STADA aims at achieving Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) number 4, quality education by ensuring that children going to school are really learning and achieving foundational literacy and numeracy as early as grade 3. Our vision is for each child to develop a curiosity about learning, discover their interests, and grow in their love of learning. STADA desires to develop a strong reading culture, an environment where reading is championed, valued, respected, and encouraged. This is achieved by fastening the abilities of those lagging. We desire to have all-around children, talented disciplined, and confident in facing life challenges, as we prepare them for future leadership.
With the vision of developing a strong reading culture in the children, we have established a community library equipped with books for all grades. This is to help children who are learning in schools that are ill-equipped with basic learning materials. Currently, the library serves an average of 70 pupils, with a peak attendance being during the school holidays.
Objectives
Activities conducted in the community library include and are not limited to:
To achieve Universal Literacy and Numeracy, we are piloting Accelerated Learning Program to fasten the abilities of children who are lagging to read and do basic numeracy. This is done through a one-on-one reading and numeracy assessment and is used to generate a baseline of children’s competencies. ALP focuses on providing an alternative education and a faster system for learning, promotion of self-expression, discipline and reliance among learners, broadening and deepening the vocabulary bank of learners, thus improving their reading fluency. The primary activities conducted are assessments (tests and revisions), book reading sessions, and engaging debates.
Talent incubation center to help young girls realize their potential. This is done through one-on-one mentoring; each talented girl is matched with a mentor who is an expert in their field of interest. The hub’s aim is boosting the confidence of the students through the discovery and nurturing of their talents at an early age and providing a foundation in creative and performing arts. Activities include poetry/ spoken word, dancing, singing, drama, fashion design and modelling.
Adolescent girls dropping out of school may lead to a high level of illiteracy, gender inequality, single motherhood, unemployment, and many more. To address this, we keep girls in school by advocating for their retention and offering financial support to those with low social economic status. Our focus is mainly on girls from marginalized communities who are recruited after the needs assessment, however the program is not funded, since it depends on the availability and financial provisions by well-wishers.
Objectives
Early Childhood Development is a key aspect in the development milestones of a child. In this case, giving a child a good infancy foundation helps in the future development as a toddler through into teenage and adulthood. STADA has implemented this goal through the establishment of daycare services to serve both beneficiaries (teen mums and staff) and the public. The daycare focuses on child-related elements including Daily routine practices (health checkups, hygiene, meals and snacks, nap and play time), motor skills, language and communication, social and emotional development, creative expression and parental communication.
The STADA VTC focuses on imparting hands-on skills to beneficiaries (teen mums) and looking forward to incorporating other members of the community. The courses offered are NITA accredited, and eligible to students having a minimum of a Kenya Certificate and Primary Education (KCPE) certificate. Courses include Hairdressing and Beauty Therapy, Counselling Psychology, alongside Solar Training.
SDG 2 focuses on ensuring zero hunger amongst individuals in communities (both children and adults). STADA incorporates this goal by providing free meals (lunch) to students attending the community library during the holidays. The program’s goal is to reduce hunger, to promote the attendance and concentration of students while learning. However, the project is not funded as it depends on the facilitation from volunteers and well-wishers.
