Attending School in a Chicken Coop…

Picture a “typical” classroom here in the United States:  an enclosed space with four walls, windows and doors, a leak proof roof, sturdy desks, some level of technology to support teaching and learning,  books and materials, toilets, and a secure playground.

Exterior of chicken coop

These are “basic” educational components that we all expect will be provided, regardless of where students attend school.

interior classroom view

Now let’s compare Godogodo Nursery/Primary School in a rural area of Kafanchan, Kaduna State, Nigeria. One classroom block has deteriorated to the point of being unsafe.  The sheet metal roof has rusted through, cinder block walls are crumbling, and the interior ceiling is failing.  The second “classroom block” is a repurposed chicken coop, complete with chicken wire “walls”.  The remaining exterior walls and roof are composed of rusting, single layer, corrugated sheet metal.  The temperature inside easily climbs to over 100 degrees in the heat of the dry season, about 6 months of the year (October-April).  
While a working borehole can provide a steady supply of clean water, there are no toilets.  Desks are worn to the point of splintering.  There are few supplies.

Yet the school is growing.  Teachers continue to work hard with what they have and students come everyday in the hopes of a promising future.  This is our next project.  Join us as we work together to provide a safe learning environment that these children and teachers deserve.  ​

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