Kenya Education Project continues to help communities

Selina Nabalayo Jakait, 74, has been a widow for 25 years now. When her husband died, only three of their 11 children had completed their schooling. She was working as a nurse but resigned to try to earn more income and provide more for her children through farming. Selina is a humble and jovial women who hails from the village of Kolanya but who is also very serious when it comes to being a good parent. Her well‐kept home is surrounded with trees and flowers, and she is considered a role model in the area. “Mama Selina is an asset where both young and old couples run to for advice and ideas on parenting,” said the village chief.

As Selina tells it, young parents need all the help they can get because many don’t know how to be parents. “In the past, parents used to be strict on their children, and this helped instill discipline on them,” she said. “Children could not be allowed to loiter. Parents used to insist on their children working very hard in class by giving them less pocket money and setting standards on their performance.”

This changed over time, she said. “The major problem in parenting in our area today is irresponsibility among parents that has been caused by their early indulgence in the illicit brew ‘chang’aa.’ This habit has always been transferred to our children, leading to high rates of school drop out and early marriages. Many parents sell their land and use the money to buy alcohol and end up being squatters.”

To help counter this, World Vision created a skillful parenting project in which the best traditional cultural and modern parenting methods in a particular area would be compiled and provided to parents. Selina and other role model parents received training to help them pass along good parenting skills and values to their communities. More than 5,000 parents attended the initial awareness meetings and received brochures that provided information on good parenting.

Since the training, Selina has been collaborating with the chief through area advisory councils to educate parents on bringing up their children. “I have been teaching other parents on good nutrition and general child upbringing at various stages,” she said. “As a result of this, I have noted improvement in discipline among children, and some parents who used not to take their children to school are currently doing so. Our chief and his assistant through child‐rights forums also continue to educate parents on their role in parenting. I believe that our children’s well‐being will even improve more.”

Thank you all for supporting World Vision and the Kenya-Child Education Project!