In May, 2019 Africa Education Partnership board member traveled to Nigeria to visit and gather more information about our projects in Kafanchan, Kaduna state. One of the most exciting events and  highlight of the trip was the dedication of the well at the Kogum River Nursery/Primary School, this well was funded by the Avon-Simsbury Rotary Club, Connecticut. It will supply the school and the community with clean, safe water for drinking and washing. Prior to the well, students had to walk over a mile to collect water from the nearby Kogum River, which was polluted by the livestock that also came to drink. ​

Elaine cutting the river at the dedication. ​

The community also collected water the river for domestic use. The result of using water from the river was the source of numerous outbreaks of water-born intestinal diseases, often resulting in missed school days for students.

The provision of safe, clean water will result in tangible community renewal. Africa Education Partnership is deeply garte to the members of the Avon-Simsbury Rotary club for their contribution which made the well a reality for the school and community of Kogum River, Kafanchan, Nigeria. https://www.africaep.org/news/water-for-life

A highlight of board member Elaine Chagnon’s visit to Nigeria in May of 2019, was the privilege of cutting the ribbon at the dedication of the newly renovated four classroom block at Kogum River Nursery/Primary school. The school at Kogum River was built in the 1930s and was in a very bad condition, with a leaky roof, a ceiling that had collapsed. The basic structure was good, but the building required a new roof, ceiling, plaster, floor tiles and paint. 

This is an awkward topic on which to post, but the truth is that many young girls do not have access to feminine hygiene products. Monthly cycles can keep them out of circulation, meaning lost days at school. https://www.directrelief.org/2017/01/how-hygiene-kit-empowers-girls/. There can also be shame or embarrassment associated with what comes naturally…

Handmade feminine hygiene kits help girls stay in school.
https://www.directrelief.org/2017/01/how-hygiene-kit-empowers-girls/
A friend of board member, Elaine Chagnon, named Jolly does work in Uganda and shared several feminine hygiene kits with Elaine before she left for Nigeria. Jolly has helped train young girls to sew their own kits. 
The kits include soft, flannel pads that fit inside a "holder" that wraps around the underwear. There is a bar of soap, a washcloth, and an additional plastic bag where soiled pads can be placed with some water to soak them. Everything fits inside a cloth bag which can be discreetly carried. The kit is brilliant.

Girls sew their own kits
Since Nana Dogo has a women's center where widows are trained to sew school uniforms, they could also learn to sew the kits and sell them. 
In addition to the sample kits, Elaine brought flannel, wash cloths, and a roll of velcro that could be used instead of snaps on the original sample. Snaps are harder to come by...
Nana was very excited to share the kits. We started by sharing one with the home economics teacher at Kafanchan Junior Secondary School. She was able to create a first prototype with materials I had brought to get them started. They are now working to have each girl sew her own kit as part of a home economics project.
Elaine says, “one could never have even considered that a kit like this could be of such value. We have access to so many everyday products that make our lives easier, it is hard to imagine what it would be like without them.”
Shown below are the supplies taken to Nigeria, the sample kit, the first prototype next to an original, and the carry bag for everything.

The literacy manual “Recipe for Reading”, was used by Elaine Chagnon in a teaching seminar for  the teachers of Kafanchan Nursery/Primary School. The aim of the seminar was to enhance the Kafanchan teachers skills in teaching literacy to young students. Pads of special writing paper to go with the manual were also brought. These materials were purchased through a grant from Companions in Mission, of Episcopal Diocese of Connecticut. Recipe for Reading presents early literacy skills in a prescribed sequence and stresses sounds, visual cues, spelling, and correct formation of letters. 

Knowing that teachers in Nigeria have a set curriculum. This seminar was not intended to replace or dictate methodology - just to share the materials and see if they found them useful. 

In addition, copies of the Lesson Planning Handbook as a resource were given out. Teachers do have a set lesson plan template to help them; this book could serve as a guide and a resource.
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Elaine admits, “I was a bit nervous about meeting my first group. After  introductions and an explanation of the content of the seminar we proceeded with the class. There was some dialogue and we went through “Recipe for Reading”. The manual was a big hit, as was the “Lesson Planning Handbook”. Africa Education Partnership is thankful for the Companions in Mission Publishing grant that allowed Elaine to purchase enough copies to leave at least several at each school. “I have such respect for these teachers who work very hard without any of the conveniences and teaching aides that we have”. Elaine

Nana Dogo told me the story of Eunice a girl  in the tenth grade at Kafanchan Senior Secondary School.  This girl just happened to be leaving with her mom and her belongings when Nana arrived at the school (Nana serves as school principal).  When the girl, named Eunice, was questioned as to why she was leaving, it was discovered that she was in arrears with her school account- her tuition had not been paid.  The rule is that if tuition is left unpaid for more than one trimester, the student is asked to withdraw. Eunice was in tears as her mother shared that her father had passed away.  An uncle had stepped up to pay for the school fees - but he, too, had recently died. The mother shared that she was just now getting back to work after being in a serious accident. The only schooling that she could afford for her daughter was a government school.  

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