8-16-2017

AIC Zion Drama Team Places Third Nationally

In August, the AIC Zion Drama Team placed third in Kenya's national drama competition... an incredible accomplishment for the students and their teachers!  Coached by Stanley Wambua, the headmaster of AIC Zion School, the drama team has devoted endless hours to rehearsing and refining their synchronized speeches, which include a story about creating treasure from trash and a message about national peace and unity.

1-22-17

AIC Zion Church and School Compound Fire

It has been very difficult for all working through the emotions of such great loss due to this fire. The school is back in session and the teachers and students are managing the best they can with the space and building that are avaliable. We have recently received the offical damage and loss report, which totals $40,000.00 USD.

Please continue reading for more detailed information and consider how you can be involed in the rebuilding process. Donations can be made by going to the DONATE tab above and following the PayPal instructions.

AIC Zion is an African Inland Church ministry that is located in the Mathare Valley slums of Nairobi, Kenya.  Estimates are that these slums are home to as many as half a million people in an area of about three square miles.  Twelve years ago, AIC Zion began their school because few children in the slum have the opportunity or money for education.  Today the school offers education and meals for 680 children from kindergarten to 10^th grade.  In a couple of years, AIC Zion will have their first high school graduation.

Unfortunately, the wonder of the incredible hope generated by AIC Zion has been temporarily hindered by tragedy.  On December 26^th, a fire started near the church and school compound.  The source of the fire is unknown at this time.  There are no fire corridors in the slums and little to no water supply, allowing the fire to spread.  The fire affected the AIC Zion compound, destroying some buildings and damaging others.  Thankfully, no one was injured in the fire.  AIC Zion reports the following damage:

• Destroyed: Building Block C - 6 Classrooms, the Youth Hall, the Deputy Head Teacher's office, and the Primary School staffroom. Loss of all Desks, Textbooks and other furniture.
• Damaged: Building Block B - Classrooms and the Women's Hall were partly desestroyed because of the fire and rescue operations.
• Damaged: The Prayer Room due to theft.
• Also destroyed was much of fencing and compound walls because of the fire and the efforts to stop the fire.

The cost to rebuild Building Block C and repair other buildings, replace classroom desks and textbooks, drill a borehole for permanent water supply, rebuild the compound wall/fencing, and other repairs is estimated to be $40,000 USD. 

Click on the PDF below for pictures that show some of the damage.

Updated information on December 29, 2016,

See message below from Rev. Johnson Wambua with details of what happened:

Kindly pray for us to recover from fire damage. As you may have learn from social media there was fire in mathare slum and our school and church was affected in a great way.

Pictures below show the Damage by the fire. The Youth Hall that has 7 Classroom on second level are completely gone. The side wall of the Library Building has been burned away, leaving the building open.

Please contact us via our email listed on contact page or copy paste admin@welcomethechildren.com into your email, with any questions.

Thank you,

The Boardmembers of Welcome the Children

First post of Fire:

December 27, 2016, We have just learned of a tragic fire that has burned many dwellings in the Mathare Valley area and has also consummed Classrooms and the Youth Hall at our AIC Zion School. As we learn more of the details, we will provide updates.

PLEASE be in prayer to our Lord for a peace and comfort that only he can provide for all the families and the school children.  

We need to seek His sovereign will over this situation and humble ourselves to serve His people, however He leads us.

Thank you,

The Boardmembers of Welcome the Children

In countries, like Kenya, the educational system is quite different than here in the USA. The school system is organized in a way that all students MUST recieve an 8th Grade Level education and then pass a Final Exam, before moving on to 4 more years of a High School education (Form School).

In 2011, AIC Zion School only provided classes for Grades K through Class 6. Welcome the Children, in its first year, contacted the school administration and began focusing on the addition of grades 7 and 8. Through the grace of God and our Partners the First 8th Grade Graduating Class celebration was held in November 2013.

Comment below Posted 2013: 

We just received great news that the Class 8 from AIC Zion received the results from their national exam (KCPE) and all students did well and are eligible for secondary school! 
The message included the following from Johnson Wambua, our primary contact in Kenya "The area chief has praised us, local government here is happy...and I am happy my dreams are being realized, praise God, these children will transform Kenya one day!"
Thank you all for your support of this wonderful place. The support is making a huge impact!!

We are so PROUD of our students and coming up this November 2015, will be the 3rd 8th Grade graduating class!  

Thanks (Asante) for your partnership.

The building to the right houses the classes for grades 6, 7, and 8, which was also made possible by our donors' support.