Sustainability

Both environmental and financial sustainability have been priorities of the School from the start; even before the first shovel hit the ground. Current measures to support self-sustainability include natural resource conservation projects, agricultural initiatives, and school fees paid by families who are able.

Environmental Sustainability

As the School was being built, the contractors and architects used natural resources as efficiently as possible, to keep the carbon footprint to a minimum. This priority continues as the School expands with current systems that include:

  • Water catchment system, which captures rainwater from building roofs and funnels it into cisterns for purification
  • Solar LED security lights installed on the exterior walls of the school
  • A biodigester that provides for responsible on-site sewage disposal and produces nutrient-rich fertilizer to be used in the School's gardens. The School would like to expand its use of biodigester as funding permits.

Financial Sustainability

By the second year of operation, the Nambale Magnet School began attracting children of area families who are able to pay school fees. These fees support the operation of the School and also aid in its mission that vulnerable or indigent children not be isolated from mainstream Kenyan culture. This also ensures the social and economic diversity that makes the "magnet" concept so innovative in Kenya. 

The land and the current buildings are fully owned without debt.

Community Sustainability

Nambale Magnet School works to engage the community both locally and regionally, adding value to the area beyond the student body.

The School provides gainful employment to a wide variety of local tradespeople and laborers who work on the School's construction projects, landscaping and agricultural activities. Many others are employed as security guards, kitchen workers, laundresses and houseparents.

The School has been licensed to present Early Childhood Education seminars and training to area educators. These take place during school holidays and are a source of additional revenue for the School.

The School hopes to add Adult Education classes in subjects such as agricultural science and animal husbandry. Computer science classes will be offered if the School is able to acquire sufficient desktop computers. These will generate income and deepen the investment of the community in the success of the School.


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