Maria Magdalena Special School (MMSS)
What is Maria Magdalena Special School (MMSS)?
Magdalena Special School in Munyu is a boarding school for more than 120 children and adolescents with mental and physical disabilities.
They are taught in family units in six grades from preschool to vocational preparation.
Many students come from poor families whose parents cannot afford the school fees. That's why we provide sponsorships to make sure that children and adolescents from poor families can also go to this model institution.
Help for clean drinking water!
There is a serious problem:
The borehole water at the Maria Magdalena Speciel School contains coli bacteria. It must be boiled before it can be used as drinking water. The search for the causes of the pollution is in progress.
Engineers Without Borders (IoG) provide help to find a good solution. The members of the local group in Ulm plan, advise and explain what should be done.
Thank you very much!
More information is available on the website of the IoG Group Ulm.
We help
With the help of donors we were able to finance several projects in the recent years: The supply with drinking water, the storage of rainwater, the connection of the school to the power grid and the expansion of the school's own workshops.
We also support the school in the professional development and in the conception of new projects.
The school´s projects: income generating activities
The school runs a chicken farm and a corn mill. We sponsor the development of income projects for Maria Magdalena Special School.
Because of high food prices and living expenses, Maria Magdalena Special School still needs further support.
Why vocational training for young people with disabilities?
For the adult students of Maria Magdalena Special School it is very difficult to find work. Since 2010, they have been able to try out their skills in a vocational training programme.
They get trained in various areas such as housekeeping, horticulture, woodwork, metalwork, tailoring and arts and crafts.
What next? Workshops for people with disabilities?
"What next?" - The big question is how things will continue after school. This has been a problem for the students and their parents and teachers for a long time.
Workshops and housing facilities for adult people with intellectual and mental disabilities are needed. They are being built on a plot in Gatuanyaga, some kilometres away from Maria Magdalena Special School:
How was Maria Magdalena Special School founded?
The school was founded in 1991 by Father Michael Schrode for initially 11 children with intellectual disabilities.
Over time, more residential buildings, classrooms and workshops were added.
Today more than 120 pupils are taught at the school. They live in small groups in family units. Each group has two housemothers.
Why does the Special School need support?
The state of Kenya only pays for the teachers` salaries. The school has to finance the boarding facilities and the running costs.
The parents must pay school fees, but they cover only part of the running costs. Some parents cannot afford the school fees.
The chicken project and the corn mill generate a small income for the school.
We have supported the school since 2008 with the running costs.
Sponsor a child with disabilities!
Many families cannot afford the school fees. Some families can only pay part of the fees.
So we started with sponsorships in 2008. Without our support, the school would have great difficulties.
Become a godfather and sponsor a child with disabilities at Maria Magdalena Special School.
What have we done so far?
Many projects at Maria Magdalena Special School were supported by us:
For example, the construction of a borehole for drinking water with a hand pump, today with an electric pump and drinking water supply for each of the houses.
Other projects we supported:
• Improvement of the water supply system through the installation of gutters and the construction of a large rainwater reservoir
• Connection of the school to the electric network
• Upgrade of the wastewater system
• Reconstruction of the main office after a burglary and purchase of computers
• Repair of a severe damage after a fire
• Construction of a building for a corn mill and conversion of the mill to electrical operation
• Construction of a storage room for the chicken project and living facilities for the workers
• Construction of a wood workshop and a metal workshop and the supply of tools
• New mattresses for dormitories
• Repair and new procurement of playground equipment
• Material procurement for vocational training
• Support of internships