Partnerships Critical to Success

We all like to post about success and our achievements. It makes us feel good and we feel a sense of pride to show the world what we have accomplished. The fact of the matter is that we can do nothing without others coming alongside. Partnerships, as seen in the strong leadership of Malik Khaemba and his work through CES Kenya, cannot be overstated.

Our longest standing partner, The Peter Cundill Foundation, has provided CES Canada/Kenya extraordinary opportunities to expand our impact and outreach. An MOA with Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology has created a number of benefits for our students. Special Consultative Status with the UN through ECOSOC and UNICEF (WASH in Schools Global Outreach) helps us to focus on specific Sustainable Development Goals (SDG's). Our work with Water Mission (USA and Kenya) has created clean water to an entire village in Kakamega County.

In the early years, our association with ACCES (Africa Canada Continuing Education Society) gave us encouragement to pursue our vision. Projects working with the Toronto and the Ottawa District School Boards made way for Canadian and Kenyan youth to interact. Our work with the OPC (Ontario Principals Council) provided CES with access to 15 additional schools across Kenya. Several community health projects were made possible through a direct relationship with the Kenya Ministries of Education and Health.

Other informal partnerships include the Allan Skidmore Family Foundation, Moody’s Foundation, Poul Due Jensen Foundation (DK), Canada Helps, Canada Running Series, Church of the Redeemer, Rosseau ON, Etobicoke Dental Health Centre (Dr Yasmin Mawji), Extreme Imaging, Barrie ON, Friesen Press Inc, Georgian Copy and Printers, Barrie ON, Kingsway Baptist Church, Toronto ON, Ogada Street Clinic Kisumu (Dr Ruby Sokwala), Mojazima Sport Africa, New Balance Canada, St Agnes Catholic Church (Thunder Bay), Sheywe Conference Centre Kakamega, Sol Barrie (Dr Alyssa Runyon), and Tropical Medicine Clinic Kakamega (Dr Margaret Kilibwa). Any measure of success must be attributed to all friends and supporters of CES –– donors, volunteers, and mentors.

And so I think of a young doctor who has established a medical clinic; and, a brilliant young scientist whose passion for biotechnology?and his research in Bio-Safety is gaining national attention. I think of a promising female student who has completed a Agri-Engineering degree, another working as an Medical Intern in Radiography and Medical Imaging at a regional hospital. A specialist in Agriculture is now a consultant for local farmers through the international One Acre farm NGO. A young woman who is HIV-Positive is a champion in the fight against HIV Aids. A gifted graduate now leads an outreach program in food security through the Kenya Red Cross. One young man who worked as a night watchman and whose brother sold a cow to help facilitate his school fees, is now beginning a career in teaching. Another graduate is a nurse in a hospital specializing in the treatment of cancer. Others in education, business, community health and IT services, all are now beginning to make their own contribution. These and many others are where they are in their lives as a result of CES partnerships.

We look back at the year 2021, re-evaluate, to see what went right and acknowledge what we could have done differently. Twenty students were participating in Leadership Studies through CESCED School of Continuing Education. One hundred secondary and university students were on CES scholarships working hard at their courses. The CES Alumni had an agenda to create new scholarships and give back just as they were once helped. Clean water at Lutaso Village and surrounding schools was available to a thousand people each day.?

The pandemic was creating fear and uncertainty; and in response, CES was meeting the education, social and health needs of our students. Funding for food, PPE, housing and internet bundles helped them get through these dark days. Use of social media provided direct access to many of our students about the dangers of the pandemic and best practices to avoid becoming infected. As of December 2021, our students still have not had access to a Covid 'jab'. Thankfully by year end, none of our students have contracted coronavirus. CES Kenya staff and students have followed protocols to isolate and wear masks during meetings and get togethers. This will not change in 2022.?

People with great passion can make the impossible happen. We will build on what we have accomplished over the past seventeen years. A strong foundation has been laid and we invite others to come alongside, to join us in our outreach to vulnerable youth in western Kenya.