At St. Miriam Orphanage in Moi’s Bridge, small details make a big difference. For the children who live here, having clean and safe sanitation is about dignity, health, and feeling cared for.

As 2025 ended, the condition of the orphanage’s old toilet facilities was a growing concern. The structures were unsafe, worn out, and no longer met the daily needs of the children and staff. What should have been a basic necessity became a daily challenge.

From December 31, 2025 to January 7, 2026, an intensive 8-day renovation project completely changed this situation. The work began with the careful demolition and removal of the old toilet structures. This cleared the way for something safer and stronger. Within days, a solid foundation was laid, new walls were built, and a modern hand-wash basin took shape alongside the toilet block. Plumbing, ventilation, plastering, roofing, and finishing were all done with a focus on durability, cleanliness, and usability.

By the final day, the change was clear. Where there had once been unsafe and deteriorating facilities, there now stood a clean, well-ventilated toilet block with a usable hand-wash basin—bright, secure, and ready for daily use. The space now supports good hygiene practices, reduces health risks, and creates a more dignified environment for the children.

This project may seem simple, but its impact lasts. Safe sanitation protects children from preventable illness, supports their daily routines, and allows caregivers to focus on nurturing instead of constant repairs. It is a quiet but powerful improvement that affects every part of life at the orphanage.

At Village Economic Empowerment (VEE), we believe that real change often starts by meeting basic needs well. The St. Miriam Orphanage sanitation project is a clear example of how focused support can quickly improve living conditions and restore dignity.

Island Schools Project – Kitufu Island, Uganda

On the islands of Lake Victoria, ambition is not the problem—access is.
For children living on Kitufu Island, education has long been separated from their daily lives by deep, unpredictable waters. Each morning, many children rise early not to prepare for school, but to support their families’ survival. The nearest government schools are located across open lake waters, requiring long and unsafe boat journeys that most families simply cannot afford. For years, this reality meant that education remained out of reach for an entire generation.
Village Economic Empowerment (VEE Kenya), working hand in hand with local partners and the Kitufu Island community, stepped in to change this narrative.

Instead of asking children to cross dangerous waters in search of education, we made a commitment to bring education to the island itself.

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Turning Commitment into Construction
The Island Schools Project was born from a shared belief: no child should be denied education because of geography.
Today, that belief is taking physical form. Despite immense logistical challenges, construction materials—most notably timber—have successfully been transported to Kitufu Island by boat. This marks a critical milestone in a project where every single item must cross water, weather permitting, and at considerable cost.

Every plank visible on site tells a story of partnership:
• Community members who offered labor and local knowledge
• Donors who trusted the vision
• Field teams who navigated transport and logistics
• VEE Kenya’s commitment to inclusive, community-centered development

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What the Current Progress Shows
The images from Kitufu Island capture more than materials—they capture momentum:
• Timber delivered and safely staged on the island
• Early classroom structures taking shape
• Local community members actively supporting construction
• The physical beginning of a school where none previously existed

This is not just a building project.
It is access. It is safety. It is dignity.

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Why Donor Support Matters Now
Island-based construction is fundamentally different from mainland projects. Materials must be transported in phases by boat, making the process vulnerable to weather disruptions, rising costs, and delays.
Our engineering and field assessments confirm that full upfront funding enables:
• Bulk transportation of materials, reducing repeated boat trips
• Faster construction timelines before adverse weather
• Lower overall project costs
• Reduced risk of stalled or incomplete structures
VEE Kenya upholds strong accountability and transparency systems. All project funds are tracked through:
• Formal receipt acknowledgment
• Detailed expense documentation
• Periodic financial and narrative reports aligned with donor requirements
For us, transparency is not optional—it is foundational.

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The Impact We Are Building Toward
Once completed, the Kitufu Island school will:
• Provide access to formal education for island children currently excluded
• Reduce dropout rates caused by unsafe travel and distance
• Offer a stable learning environment aligned with Uganda’s national curriculum
• Become a long-term community asset protected and sustained by local families
Every classroom built on the island changes the future of dozens of children—not by relocating them, but by affirming that they matter exactly where they are.

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Call to Action: Be Part of the Beginning
Village Economic Empowerment (VEE Kenya) invites partners, donors, and well-wishers to stand with us at this critical stage. Your support will directly translate into:
• Completed classrooms
• Safe learning spaces
• Trained teachers
• Children seated at desks instead of boats
These images do not mark the end of the story.
They mark the beginning of hope—built plank by plank, across the water.

One of the 35 vibrant community groups formed by Village Economic Empowerment (VEE). With 13 dedicated members, they practice table banking to uplift each other financially and turn small savings into life-changing opportunities. Recently, they took a bold step into farming, leasing a quarter-acre to plant kales as a collective project. Their journey is a powerful example of teamwork, resilience, and creating sustainable livelihoods. Join us as we celebrate their story and impact!”

In the heart of Kajiado County, where the land stretches wide and dry under a relentless sun, children wake before dawn. They walk along thorny paths, past grazing zebras and dusty trails, making their way for miles while watching for wild animals. They do this not just to fetch water, but to reach something just as valuable: education.

This is the reality for children like Sankei, a young boy whose story you can watch here. His daily journey reflects the dreams these children hold in their hearts. They dream of reading, learning, and becoming more than their circumstances

Six years ago, Osiligi was just an idea; it was less a school and more a hope. A few desks were lined up under the rusted roof of a tin church. But the vision was clear: to bring education to children who were left behind, too far from the nearest school and too at risk from the journey.

Through community effort, support from donors, and partnerships with government and NGOs, Osiligi has grown. Today, it is a registered public school serving students up to Grade 4. Dozens of children have passed through its doors, some for the very first time in their family’s history.

The Children have an ablution block

A School That Grew From Hope

We need more teachers to handle the student-teacher ratio

Every year, as children graduate to the next class and  grow older, the school runs out of space for them. Many drop out. Others face long, dangerous commutes—especially girls, who are more vulnerable to early marriage and other risks.

They are willing and ready to actualize their dreams to levels of today’s standards of academic excellence.

Sankei and His sister are growing ever since PP1 and their resilience is absolutely phenomenon.

But we are not done.

The Next Step: Grade 5 to Grade 9, about four more classes are required to accommodate this important expansion of the school which mean we are retaining learners in good numbers

We need your help to change this.

We are expanding Osiligi to Grade 9 to keep our children safe, in school, and learning. To do this, we urgently need classes and capability to remunerate our teachers.

A New Classroom – $11,000 

A Teacher’s Salary for One Year – $2,500 

These are not just numbers. Each donation brings us closer to a world where every child, no matter where they are born, has access to knowledge, dignity, and opportunity.

The space for development is generous and the community is happy to have their children achieve greatness through VEE Osiligi Primary School

We invite volunteers and many more to partner with us and see a Maasai child go to the higher heights

What Your Gift Means

A new classroom means no child will be turned away because we ran out of space.

A teacher means quality learning and guidance that can change lives.

Your donation means more children like Sankei can stay in school, dream bigger, and break free from poverty.

You Can Help Today 

Build a Classroom

Sponsor a Teacher