Significant progress is being made at St. Francis of Assisi Academy in Marereni, Kenya, after a successful campaign to raise support for the school. A group of dedicated volunteers associated with the parish has greatly assisted with renovations during the recent school break, helping to improve the existing facilities.

Sister Vinaya Chalil shared, “Do angels visit us? Yes, they do! Angels visit us, and miracles happen!” The Sisters of Charity of Nazareth have been dreaming of expanding the school to a full-fledged primary school. Last year, they hoped to start grade four but lacked the funds to build another classroom. This year, the Office of Mission Advancement raised funds to construct a new classroom, enabling the school to start offering grade four in January 2025.

St. Francis Academy, Marereni, sees major improvements thanks to a successful campaign and parish volunteers assisting with renovations.

In late August, Bishop Willybard Lagho of Malindi informed the Sisters that a group of volunteers from “Karibu Malta,” a volunteer program run by the Capuchins in Malta, would be visiting Marereni. Originally scheduled to work on a different project, the volunteers were redirected to St. Francis of Assisi Academy. Upon seeing the school’s condition, they decided to help.

Karibu Malta quickly pledged to paint and renovate the existing school building, repair the leaking roof, build an additional classroom, construct four new toilets for the boys, and provide furniture and sports and learning materials for the new classroom. The volunteers immediately got to work, painting walls and engaging with the children who were on campus for tuition during the holidays.

The freshly renovated and painted school building.

When the school reopened this week after the second term break, students were welcomed by freshly painted walls and ongoing construction efforts. The new classroom and toilets are still under construction, but the improvements have already made a visible impact.

Sister Reema Tigga with Madam Evelyn, the head teacher at the office.

The Sisters of Charity of Nazareth continue to aspire to expand the school further to offer classes up to grade six, which would require three more classrooms and additional facilities. Currently, the youngest students, about 90 children aged three to four, are housed in an old, dilapidated church building. The school office is cramped, with no dedicated staff room or meeting space for teachers and parents.

The foundation work of the new classroom.

Despite these challenges, the Sisters remain hopeful that their dreams will be realized. They believe that, with faith and perhaps another visit from “angels,” St. Francis of Assisi Academy will continue to grow and thrive.

Kenya School Expansion