This has always been one of my favorite community outreach programs.

It’s taken a long time to finally feel that all of our community outreach programs are back on track. Our free uniform distribution program to the children in the surrounding slums has, by far, always been my favorite.
School uniforms are mandatory in Kenya, meaning that even if a child goes to school in a hand-me-down, worn-out, thread-bare uniform, he/she is at least in uniform and hopefully not at risk of being sent home.
For the families living in our surrounding slums, a full uniform costs over one month’s salary if the mom can find day work doing laundry, cleaning, or seasonal farm work. The basics of a tunic, blouse, sweater, shoes, and socks will cost over $45.00. Add in books and school supplies, plus this expense that has me puzzled: mandatory school lunch fees.
Apart from the initial expense of uniforms and school supplies, some children don’t enroll in school in the first place because of mandatory school lunch fees. You can’t opt out and bring your own lunch. The parent has to pay approximately a $50.00 fee per term for lunch. We have found ourselves paying arrears in school fees for girls who have missed whole semesters. They can’t return to school until the arrears for school lunches they did not receive because they were sent home are paid. I wish someone could explain that one to me.
We visited three schools in January, donating over 90 smart new uniforms to some very happy, proud children.
Below is a portion of Martha’s report on the success of the uniform distribution. With the help of the school principals, we are locating the children who are still at home due to a lack of school fees and uniforms, and our recent graduates are already working on making uniforms for the children who missed out during our January distribution.
 

“The principals told us that some of the pupils had not reported back to school due to a lack of uniforms, and others came back with their tattered clothes, which were evident. Those who missed the uniforms were crying, not knowing what would happen in the coming weeks because they were not allowed to be in school without a school uniform and feared being sent home.”