St Helens project captures the essence of Lasallian Mission

 Living the Lasallian Core Principles is something very important to De La Salle School St Helens, and once again they have underlined their Lasallian Values with a project that illustrates their concern for the poor and quality education, while reaching out to those on the peripheries.

A trip to Kenya by two teachers, Sue Clague and Emma Forde to help a small school in a poor village, had such an impact on the school community that they were inspired to raise funds to provide a much-needed water tank for the school. It certainly in as example of The Leavening Project in action as the efforts of two people have inspired the whole school community to become involved.

During the 2023 Summer holidays, Emma and Sue travelled to Kenya on a Lasallian project. There they spent time teaching in St. Lukes Academy School in Abossi, Kenya. 

It was situated in a very small village with very little amenities. 

They both found the experience very humbling. The children were so eager to learn despite the lack of basic necessities. 

Emma and Sue had done a little fundraising prior to going and between them as they took some much needed supplies, such as pens, pencils, footballs, etc.

They saw the need for much more whilst they were there though. The desks were in need of great repair or replacement, the toilet facilities were very primitive, the dormitories were in great need of improvement and decorating. 

They were also privileged to visit a very special school for those with disabilities, and Sue reflects on the inspirational trip.

The goodness of God has provided children with teachers

Sarafina, one of the parishioners came to us at the end of Mass and begged us to visit her “Special” school. (Lelagoin School). 

We managed to eventually arrange this and went with Father Ambrose, the priest that we were staying with, to the school.

We arrived at this very small building, about the size of one of our classrooms, maybe a little smaller. Situated in a field, with a separate building with two toilets and a small shack where the children could obtain lunch, cooked by one of the sisters of a pupil there.  

We were greeted by three members of staff and twelve pupils.  

Sarafina’s school was very special and unique for the area. It was a school for children with physical, medical, and learning needs of all ages.

Sarafina told us how she started the school: The building, after intense ongoing persuasion was donated by the State school in her village. It was on their grounds but was ran independently from them, so no financial help and no inclusivity of students.  

Sarafina, initially started out with three students. To get these she found out who had had children locally with disabilities. This was very difficult because it was a taboo subject. Children with disabilities, learning or medical conditions would normally be locked away, sometimes chained in their homes. But Sarafina didn’t want to give up on these children. She too had a physical disability but had been fortunate to receive education. She believed that every child no matter what their circumstances were, was entitled to education and wasn’t she right!

The parents eventually agreed and Sarafina’s school eventually grew in numbers from 3 to 15 students that attended school and 15 in the community that her and her colleague would go out to, to home educate.  

What really touched me though was that we were the first people to visit the school and moreover, Father Ambrose was the first Priest to. (in his defence he had only been in the parish since January).  

Sarafina and her staff to me epitomise what it is to be true educators. Educators that St John Baptist de La Salle would be so proud of. Educators that we should all inspire to be like. Not giving up on the vulnerable, those with needs, whatever they are. We could see how happy these precious children were to be there and how much they wanted to embrace their learning. They made us feel so welcome, it was so hard to leave them.  

The very distressing thing that we heard though was that there were three students off that day due to illness. She went on to explain that this happened often and usually it was something to do with the water that they had drunk. Something that is so very precious to the Kenyan people and what we take for granted. They rely on rainwater which is usually collected via the gutters and into huge water tanks. They then treat it with chlorine and access it by a tap.

Unfortunately, though, the school didn’t have this access to collected water and the children would result in drinking from the local stream which wasn’t very clean and usually contaminated causing serious illness to these already vulnerable children.  

On return to DLS St Helens I was asked to talk to the staff about our experience. 

In our school the students have their own charities that they are very good at raising money for.

So Sam, the Lasallian formation team and both Emma and I decided that it would be a great idea if we, the staff, had our own charity/ fundraiser.  

One member of our staff, Trevor was extremely touched by this story and offered to do a sponsored bike ride to raise money for the guttering, tank, and installation. This became a team effort as others volunteered to participate: The 500 mile challenge began. 

We had already raised money, prior to this, for the desks to be replaced and or repaired for St Lukes. But the 500 mile challenge was something different. In such a short period of time we managed to raise the funds. 

The school now has its own water tank. This week was the launching ceremony. 

We are now endeavouring on to raise money for St Lukes to improve the toilet facilities and the dormitories. 

• Sue Clague and Emma Forde