About the Project

In lieu of wedding presents, please help me build a Science lab for Mabafweni, in Kwale County, Kenya.

About Mabafweni Community:

Mabafweni community is located in Kwale, south Coast of Kenya. The population of the village is 22,000 people and the average person makes USD $3 per day.Majority of the population in the community are poor. The community also lacks decent schools. In addition, students attending primary schools do not have any access to Science laboratories. Lack of access to science laboratories denies young students the opportunity to experience the magic and fascination of science. It also denies them the opportunity to experience and discover how interesting, exciting and rewarding science can be.

Esther's journey: From Kwale to USA and now giving back to her community

On a beautiful summer day of August, 6, 2011, I attained what at times seemed to be an elusive dream. I received my doctorate degree in Entomology. As I walked to get my degree; my thoughts meandered back to my community in Kenya. I thought of the many children in my community who had the potential to be a scientist like me but lacked the opportunity

It is during that day, I told myself that I would do whatever it would take to give the children in my community, the children from other poor communities, the children in Africa the opportunities so that they can break the poverty barrier, get an education and go out to attain whatever it is that they want to become. Since then, I have devoted an enormous amount of energy to creating sustainability and prosperity for future scientists from my community in Kenya.

Projects in the community and how well they are doing.

1. School: In 2012, the school opened doors to 10 children. They studied in a mud class but we were happy to know that we had started giving back. Today the school has 70 students and it runs through grades 1 to 5.

2. Library: 101 Heroes generously donated $10000 and helped us build the first library in the community. The library will officially open on October 12, 2015.

http://www.the-star.co.ke/news/village-girls-dream-bring-library-hometo-kwalehttp://www.reenvisionyourfuture.org/post/10123225127/by-esther-ngumbi-the-act-of-moving-the.

3. Thriving Agriculture: Through Oyeska Greens, the community has received training and support it needs to farm successfully.

http://www.standardmedia.co.ke/article/2000160739/project-sharpens-kwale-farmers

What Students will get from the Science Lab?

This lab would serve as one of the main means by which the young students would be given the opportunity to develop interest in science while learning about recent scientific discoveries impacting our world, technological innovations and breakthroughs beginning with agriculture. Students will,

1. Get familiar with the process of doing science.
2. Carry out several scientific experiments that will allow them to experience the magic and fascination of Science, while making science very practical.
3. Familiarize themselves with the basics of growing crops successfully, including learning about the pests and diseases that affect crops growing in our community.
4. Be challenged and inspired to use science to design innovative solutions to local issues.

Every young student, in every school and region of the world should have an opportunity to experience the magic of Science…Esther Ngumbi.