The Commitment
This is an exciting project that will benefit 650 children. KST are now building a double stream schoo on a green field site within the existing school’s grounds. This means that we are developing 2 classrooms for each year of the eight years of primary children.

The Old school (pictured opposite) has some 450 children with many more expected to arrive within the next 2-3 years. The school has a great potential, and even without development it has achieved a “mean score” (a measure of the school’s effectiveness) is 240 out of 500. This is far better than the majority of the other similar schools and is a testament to the work of the headmaster and the staff.

Above and Below: The old Simba Schoo that we are currently replacing

Project Progress
By April 2007 the school was 25% completed and we are expecting that it should be finished in mid 2008. The new school has many interesting features such as ability to open four classrooms to form a ‘hall’ capable of seating the whole school in bad weather; magnificent library and staffroom; rainwater harvesting arrangements; two 75 cum water tanks, etc. We have enclosed a siteplan of the school at the bottom of this page

As with other schools built by KST, major elements of the school will be named in honour of significant donors. Thanks to all those who have gone out of their way to make this project happen.

Poor ground conditions (deep black cotton soil) have meant special provision has been made with foundations to minimise the risk of future subsidence and resultant cracking of the floors and walls.

See also weekly Progross report below

Funding and Donors
Fund raising has been going ahead throughout 2006 and most of the funds to complete Simba are now in place. Click here to see sponsors and fundrasing events that have funded this project. All costs (about £130,000) have been from fundraising events such as the two bike rides and The White Mischief Ball (strongly supported by Dragoman), charitable trusts and private donations. The people of Suffolk have been greatly supportive.

Ground Breaking Ceremony
In early September 2006 Harry V-C and the bike ridersfrom the first of the 2006 Bike Rides attended the official "Ground Breaking Ceremony" for Simba Primary School. This was a great occasionand was enjoyed by over 1500 people. Dr Judith Darmady, a trustee of a very supportive charitable trust, was guest of honour.

Ground breaking ceremony, the speaches.....

Weekly Progress

To illustrate the weekly progress at Simba Primary School, we are including a few extracts from the ongoing weekly reports of the Kenyan project manager, Mathenge Ndiritu.

"...The front block comprising of the admininistration, staffroom, Lib and two classrooms has reached cill level. Foundation excavation for the 4classrooms (south wing) is well under way..."

"...The foundation reinforcement to the four classroom block - south wing has been completed and concreting in progress. Ring beam to the front block  is being prepared. We have yet to receive any word on timber ordered nearly three weeks ago. Three is reason to get abit worried. We hope the delay will not have a knock on effect on  the upcoming one..."

"...Ring beam to the front block nearly complete could not be done in one go due to cost of timber.
Filling to south wing (4-classrooms) is in progress. This is a particulaly costly bit because as you may recall, we are doing almost two feet of handcore to counter the huge amount of clay..."

"...As has said in the past, part of the building is ready for roof but timber supply still unconfirmed.
There hasnt been a lot of rain to afect progress..."

Pictures of the Ground Breaking Ceremony, overseen by Dr Judith Darmady

Site Plan for Simba School

Click here to go back to case study menu.