Community Education Services
Harambee Way 8 Pine Lane RR#1 L4M 4Y8 Barrie, ON, Canada

Thanksgiving - traditionally, it’s all about family, amazing food, hanging out and enjoying life together. Sadly, the Covid-19 pandemic has forced many of us to isolate. Being alone or separated on Thanksgiving can feel challenging; yet, a walk in nature can do wonders for the soul. Walking is something Kenyans do all the time, every day. For women and girls, ‘long distance water-walks’ are essential to life itself. During Thanksgiving 2020, we at CES cannot help but think of our friends in Kenya who struggle with day to day survival, including finding water to make tea and ugali. We can all be thankful for what we have, especially knowing these beautiful Kenyan people are grateful to collect untreated, tainted water. Happy Thanksgiving and thanks for your support on this uphill journey this extraordinary walk of life.

World Humanitarian Day: Today - August 19,2020 on World Humanitarian Day, we acknowledge and honour all humanitarian aid workers and particularly those associated with CES Canada in Kenya. Sarah Nabongo is among those who serve tirelessly to assist students in need of personal support. As Executive Office Manager, Sarah is on the front line to meet disadvantaged and displaced youth who are struggling through the Covid19 pandemic in Kenya. Sarah applies her knowledge, experti...se, and ingenuity to determine the level of need and to communicate with those living in more remote rural areas. She has been working with CES for the last decade and there is none in the organization who knows our students better than Sarah does. During her tenure with CES Kenya, Sarah has documented and organized the details of 3,000+ education scholarships. At heart she is a servant, and her gift of hospitality has been appreciated by over 100 volunteers and visitors from Canada, USA, UK, Japan, Zambia and many parts of Kenya. Sarah Nabongo holds a diploma in Business Management and will in 2021 complete the requirements for a BA in Business Administration from Kenyatta University. Thanks Sarah! Painting by BeCasso

Jiggers continues to be a challenge for children living in rural Kenya. Thanks to CRS Alumnus Dr Busuku Musli, some are being treated at the Uzima House Medical Clinic at Bushiri KENYA.

There is a crisis of learning as the divide between rich and poor, urban and rural continues to deepen in Kenya. 17 million learners in Kenya are now at home as a result of Covid19. Children are expected to keep up through distance learning. However, virtual learning for an estimated 2/3 of the population is impossible. Access to the Internet is unequal and many are left stranded. Adult family members have become teachers and mentors. Yet, not all can supervise due to an ob...ligation to work, earning enough to survive. Other children are more fortunate. They have access to computers and the internet, and are able to afford the fee to attend virtual classes. Kenya’s socioeconomic and geographical divides are affecting students. Families in rural areas are less likely to have access to technology or electricity. For some children, their studies are put aside to help with crops and tend to livestock. Girls at home are at huge risk; currently there is a reported spike in teenage pregnancies. Their education is clearly placed at risk. Families are suffering from job losses and lost income, with some children forced to work at a younger age. They may never return to school. A whole generation is at risk as a result of Covid19. #ruraleducation #Covid19 #distancelearning

CES Canada in partnership with CES Kenya continues in 2020 to renew efforts to mitigate poverty by providing education to marginalized youth.