The Australian High Commission in Kenya recently funded a fourth class room at the Africa Inland Church Song’ot secondary school in Kenya. In 2005 AIM partnered with the Africa Inland Church to open the AIC Song’ot Secondary School near Lokichoggio, Kenya. This remote area in the extreme northwestern corner of the country is still very primitive, and previously the closest secondary school was 100 km away. AIM initially sent missionaries to teach and help with the construction of the first classrooms and dormitories.
By August 2010 the school had been fully turned over to the national church, but they were facing a crisis: in January 2011 they would add the fourth and final class of students, but they had only three classrooms! God chose this time to bring AIM Australia short-term missionaries Colin and Wendy Earnshaw to visit Lokichoggio. When they saw the urgent need at Song’ot, they immediately suggested that the school submit a project proposal to the Australian High Commission in Nairobi. Colin forwarded this proposal to the High Commission and, in an answer to prayer, they agreed to provide the $30,000 needed to build a new tuition block comprising three additional classrooms! After months of hard work, the classrooms were finished! The High Commissioner himself, Mr. Geoffrey Tooth, requested to be personally present for the grand opening.
On July 26th, AIM AIR flew Mr. Tooth, two of his staff, and Colin and Wendy from Nairobi to Lokichoggio for the big event. After cutting the ribbon and unveiling a dedicatory plaque, the High Commissioner and the guests were entertained by traditional dancers from the local Turkana community, as well as by the grateful students. Mr. Tooth challenged the students to take advantage of the new facility and the opportunity for education to reach their potential and improve their lives and their community.
September 2011
