This is how the Shikamana School looks today.

The Shikamana school is now an impressive buiilding, but it may give the wrong impression of the school.The problem the school now faces, is that they look like a wealthy organisation. The school building is nothing short of wonderful, housed adjacent to some very basic rudimentary homes. The children wear matching uniforms, and the staff are smart and well presented. This could easily make people believe they no longer need any assistance.

This could not be further from the truth. The school is still in desperate need of equipment. There are desks, but nowhere near enough for each child to sit at. There is a desperate shortage of text books for the children to use in their lessons, often sharing 1 between 6. The classrooms are clean, cool and spacious, but have no stimulating charts or posters on the walls there are barely any books, toys and teaching equipment in the classrooms. The school is still in much need of support.

The Shikamana Trust reduced some of its support at the end of August 2010. This means the staff receive less support in the way of a meagre salary than they did before. A newly qualified teacher might expect to earn 15,000ksh (£150 approx) per month, teachers with years of experience or further skills and added responsibilities would earn much more. ALL of the teachers and support staff at Shikamana are currently paid between 6,000ksh and 8,500ksh a month (between £58 and £82).
Most of the teachers have many years experience and additional skills which would mean they would be paid well in others schools. They still take on additional tasks and responsibilities despite receiving no further remuneration for them.
It is purely their dedication to these disadvantaged children that makes them stay at Shikamana even though it means they are not paid what they deserve to earn.

This is Mohammed Mohammed and Collins Munene

Mohammed is in Class 8 and is 19 years old, his father kept him at home for a long time as he could not afford school fees, which has meant his education was delayed.  He is holding Collins who is in Kindergarten 1, he  is just 2years 8 months old and already enjoys attending school 6 days a week.    

   Shikamana School makes so much difference to these children.