room/ library that children can access regularly.

What do you think your beneficiaries would say is the best thing about your organization?

Almost every child who comes on the programme leaves having learnt how to read. Once they are able to read, their self-esteem is lifted and they are able to explore their talents and other abilities. Another major benefit is that their performance in school improves.

What are your goals for the next three to five years? What priorities will help you achieve them? What barriers are in your way?

Our goals for the next five years include establishing a reading programme in 10 schools in urban informal settlements (both public and complementary schools), establishing functional libraries in 15 schools, training up to 300 teachers who work with children who cannot read and establish a learning centre that focuses on providing support for children with special needs in literacy, and in particular reading disorders like dyslexia.

To achieve these goals, we require a working curriculum and teaching/ learning materials that are user friendly and that can be used by people who are not trained teachers. We also want to develop more links with people who are doing similar work or complementary work.

We hope to raise enough resources to be able to implement all aspects of our programme so as to maximize gains for the children.

We don’t envision any barriers to achieving our goals apart if we will be able to raise the resources we require. Schools and pupils themselves have so far been very responsive to our work.

——-

Find Kusoma tu on Facebook

Read stories on their blog

Watch some of their inspirational videos on Youtube
Images courtesy of Haba Haba

Later on this week I will be details of how you can take part in this year’s holiday camp, geared towards supporting the initiative. Stay tuned.

Affectionately,

The African girl.

Volunteer experience with the Kusoma Tu

kusoma2 — Sun, 24 May 2020 09:12:12 +0000

Volunteering to help young children to understand how to write and read simple sentences to complex ones in English has been fun and very encouraging. Being involved with Kusoma Tu as a volunteer over this year, I truly feel that Kusoma Tu are doing great work and im persuaded that truly, “volunteers make things happen”.

I believe that in giving time, the most wasted resource by most youths,to help a soul to attain the functional literacy level in a given nation is key and will never go unrewarded. It is much fun working with children in the remand and rehabilitation centres .You only have new chances each and everyday to give more when you visit young kids and when you go back home all they can do is cry as they wave you bye. It is touching.

Patience, dedication to serve the young, generosity and perseverance have been the key values that I have learnt and appreciated during my volunteering span so far.It has been a great time for me and I really love and appreciate Kusoma Tu role to the nation. Volunteering is a virtue that I feel I will hold onto to the end.

Do you comprehend?

kusoma2 — Sun, 24 May 2020 09:10:05 +0000

We go through systems and daily routines that are obviously the norm. What makes news is the ‘non-normal’; drought and hunger, civil wars, kidnappings; and our hearts always go out to people suffering such unfortunate happenings. In matters education, I have felt a deep concern for pupils going without text books, girls missing school days because of their period but never have I come across a situation where a 13 year old cannot read or comprehend text. Right then I knew, I had to see to believe and give my time and effort to help these children learn to read and understand basic English.

I volunteered through Kusoma Tu at the government’s rehabilitation center in Getathuru. The institution is like a boy’s school with the children uniformed and going through structured daily activities (just like it was in school). Monday mornings were my time with these boys. A vibrant group with such promise, speaking English and Swahili, excited to see you, making jokes, ready for the day…yet some can hardly read, others can read but do not understand what they have read. Teenagers…? It was a shocking moment. How do you go about daily knowing you cannot read or understand what you read? What does that do to you? What does it mean for you among peers and during class sessions? What future does that already spell out for you? Does it mean that you are only cut out for a certain kind of job, life, class? It is disheartening just thinking about it but seeing the boys vibrant every other Monday, go through reading exercises, asking questions and being real motivates me to set time aside for them. To ensure they learn to hold their heads high because they can read and understand basic language. To show them that they too are God’s creation and deserve a great future. To nurture a sense of confidence within them as they learn.

It is abnormal, but a proven reality that needs immediate action. Being gifted with time, it is important to make use of it for the growth of society as well. Make time for these kids. Volunteer your skills and effort to help a child learn how to read and encourage them while at it. It is only by sharing knowledge and skills acquired that we equip the next generation.

Anne Nasumba – Lapid Leaders Africa volunteer