Stawi Ulipopandwa
Bloom Where Planted in Kenya
20 Years and Counting
There is a school in Africa….
... by a lake in Kenya to be a little more precise. When we first took a group on Safari in September of 2003, we visited a school of about 100 children in great need. The building was without doors, windows or floors. There was a roof, but a leaky one! We found we could not leave it behind… the school and the children remained in our hearts and required our attention. That school is now fondly referred to as ‘Our School.’
With the help and advice from friends in Kenya, the project of refurbishing the school has grown into a bigger picture of changing lives. From making building improvements, it has become a full time, full spectrum education mission.
Bloom Where Planted not only works to provide a better learning environment for the students of our school - now numbering more than 600 - but, we also provide school supplies, books, clothing, shoes and more. As students leave the Primary school after Class 8, we recruit sponsors for as many children as we possibly can in order to provide a Secondary ‘High School’ education for them. Over the last several years, over 150 students have been sponsored through Secondary School; with more than 60 of those young people going on to various colleges and universities around Kenya. They continue to make us and their sponsors proud of their accomplishments and integrity.
The most important thing we supply is love. On our visits to Kenya, we spend time with the children, reading stories, working on art and craft projects or playing games; we dance with them, watch their plays, cry as they give their speeches.
We also provide guidance and inspiration. Guidance in the form of discussing responsible, moral and ethical behavior with students at the appropriate age levels. We have introduced experts in health and conservation regarding the student’s future responsibilities for themselves and their environment. During out Enrichment Camp programs, local professionals as well as Bloom Where Planted volunteers teach them skills and bring them inspiration. Past volunteers have included a well published British photographer (formerly with National Geographic); a JPL specialist in Robotic Planetary Exploration; a psychologist; a librarian and many others — all giving the children new visions for their future.
We are all driven by the same passion - to encourage children to “Bloom where they are planted” - to thrive, bloom and be good citizens in their own country.
There are many ways you can get involved.
Education is the only way forward throughout Africa. As the then Kenya Consul General, Nyambura Kamau said to a gathering at Rose Tree Cottage in 2008: “We no longer have enough land to pass on to each of the next generation, so we must give them education.”
Through our visits, the children are learning that the wildlife of Africa is of great importance in a basic way... that the animals bring tourists and the tourists bring money, giving them a better life.
This is a first step to the realisation of their responsibility (and ours) to their environment and our planet. They must learn how to protect the endangered and know the importance of observing the sociology of these fascinating creatures if they are to maintain their fragile co-existence and protect the animals from poaching.
To enhance the lives of children and further education in African countries by providing books, improved learning environments, school lunches and scholarships. By educating girls and boys, we hope to help them ‘Bloom where they are planted’ — to prosper and be good citizens in their own countries, promoting peace and goodwill in the world.
Our Rose Tree Cottage African children’s foundation Bloom Where Planted is now firmly established and enables us all to be of even more help and assistance to the dear children in “our adopted school” in Kenya who have been affected by problems, both new and old, in Kenya. To date, well over $1,000,000 has been donated, as well as many books and other supplies, and we know we can achieve much, much more in the future.
On visits to Kenya, and “our school”, the children look forward to entertaining us as much as we look forward to seeing their smiles and the progress we’ve made with their learning environment and their welfare through our Bloom Where Planted Foundation.
Get involved.
Donate directly to our school through our secure donation page HERE.
Use the form below to contact us directly for additional involvement or to inquire about our future trips to Kenya.