Kirunguru Special School
Kirunguru is a very special venture for Vision Africa. This was our first special needs boarding unit for physically and mentally disabled children. These children are the most unfortunate of all the orphaned and destitute children that we work with. They are the forgotten ones, in many cases shunned and hidden away so their shame cannot be seen. Some had been tied to a tree, or hidden under a bed so that no one would see them, their family too ashamed for others to know that they had a child that was different from the rest.
We built this special unit on the same site as a mainstream primary school, close to Kandara Children's Home. The first phase opened in February 2006 and included boarding facilities, classroom and staff facilities. May 2007 saw the opening of a new dormitory and classroom. This means that the school now has the capacity to teach around 50 students with space for 30 boarders who stay in the school in term time and go home for holidays.
Instead of being hidden away, these children are given specialist care and education to allow them to develop to their full potential, whatever that may be. Some of those who have been at the school for some time are now attending part-time vocational training courses in carpentry and dressmaking at a local polytechnic. The school is often invited to perform at local churches and events and medals have been won at Special Olympics.
This is a dramatic change to the situation of these children from just a few years ago and people can now see a future for these children, whose lives have been transformed thanks to the support of Vision Africa.
One former student, Patrick, is testimony to the great work at Kirunguru. After attending the school for some time, he was placed at the local polytechnic where he studied tailoring. His physical disability made this a tough course so he was trained in shoe repairs and became an apprentice to a local repairer. After some months, Patrick started up his own business with a donation of tools from a Vision Africa supporter. The headteacher of Kirunguru School arranged for a toolbox to be custom made so that Patrick could wheel it to a shopping centre and use it as a work station. He now takes great pride in his business and enjoys a life of independence.
After such great success at Kirunguru, we have ventured into our second special school in another rural area called Kambiti. Opened in Spring 2008, the Percy Davies School for children with special needs has been purpose built on land donated to the local community. Again, this school has a boarding facility and is modelled on Kirunguru.
Our ongoing support at Kirunguru and Percy Davies School will be funded through our sponsorship programme. At each school, the guardians of the children who board are asked to supply some basic toiletries each term.
We are also looking to set up income generating activities at each school. Vision Africa needs sponsors to help care for the students of these schools and give them the best possible chance to reach their full potential.
You could really make a difference in the life of a child by paying just £16 a month to take care of all their needs or £7 a month for their education or welfare costs.
If you are interested in sponsoring a child at Kambiti school please visit our sponsorship section to download a sponsorship form, or you can contact us via our contact page or by email to
A child sponsorship can make a thoughtful birthday or Christmas gift for caring friends and family.
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Thank you!
50p gives a child a main meal every day they are at school.
£1 a week pays for a child’s education
Updated September 2009