Yesterday I had the opportunity to meet with 4 members of the 3 families who are key to the planning, fundraising and orchestrating of the Sean Michel’s School for Special Needs in Miyani, Kenya. Sheila and Lisa Michels, and Aubrey and Tammy Potter were vacationing in Utah and we were able to schedule a meeting to discuss in more detail the plans for the Sean Michels’ School

The Michels, Potter and Murphy families, all from Connecticut, are long time friends. They have come together to raise the needed funds and give their input as Koins prepares to begin the building of the first Special Needs school in the area of Kenya we serve.

You can read more of the story of Sean Michels and how the idea of this school came about here.

The final price tag for this school, dorms that will house 30 students, matron housing, facilities and kitchen will come in at about $30,000. So far the families have raised about $21,000.

Groundbreaking for the school will take place during the Koins October trip. Lisa Michels, Sean’s mother, is hoping to be able to arrange her schedule and family commitments so she can go. It would be a wonderful opportunity for her to see the school grounds, meet the Kenyans who will be building the school, and especially to meet the children who will be attending the Special Needs school.  The school will be finished and ready for students in January of 2008.

The beauty of the Sean Michels’ school is that it will be for those students who haven’t been able to attend school, whether for lack of mobility, too crowded conditions in the regular classrooms for their ability levels, or simply that the classes didn’t meet their needs. Without an education, and with limitations imposed by their special needs, these children had no hope for a better future. The Sean Michels’ school will change that for those who are selected to attend. The students will come from several villages surrounding Mnyenzeni. Their abilities and needs will be assessed and those who are able to learn will be brought to the school, live in the dorms and be cared for by a full time matron. The school will adjoin the dorms and be staffed by government provided teachers trained to instruct special needs children.

You can see the video footage of the site for the Sean Michels’ School for Special Needs, meet the principal and the special needs teacher here.

This is an exciting project, with long term benefits for everyone able to attend . Once the school is built, there will continue to be yearly expenses in the form of boarding costs and maintenance of the school. If you would like to contribute to the Sean Michel’s School for Special Needs, you can make an online donation here, specify the Sean Michel’s School as the donation destination.

If you know of a classroom that might like to sponsor a student at the Sean Michel’s School for Special Needs, please contact Nancy Littlefield. She can arrange the sponsorship, which will include information about the sponsored student and communication via letter several times a year.

It is people like the Michels, Potter and Murphy families who are changing the world. They had an idea, explored it, and are now working hard to apply it for the benefit of children in Kenya who otherwise would have no options or opportunities. We applaud their efforts.

IVL