Our School News Log
Recent news + school activity
over the years.
Founder visits School Maize Farm
During the school break in August the Founder of Patmos Cottage School, Mr. Richard Wanjala Manya, travelled to the school maize farm in Kitale, Trans Nzoia District. He reported that the maize crop was doing well and that the harvest is expected in November.
Lessons have now resumed at Patmos Cottage School. This is a particularly busy term for the teachers and children, and especially for those children in Grade 3 and Grade 6 classes who, under the new school curriculum, will be studying hard for the National exams they will be sitting in October. We wish them all well!
The maize crop at the school maize farm in Kitale will be harvested in November. The maize is used in the School Feeding Program. August 2024
Home Visits for Sponsors during Medical Mission Camp
During the two day Medical Camp household visits were conducted by Yatima Outreach in partnership with Patmos Cottage School for donors who participated in the Medical Camp in Mathare. The visits aimed to connect the donors with the families they support through the Yatima Outreach Sponsorship Program at Patmos Cottage School.
School social workers in collaboration with the sponsorship officer carefully selected 8 families to participate in the visits. Prior to the visits a needs assessment was conducted of the families and it was determined that a food package would be the most beneficial gift for the families due to the rising cost of living. The package included maize and wheat flour, cooking oil, sugar, salt and bars of soap. These visits provided a personalised experience for the donors allowing them to witness first-hand the challenges faced by families living in Mathare and the positive impact and changes the sponsorship program brings.
Essential food items and soap were delivered to families during the home visits. June 2024
Vacation Bible School run by Medical Mission Team USA
During the two day Medical Mission Camp held in June, the medical team from the USA and their friends also helped run a Vacation Bible School (VBS) at Patmos Cottage School. Each day had many activities led by dedicated facilitators, aimed at making sure every child had fun and learned valuable lessons. The sessions used Bible stories and topics to help children understand the June VBS theme of "God answers prayers”. Through storytelling, discussions, and creative exercises, children were encouraged to connect the theme to their own lives. The VBS welcomed an average of 220 children each day where there were interactive games such as tug of war, balloon races, dancing and singing. The event aimed to create a fun and memorable experience, helping children understand their faith and moral values better. Through the dedication of Patmos Cottage School staff, our visitors from the USA and the enthusiasm of the children, the VBS was a resounding success.
The VBS lessons were fun and interactive. June 2024
Medical Mission Team from USA visit Patmos School
Yatima Outreach, in partnership with Patmos Cottage School, conducted a comprehensive two-day medical health check camp at the school on 28th and 29th June 2024. The Medical Mission team was led by Dr. Pike Roper and he was assisted by colleagues from across the USA. Dr. Daniel Busela, the local school doctor, was also present at this event as the team were keen to work with local people. Dr. Daniel has been supporting the school for many years.
The medical team provided free services to all pupils and staff which included a full health check. A dedicated medical team of 18 specialists, 2 clinical officers and 2 nurses from the USA carried out health examinations on a total of 221 children and adults who received general consultations, eye sight tests and dental examinations. Blood tests where necessary were also carried out and medication prescribed and distributed.
The Medical Mission team from the USA who provided health checks for pupils and staff at Patmos Cottage School. June 2024.
Dr. Daniel Busela, the local school doctor, assisting the medical team from the USA. June 2024.
Patmos School and Yatima Outreach help families
Patmos School has now reopened after providing help and assistance to families affected by the floods. Over the last few weeks the school has been used as a shelter for some of the many school families and staff who sadly lost their homes. The school has also provided safe storage areas at the school for families to store what few possessions they were able to salvage from their homes.
Founder and Director of the school Richard Wanjala Manya also invited homeless families to shelter in his church as they looked for houses to rent and relocate. Patmos School management partnered with Yatima Outreach and supported 60 of the most vulnerable households and have funded their rental payments for a period of two months.
If you would like to help families in Mathare who have been affected by the floods please visit the Orphan Outreach website where they are running a Care for Kenya appeal. https://orphanoutreach.org
Patmos School provided shelter for families during the recent floods. May 2024
Food and essential items being distributed at Patmos School to families displaced by the floods. May 2024
Patmos School and Yatima Outreach help families
Patmos School has now reopened after providing help and assistance to families affected by the floods. Over the last few weeks the school has been used as a shelter for some of the many school families and staff who sadly lost their homes. The school has also provided safe storage areas at the school for families to store what few possessions they were able to salvage from their homes.
Founder and Director of the school Richard Wanjala Manya also invited homeless families to shelter in his church as they looked for houses to rent and relocate. Patmos School management partnered with Yatima Outreach and supported 60 of the most vulnerable households and have funded their rental payments for a period of two months.
