Barbara Academy
- Barbara Academy is a project which is operated by YAWOSUP [Yala Widows and Orphans Support Project], providing good quality local nursery and primary education in poverty-stricken rural Western Kenya.
- The need to start Barbara Academy arose when it was realised that poverty was affecting education in Kojuok village as many children were starting Early Childhood Education [E.C.D] at an older age due to the lack of family income to pay fees and the long journeys involved to reach existing schools.
- Barbara Academy was started on 7th January 2013 with funds from the World Mission budget, an outreach programme of the Parish of Ashtead.
- In Kenya access to good education is seen as vital for those seeking to escape the poverty, which so many experience through the ongoing impact of AIDS, of climate change on their ability to rely upon subsistence farming to feed their families and the general lack of opportunity to reach their individual potential.
- 87 students currently attend Barbara Academy
2024 Achievement
In response to a change in policy by the Kenya National Government, a Junior Secondary School is being established at BLA, eventually comprising provision for Grades 7, 8 & 9.
A Grade 7 class has already been accommodated. Thanks to the generous response of our donors, a Grade 8 classroom has already been built in preparation for 2025 and a new Science Laboratory will be constructed and equipped.
We still need to fund in due course the construction of a Grade 9 classroom and an expanded Computer Laboratory. There also remains the ongoing challenge of funding the increasing operational costs, including additional teachers and scaling up the Feeding Programme, which is considered a key priority.
- 120 Pupils recruited and development of full Primary School completed
- Grade Six Pupils will be the first to move from Barbara Academy to Secondary Education in December