English Access Likoni Book Project

Hello, our names are Elaine Ansah and Nadja Umlauf! We are U.S. Fulbright English Teaching Assistants (ETAs) currently teaching in Likoni, Kwale County, Kenya. This month we began working with 52 bright and talented high-school age students through the English Access Microscholarship programs at Shika-Adabu Secondary School and Mrima Mixed Secondary School.

English Access is an after-school program that provides a foundation of English language skills to bright students between the ages of 13 to 20 in underserved areas of Kenya. Access programs give participants English skills that may lead to better jobs and educational prospects. Participants also gain the ability to compete for and participate in future exchanges and study in the United States.

Our students in the English Access program are brilliant, crafty, and resourceful young people who have a love for learning and a desire to one day attend university in Kenya and abroad. However, as English language learners they still have so much to learn, and unfortunately not enough resources.

As we’ve been spending more time at our schools we wanted to create a program that would last well beyond our time here in Likoni, and would have an impact not only on English Access students, but also the rest of the school community, totaling over 2,500 students. We decided to start libraries at each school to provide students with additional resources to read different kinds of books for fun and enhance their English-language skills! Through these libraries we also wanted to start book clubs, creative writing groups, and more!

We’ll be accepting monetary and physical book/school supply donations from now until September 2023. All monetary donations will be used to purchase creative writing materials, story books, and necessary school supplies. Please address physical book donations to: Mohamed Mwachausa, Executive Director at Samba Sports Youth Agenda, Kombani, Kwale County, Kenya 80316. Please include the phone number on the package: +254 722 823 278. For book donations, please add a motivational message or a few sentences on what inspired your love for reading and/or writing. Our students would greatly benefit from positive words of affirmation to keep them going as they continue their education!

Any and all donations would make a big difference in their lives, and we thank you all in advance for your support!

May God continue to bless you as you bless others!!

Sincerely,

Nadja and Elaine