If you would like to help families in Mathare who have been affected by the floods please visit the Orphan Outreach website where they are running a Care for Kenya appeal. https://orphanoutreach.org
Patmos School provided shelter for families during the recent floods. May 2024
Food and essential items being distributed at Patmos School to families displaced by the floods. May 2024
Floods and Loss of Life in Mathare.
On the 24th April, 2024 heavy rains in Kenya caused the Mathare River to burst its banks and sweep away all the households along it within a radius of 30 metres on both sides, killing people, destroying property, and displacing families. Sadly it is now estimated that more than 20 people were killed and over two hundred families lost their homes and belongings during the recent floods. Patmos School has been working alongside Yatima Outreach and Orphan Outreach to provide emergency assistance. Yatima Outreach donated major basic commodities to the displaced families such as mattresses, cooking utensils and food as well as school uniforms and shoes for the children. Through the generous response from the Orphan Outreach emergency relief campaign ‘Care for Kenya’ appeal they have been able to provide meals for families in need, fund medical care for those injured and sick and supply families with essential items. They are also helping to repair or rebuild homes destroyed by the floods. For the present time the school remains closed as over 40 school families and working staff are now homeless and being housed in the school and the church. Please visit the Orphan Outreach website to find out more about how you can help. https://orphanoutreach.org
Yatima Outreach donates mattresses, food and cooking utensils to families affected by the floods. May 2024
School Maize Farm Update
The Founder of Patmos Cottage School, Mr. Richard Wanjala Manya visited the school maize farm during the Easter school break. Four acres of land are being rented this year and weeding of the land took place the first week in May. The maize and beans grown at the farm are used in the School Feeding Program.
There are many challenges which maize farmers are facing in Kenya this year including a significant risk of fake fertilisers which have reportedly infiltrated into government stores as well as a general shortage of fertilisers. It is hoped that by the time the second weeding session is due to commence that supplies of top dressing fertiliser will have been distributed to government stores and able to be purchased by farmers.
Weeding of land at the school maize farm took place in April 2024
Vacation Bible School
On Monday 8th – Friday 12th April 2024 a Vacation Bible Study (VBS) event took place at Patmos Cottage School. VBS is an outreach event that many churches offer, usually during school breaks, to connect with the children and families in their communities. The purpose is to incorporate themed activities that entertain children with the chance to also learn about God. VBS is a popular end of term activity for Christians and non-Christians alike. Churches generally run VBS for a week, and each program has its own theme that children can explore. A week of VBS usually includes games, crafts, snacks and, of course, Bible lessons. The theme for this event was "Pride and Humility".
Pupils from all age groups attending the recent Vacation Bible School. April 2024.
The CEO of Each One Teach One visits Patmos Cottage School.
On Monday 25th March, 2024 Mr. Nitesh Patel, the CEO of Each One Teach One, visited the school with his daughter and members of EOTO. Nitesh had previously visited the school in January of this year.
On this occasion Nitesh donated a generator which will help to ensure a good supply of electricity at the school. He also brought supplies of school uniforms and shoes for the children and sacks of maize flour for the parents.
We are extremely grateful to Nitesh for these donations and to Mr. Mortimer Jones of Orphan Outreach and Mr. Tom Wambulwa for facilitating this visit.
Mr. Nitesh Patel, CEO of Each One Teach One, donates a generator to Patmos Cottage School. March 2024
Patmos School children were presented with school uniforms and shoes and each parent was given a bale of maize flour. March 2024
Patmos Cottage School Healthcare Program.
On Wednesday 28th and Thursday 29th February, 2024 Doctor Daniel Okal Busela (Dr. Dan), assisted by two of his nurses, carried out health checks on 213 children from Patmos School from the PP1 class through to the Grade 8 class. The children also received de-worming preparations and multivitamin supplements.
This was the first of the bi-annual health checks that are provided each year for the children under the School Healthcare Program. Some children were found to be suffering from fungal infections and intestinal worm infections, including hookworm, whipworm and roundworm.
Dr. Daniel Busela and his nurses providing health checks for children at Patmos Cottage School. February 2024
Donation of Musical Instruments by Yatima Outreach
On 16th February, 2024 Patmos Cottage School pupils were thrilled to receive a generous donation of musical instruments from Yatima Outreach. The instruments, which included a Yamaha keyboard and drum sets, were presented to the school by the Yatima Outreach Country Director, Mr. Tom Wambulwa.
This donation will give the children the opportunity to learn a musical instrument. It will help to nurture their musical talents and to express themselves creatively which will in turn help to boost the children’s self-esteem. It is a well know fact that music can have a significant impact on our well-being and on our happiness. Therefore, we are very grateful to Yatima Outreach for this donation and for their commitment to provide more instruments for the school in the future.
