A Facelift for Ufani Primary School

Bring it up to Karimu standards across all schools

The reconstruction of Ufani Primary School was one of the first projects of Karimu in Ayalagaya Ward. In 2007 the school had only two usable classrooms for its 230 students, which meant that some classes had to be taught outdoors or not at all, depending on the weather conditions. Teachers had no office to meet with one another or with students, prepare for their classes or grade homework.

Between 2008 and 2010 Karimu built from the ground up ten classrooms and two teachers’ offices for Ufani Primary School. Enrollment increased immediately after the reconstruction of the school, as students from other schools were attracted by the new facilities and the learning environment. Since the renovation began, the student population rapidly increased from 250 students to 476 students. 

The teachers, students, and parents of Ufani School have cleaned daily and faithfully kept up with small repairs. But fifteen years of use and harsh weather conditions have resulted in the need for a facelift. An upgrade of the Ufani classrooms and teachers’ offices will bring Ufani up to the same quality of Bacho Primary School, which the local government considers to be a model school. In June 2019 Bacho received the Uhuru torch, a national honor that is awarded to projects that exemplify development and progress for the country. 

The remodel will include the following: 

• Installing ceiling boards inside classrooms and roof boards outside to prevent nesting by wasps and bats  

• Treating all cracks and increasing the thickness of blackboards

• Redoing the floors with a smooth cement paste finish

• Touchup painting

• Maintenance work on windows and doors to make sure they all open and close smoothly 

• Installing electrical wiring

• Painting the fascia boards and installing gutters

• Patching classroom leaks

• Installing another window in the teachers office 

• Drainage work and other associated work behind the buildings  

• Building a walkway and additional stairs in front of the classrooms

• Installing a chain link fence to block public access to bathrooms

• Maintenance work on the skirting of the student bathrooms

In June 2023, Karimu hosted a 15-year Anniversary celebration which resulted in raising enough funds to begin the remodel. Construction began in September 2023 and will certainly be completed by December 2023. 

We have not asked the community for a contribution to this remodel, because they contributed to the original construction in 2010 and have been maintaining the school so well for so long!

Cost: 

• Karimu cost: $64,705.18

Expected benefits:

• Better learning environment

• Higher attendance rates

• Improved academic performance in the National Exams