L I T T L E
P R I N C E
N U R S E R Y A N D
P R I M A R Y S C H O O L
Nairobi – Kibera
Little Prince started in 2000 as a remedial centre, hosted in a
school in Gatwekera with one teacher and seven children that by the end of the year grew into of 25 children. Later,
AVSI Foundation decided to support the beginning of a complete formal school.
The 25 children formed the first class which, after, the school developed
gradually. The school fees were covered by European donors because, whatever
the parents contributed, was just symbolic.
As Little Prince grew, there was need for more space to allow
future development and thus it searched for a piece of land around the Kibera slum.
In 2004, purchasing the land where it is currently situated. With the help of
well wishers the school was constructed and 23rd May 2005, Little
Prince was officially inaugurated by the then Minister for Education Prof
George Saitoti.
Actually Little Prince has eight classes, with more than 300
students; and a library, staff room, art laboratory, theatre, computer class,
dining hall, kitchen and administrative offices. The pre-school section begun
in 2007 includes a baby class, nursery and pre-unit classes. The pre-school was
made of iron sheets until 2010 when a permanent block was constructed and
inaugurated in March by Apostolic Nuncio Alain P. Lebeaupin.
BENEFICIARIES - The key beneficiaries (96%) of the school are orphans and vulnerable children from Kibera. The children who join the school are proposed by local networks e.g. the Sisters of Mother Teresa of Calcutta, who are in contact with the poorest people in the slums.
SCHOOL FEES – The guardians/parents commit to contribute a small amount towards the school fees. The beneficiaries are supported by various donors both local and international that dedicate to support through books, food, stationery, toys, payment of salaries or the school canteen, since the needs are numerous.
FEEDING PROGRAM - This is the second most important service that Little Prince offers to the pupils, after education. This is because given the economic hardships in the slum, many cannot afford to have the recommended number of meals in a day (3). As such, the school offers porridge and lunch every school day.
TEACHERS - All the teachers are trained from the government or private recognized P1 teacher’s colleges. They all adhere strictly to Teachers Service Commission code of regulations. They also maintain the quality and standards as recommended by the Ministry of Education. The school tries as much as possible to approximate the government salary scale and consequently spends a lot of money every budgetary year.
THE ACTIVITIES
These are significant cultural activities which clarify what the school offers and are common to the different subjects. They include:
TRIPS /OUTINGS - They are organized for each
class once in a term. Places visited include: historical sites e.g. museums,
geographical sites e.g. mountains and parks, social and civil sites. The choice
of place to visit is not arbitrary but it is determined strictly by the content
being covered by teachers in class. Since each trip or outing should help the
child deepen what has already been covered in class, the teacher thus becomes
key in planning these visits.
ART, MUSIC AND THEATRE - The presentation of a dramatized play comes after reading and deepening story books, or fairy tales, in which the content is always very attractive and involving for the children .All the classes, including the nursery, work on the same text (at different levels) understanding the proposed content and elaborating it according to their different capabilities. The play is then an occasion for the child to express himself/herself, to collaborate with others and to interact with the teachers in a different context from the class room. This work helps in the growth of the personality of the child which gains a curiosity, a capacity of criticism and an awareness of himself that will be at play in all the other subjects.
THE OPEN DAY
- The school organizes an open
day every year as to share the most memorable events that have happened for the
school, present class work, songs, dances and plays prepared by the pupils in
each class in collaboration with their class teacher.
MEETINGS - The school occasionally
invites specialists in different fields who help the pupils in different
problems or questions they may have in regards to health, affection and spirituality
that do emerge from the social context which the children come from. This is
done with the intention of helping the pupils confront them.
THE SCHOOL–FAMILY RELATIONSHIP
The school
recognizes the family as the original primary place of experience to the child.
This relationship between the school and the child’s/pupil’s family is evident
in the following moments:
PUPILS ENROLLMENT
PARENTS` MEETING WITH CLASS
TEACHERS
CLASS ASSEMBLIES -.
THE
EDUCATIVE METHOD IS BASED ON THESE CRITERIA:
1.
THE
REALITY IS POSITIVE
The vision of reality
that Little Prince proposes, born of the Christian experience, is at the origin
of its foundation and activities. From this ensures a criterion of viewing
reality in a positive way and of value to the person, everything happens in the
personal experience and in school`s life. This awareness, re-awakening in the
adults, it is offered to the children in the daily proposal at school, through
the specific contents, methods and forms chosen.
2.
THE
EDUCATIONAL PRIMACY OF THE FAMILY
Little
Prince method recognizes the family as the original and primary place of the
experience of the child, because it is here that the child existentially
encounters the criterion with which he has to judge what he faces. Then, in
school he begins to make the first verification of the starting hypotheses he
gets from the family. The parents use the school as a qualified tool to bring
about and accomplish the educative formation of their children
3. THE VALUE & FREEDOM OF THE PERSON
3. THE VALUE & FREEDOM OF THE PERSON
The focal point is the
child, However small, he is already a person and must be welcomed, esteemed and
guided so that his/her potentialities may grow, his/her reason may develop and
freedom fulfilled
Help us to continue living
this wonderful experience!
LITTLE
PRINCE
P.O. BOX 25796 – 00100 GPO NAIROBI
TEL: 0721 370167 – 0724 684660 – 020
2303472
REF. PERSON: ANTONY
MAINA, School Principal, P