Yatima Outreach Country Director, Mr. Tom Wambulwa, donating the instruments to Founder of Patmos Cottage School, Mr. Richard Wanjala Manya. February 2024
Student Council Elections
On the 8th February, 2024 Patmos Cottage School held Student Council Elections. Children were nominated and put their names forward on a chart for the various positions to be filled, namely President, Vice-President as well as departmental prefects. Teachers prepared the ballot boxes and papers well in advance. The ballot boxes were dully labelled and names of candidates clearly written. Voting was through secret ballot and counting of votes was done immediately by the teachers and assistant administrator with the winners names recorded by the deputy Head teacher. During one of the weekly assemblies, the names of the winning candidates were read out. They were then invited for an induction meeting with the deputy Head teacher on 19/02/2024.
One of the aims of the Student Council is to develop leadership skills.
Pupils voting in the Student Council Elections February 2024.
Conservation and Ecology Trip funded by AFEW (K)
On Wednesday 7th February, 2024 a group of 48 children from Patmos Cottage School, accompanied by 2 teachers, went on an Ecology and Conservation trip to The Giraffe Centre.
This trip was sponsored by the African Fund for Endangered Wildlife (A.F.E.W. Kenya) which is a Kenyan non-profit organisation whose main purpose is to educate Kenyan school children and youth on their country's wildlife and environment.
Patmos School children on a trip to the Nairobi Safari Park. February 2024
The Founder of Patmos Cottage School visits School Maize Farm.
In late December 2023, during the school break the Founder of Patmos Cottage School, Mr. Richard Wanjala Manya, visited the school maize farm to oversee the land rental for the 2024 season. Four acres of land have now been rented and the preparation of the land will take place in February ahead of the planting of maize and beans in April.
The maize and beans grown at the school maize farm are used in the School Feeding Program which helps to provide a daily nutritious meal for all the children as well as a breakfast of porridge. The maize harvest in November 2023 yielded 78 x 90 Kg sacks of maize.
Founder of Patmos Cottage School, Mr. Richard Wanjala Manya overseeing the rental of farm land for the 2024 season. January 2024
The 78 x 90Kg sacks of maize that were harvested in November 2023.
Orphan Outreach Programs Director and Nitesh visit school.
On Tuesday 16th January, 2024 Patmos Cottage School was delighted to receive a visit from Mr. Mortimer Jones, the Orphan Outreach USA Programs Director, who was accompanied by his good friend Nitesh from the USA and the Director of Yatima Outreach, Mr. Tom Wambulwa. The guests were welcomed to the school by the Founder Mr. Richard Wanjala Manya, and were given a full guided tour of the school. Richard then gave a speech which chronicled the amazing history of the school and Mr. Jones and Nitesh then gave equally motivational speeches which were full of encouragement and wisdom and which left the children excited and full of hope. The children put on a wonderful show for the guests which included them singing a special cultural song about how much they love their school. Before leaving, the guests had discussions with Richard, Tom, the Headmistress and the Head of social work regarding challenges the school faces and in particular issues relating to school welfare.
Mortimer, Nitesh, Headmistress Peragia Masinde, Founder Richard Wanjala Manya and Yatima Outreach staff. January 2024
Nitesh giving a motivational speech to the children. January 2024
Shannon Sharp and Friends from USA Visit School.
On Thursday 11th January, 2024 Shannon Sharp and a group of her friends from the USA visited Patmos Cottage School.
Shannon and the group were in Kenya for a very special occasion and whilst in Nairobi took time out of their busy schedule to visit the school and meet with the children and staff. Whilst there, they also donated much needed supplies of school text books, exercise books, encyclopedias and dictionaries as well as pens, pencils and chalk.
Shannon Sharp and Friends donate text books, stationery and school supplies to the Director of Patmos Cottage School, Mr. Richard Wanjala Manya, and the Headmistress Mrs. Peragia Masinde.
January 2024.
Members from Washington National Cathedral USA visit school
On Tuesday 9th January, 2024 Patmos Cottage School received distinguished guests from the Washington National Cathedral USA as well as friends and colleagues of theirs from Canada and Kenya. They were accompanied by the Director of Yatima Outreach, Mr. Tom Wambulwa and the Yatima Outreach Projects and Sponsorship officers.
There were 20 visitors in total and they were welcomed to the school by the Founder and Director of Patmos Cottage School, Mr. Richard Wanjala Manya, who in turn introduced the guests to the Headmistress and all of the school staff. Thereafter, they were given an extensive tour of the school building.
Members from Washington National Cathedral USA visit Patmos Cottage School. January 2024
Members from Washington National Cathedral USA visit school
On Tuesday 9th January, 2024 Patmos Cottage School received distinguished guests from the Washington National Cathedral USA as well as friends and colleagues of theirs from Canada and Kenya. They we