Harambee Foundation Holland

Harambee Foundation Holland (HFH) is a non-profit organization set up in the Netherlands, whose activities are aimed at creating a substantial improvement of educational opportunities and living conditions in developing countries. The foundation's main focus is on primary and technical education.

HFH is registered in the Chamber of Commerce in Breda, the Netherlands, number 20102573. On 1 January 2013 HFH was granted the CBF certificate of charities. In 2012 HFH was ranked number 10 of the best charities in the Netherlands by the daily newspaper Trouw. HFH has also been officially acknowledged by the Dutch tax authorities as a charity (ANBI).

History

HFH was set up on 21 June 2001. Harambee is a Swahili word which literally means pulling together. This seems to be the inspiration behind the foundation, helping provide the opportunity for the local community so they can help themselves.

The root of the foundation seems to have started in 1974, when Roel Meijers worked as a mathematics teacher in Kimilili, Kenya from 1974 to 1976. Roel kept in touch with the people back in Kenya whom he had a pleasure of working with, and was able to return there in the year 1998 and 2001, this time with his wife Marianne their three boys and a group of friends. During the visit, they were able to help build some classrooms in the school he had previously worked in St Luke's Boys High School Kimilili.

Following this, and with people seeing what good work they had done, more and more schools around the area were asking for the same help, and therefore Marianne and Roel saw need for some financial means to help on a larger scale. So that is why they set up HFH and started to help schools in building and renovating existing classrooms, sanitary facilities, providing educational study material, school desks, facilitating workshops and trainings and stimulating community development.

How the foundation works

HFH works together with its three local Kenyan partners and coordinator. The partners guide the schools, make sure the parents are well involved, supervise the project and relate with the government officials. The coordinator coordinates all activities, is the contact person for the schools, organises trainings and workshops and reports about the activities to HFH. Together they advise and plan the activities for HFH from the Kenyan side.

Since 2001 HFH has supported 33 schools. In 2012 the schools have taken the initiative and have organised themselves in so called families. Thus we have the family of primary schools, ECD, secondary schools and youth polytechnics. Each family discusses improving quality education in their institution, advises each other on solving specific or family problems, prepares common examinations. They also discuss and advice HFH on necessary subjects for trainings and workshops for school heads, teachers and parents’ committees.

When a school proposes a project, HFH executives make an appointment to visit the school in question. They obtain as much information as possible relating to the school and the expected costs that may be incurred in trying to achieve the project. The school writes a detailed proposal and estimate. After being approved a memorandum of understanding (MoU) is made between HFH, its partner and the school board. HFH has the ‘golden rule’: no request, no project.

As part of the proposal, the school has to make its own contribution of about 10 to 20% of the building costs in whichever way they can. This could be by asking the parents and the community to make whatever contribution they can, whether financial, in the form of labour or in the form of building materials such as bricks, sand, murrum, wood, etc. This seems to be an important part of the foundation, and comes from the foundation’s name Harambee.

Previous projects

Education

Ugolwe Primary school old classes block that was used by 300 pupils, before the new one below was built.

The new block for Ugolwe school to replace the one above. Just an Example of the transformation work done by the foundation

Kimilili Boys Primary School

Between 2001 and 2007, the Foundation has helped the school renovate 8 classrooms and sanitary facilities, donated books. The Foundation also helped in renovating 2 Kindergarten classrooms.

Kimilili Girls Primary School

Between the years 2001 to 2007, the Foundation has helped renovate 13 classrooms, Helped construct a nursery 2 rooms for the nursery, donated some school desks.

Kimilili Boys Secondary School

Between 2001 and 2003, mainly through the support of Geraint Jenkins, the school was able to finish what was dubbed the Millennium Project, in constructing classrooms for Physics and Chemistry lessons. They also contributed to the furnishings of these classrooms built.

St Theresa’s Girls Secondary School

Between 2001 and 2003 as part of the Millennium Project, helped construct Physics and Chemistry classrooms and furnish them.

Lutonyi Primary School

The foundation contributed to the furnishing of 11 classrooms and staffroom, the construction of a new sanitary facility and the furnishing of a library. There was also the construction of 2 new classrooms.

Kimabole secondary school

Between 2003 and 2007, the foundation contributed in by donating books, educational equipment, construction of two classrooms, and in the renovation of the old science block.

IcFEM Nursery Kimilili

In 2002 they helped build a dining room for the IcFEM Nursery. IcFEM is the Harambee Foundations partner in Kenya and helps in supervising the projects.

Kamusinga Primary School

2005 construction of 5new classrooms.

Dreamland Primary school

between 2002 and 2007, donated cooking material, Supported the building of 4 extra classrooms on top of an existing block, and also donated furniture for the new classrooms.

Kimingichi Primary school

Between 2006 and 2007, helped build 8 new classrooms, 20 new toilets and new office rooms. They also helped in the purchase of new school desks.

Mukuyuni Secondary School

2008, renovation and equipment of 2 science classrooms.

Lunyu Primary School

2008, building of 4 new classrooms.

Makunga Primary School

2008, building of 4 new classrooms.

Luuya Primary School

2008, renovation of 6 classrooms.

Mukuyuni Primary School

2008 renovation of 6 classrooms.

Ebubole Primary School

2003 to 2007, the foundation donated school books, constructed nursery and office rooms, constructed 4 new classrooms and also contributed to the fixing of Electrical Equipment

Indangalasia Primary School

2003, donation of books, and the renovation of a classroom building.

Ebwaliro Primary School

2006 - 2007 construction of classrooms and office block and also the furnishing of the classrooms and the staffroom.

Ugolwe Primary School

2007-2009 construction of 4 classrooms and an office for the school head and the deputy.

Other projects

Educational Assessment and Resource Centre (EARC)

This is an assessment health centre where disabled children are assessed and given rehabilitation and training, to help them prepare for regular education within normal Kenyan schools. The previous facilities they centre had, want sufficient.^[1]

Trauma counseling in Kimilili

The foundation helped the set up of a trauma counseling program to help people deal with the Kenyan Post Election Violence of 2008, in which many people lost their lives.

Notes and references