Rotary Club of Buckhead Georgia Advances Computer Learning for the Blind

[Photo caption: inABLE Executive Director Irene Mbari-Kirika speaks to members and guests of the Rotary Club of Buckhead at a February 7th event.]

On Tuesday, the Rotary Club of Buckhead Georgia invited inABLE Executive Director Irene Mbari-Kirika to speak about the impact of their donation of 10 flat-panel computers for low vision and special needs students at Thika Primary School for the Blind in Kenya. Irene expressed the gratitude of the students, teachers and community, reported computer learning advancements, and encouraged the Rotary Club to continue supporting inABLE's Computer Labs for the Blind educational programs in Africa.

This well-attended luncheon, held at the Cherokee Town & Country Club in Atlanta, also featured guest speaker Jay E. Hakes, director of the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum. Additional photos are posted in photo gallery.

Celebrating Reading at Kairi Library

[Photo caption: inABLE Founder Irene Mbari-Kirika congratulates all the students who participated in the December Reading Contest]

Over 150 children took part in a reading drive organized by ORS librarian, Naomi Macharia. Participating students borrowed books and wrote short essay summarizing what they learned. The top readers in three age groups were announced at a fun celebration event sponsored by inABLE on December 21st.

On the day of the reading-drive celebration, Naomi arrived at the library at 8am. She was greeted by 40 students eagerly awaiting the 9 am event. inABLE founder Irene Mbari-Kirika along with Executive Committee members Kirika Mugo and Chris Macharia traveled from the USA to personally recognize all the students who participated in the December Reading Contest. There were also many supporters in the crowd, including library committee, teachers and inABLE Kenya team representatives.

Appropriately, inABLE’s librarian Naomi Macharia gave the welcome speech. She explained that this reading drive exceeded expectations. On the very first reading-drive day 105 students arrived, when she thought maybe 40 might. And the high attendance numbers were steady for the entire 30 days. She recalled: "I had to come up with creative ways to motivate the students to keep them excited throughout the entire reading contest".

The librarian asked students about what they read, assisted them in selecting books, and also read to young kindergarten and first grade students. She was always amazed to find students waited patiently until she opened the Kairi ORS library each day.

During the reading celebration event, students performed poetry, songs and dance. Every student also received a small participation gift. In addition, the top 10 students were rewarded with additional gifts to support their education. Everyone enjoyed refreshments, balloons and stickers. The Reading Drive celebration was a huge success, with calls for an annual event. To make this happen, everyone cheered…“Read, Read, Read!

To say the least, the USA inABLE team were overjoyed by the response to this motivational reading program and departed Kairi village thinking – "how we can further develop the Our Reading Spaces program".

inABLE Celebrates 2011 Achievements

As we start this New Year, we are full of confidence and gratefulness for all of the accomplishments we attained - together - in 2011. Because there are so many individual actions and contributions that power inABLE, we want to countdown some of the amazing achievements over the last year.

A Dream Come True - Years of planning, praying, and outreach finally paid off. Bidco Ltd’s shipping container gift united students and the Kairi community in one central Our Reading Spaces Program library.

Kenya National Library Recognizes ORS Kairi Library - Impressed with the new library and large book inventory to be catalogued, the visiting (KNLS) Head Librarian offered to send two of her KNLS staff members to assist Librarian Naomi in the process.

Internet Helps Blind Students Become Good Writers- Given time and access our blind or visually impaired students can fully utilize the vast educational tools available on the internet, just like their sighted peers.

Blind Students Excel - All of the Class 7 students - who happen to be totally blind - were exceptionally good in Excel data tabulation.

Teaching the Teachers -inABLE helped Thika High School for the Blind teachers acquire new computer skills.

Library of Congress Kenya Shares Computer Donation - Students welcome computer donation and recognition delivered by Library of Congress Field Director Pamela Howard Reguindin.

First Class of Computer Savvy inABLE Students Graduate - inABLE extends our sincere gratitude and utmost respect to our first class of graduates. We are immensely proud of all of you (Mwololo, Brown, Kiongo, Ndinda, Michere) and hold you all dearly in our hearts.