Hai Africa

The First 7 Years of a Child from a Waldorf Perspective Text adapted from its Portuguese original version written by volunteer Natalia Jorge According to Waldorf education, a child's initial seven years are dedicated to building their physical body, the foundation for future growth. It's a time of incredible willpower, where milestones like walking, talking, and thinking are achieved through a harmonious blend of inner drive and a supportive environment. Creating this nurturing space is vital, especially in today's world. A child needs to perceive the world as a benevolent place, fostering a sense of security that allows them to unfold their unique potential. Each child carries a special gift for humanity, and our role as adults is to welcome them with enthusiasm and reverence. By cultivating an inner stillness and communicating our understanding of their journey, we empower children to retain their innate curiosity and joy, facing life's challenges with love. #Waldorf #EarlyChildhood #ChildDevelopment #Parenting #Education

Wait, Is Africa a Country? Understanding This Epic Continent's Diversity Spoiler alert: Africa is *not* a country! It’s a huge, diverse continent with over 50 countries, each bringing its own vibe, languages, and traditions to the table. A lot of people still think of Africa as one big place defined by war, poverty, and famine, thanks to outdated stereotypes from colonial times. But that’s just one side of the story. Africa is also about booming economies, new democracies, tech innovations, and incredible contributions to fashion, cinema, literature—you name it! Let’s break it down: Africa is split into five main regions—North, West, Central, East, and Southern Africa. Each one is like a whole new world. You’ve got Arabic-speaking North Africa with its massive Sahara Desert, the tropical vibes of Central Africa, and the bustling agricultural scenes of East and West Africa. When you look past the stereotypes, you’ll find a continent rich in culture, history, and achievements. Want to get to know Africa better? Start by diving into stories from the people who live there. Check out books by amazing African authors like Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and Frantz Fanon. Binge-watch Nollywood films to get a taste of Nigeria’s thriving cinema scene. Follow African news outlets, watch some documentaries, and read up on the continent’s history. It’s all about expanding your horizons and seeing the full picture of this vibrant and ever-evolving continent!

Exciting Update on Our New School Construction Project in Kabiria! We are thrilled to share the latest progress on our mission to build a new school for HAI in Kabiria. Since launching our fundraising campaign on November 26, 2023, we've raised an impressive USD 102,000 from over 350 generous donors across the globe. Your overwhelming support has been instrumental in driving this project forward, demonstrating the collective commitment to enhancing early childhood education in Africa. Construction began in May and is on track for completion by the end of October. We are proud to partner with Bonya Investments Limited, a Nairobi-based construction company led by Mr. Bonface Nyangau. Our meticulous selection process ensured we chose a contractor with the right expertise and vision. We are delighted with the progress so far, which is also closely monitored by CODE Studio, surveyor Martin Njoroge, and independent engineer Kelvin Mwenda. We are also addressing critical infrastructure challenges, such as energy and water supply, by exploring sustainable solutions like solar power and high-quality water filters to ensure the new school has reliable electricity and clean drinking water. However, to reach our goal, we still need to raise approximately USD 18,000. We're committed to continuing our fundraising efforts and will keep you updated on our progress over the next couple of months. Thank you for your unwavering support—together, we are making a lasting impact on the lives of the children in Kabiria, Kenya! Get a glimpse of our progress in the photos below ;)

From Housekeeper to Teacher: My Journey with Hai Africa Hi, my name is Leah, and I’m 31 years old. My journey to becoming a teacher has been filled with challenges and incredible opportunities, all of which have shaped who I am today. After finishing high school in 2012 with a grade C on my final exams, I found myself living with my parents in the village. Unfortunately, they couldn’t afford to send me to the college assigned by the government, which was far from home. Wanting to create a better future, I moved to Nairobi to live with my sisters in 2013. Life in the city was tough, and I had to look for work to support myself. I started working as a housekeeper, saving every bit of money I could to eventually go to college. Unfortunately, my salary wasn't enough to cover the high cost of education. Driven by my long-held passion for teaching, I began searching for a job in a school. I got my first teaching role in 2014 at Bright Future Education Center, where I taught grade 2 students. I saw a job advertisement at Hai Africa for teaching opportunities a year later. I went to the interview and met Mariana, Hai's founder, along with other staff members. When I was hired, I was overjoyed to finally have the chance to pursue my dream of being a teacher. At Hai Africa, I started teaching 3-4-year-olds, and I loved every moment of it. What made Hai truly special was the support I received. Thanks to Mariana and the Hai team, I was able to attend college. Hai sponsored my school fees and transportation, allowing me to earn a degree in pedagogy and obtain my teaching certificate. At the time, I had a newborn baby, and Hai’s environment was so welcoming that I could bring my child with me to the center. Mariana ensured that we were comfortable and provided all the necessary support to help me complete my studies, which I successfully did in 2018, officially joining the Kenyan Teaching system. Being part of the Hai family is a dream come true. Teaching children brings me immense joy and fulfillment. Every time I step into Hai, I feel like I am in another world, full of happiness and purpose. I am incredibly grateful to Mariana and the entire Hai Africa team for giving me this beautiful opportunity to live my passion. #haiafrica #teacher

The four pillars of our NGO Hai Africa When Hai Africa was founded in May 2015, one of our main concerns was to establish effective communication with the local community in order to understand their real needs. This is how we developed our four fundamental pillars, which continue to be the basis of our efforts to generate a positive impact on the community. 1 - Humanized Education Our teaching method aims at the well-being and development of our children through an integrated and holistic approach. We do this following the principles of Waldorf pedagogy, promoting play, love and affection. We also offer financial support to primary school students to ensure that, after reaching the age limit in our preschool, they can continue their studies. 2. Health and Nutrition For us, healthy eating is a priority. It is proven that when a child has an adequate diet, their entire body functions much better, from growth, muscle formation, bone strengthening, as well as cognitive development. To support a healthy diet, we offer a vegetarian menu carefully developed by a nutritionist. Always valuing health, we work in partnership with the NGO Por1Sorriso to provide annual medical and dental support to the community. 3. Female Leadership Three women from the community, Annette, Jane and Leah, are teachers at our Hai Centre preschool. With financial support from Hai, these women studied Waldorf Education, Pedagogy and specialized in Child Psychology. Our hiring at the school values women like Fanice and Furaha, who are responsible for cleaning and cooking. In addition, we founded the “Moms Company” in partnership with Project Três, dedicated to generating income and developing the mothers of our children so that they can increase their financial independence through local crafts. 4. Impact and Local Development Our contribution goes beyond individual impacts. At Hai, we ensure that we support the local economy by purchasing 100% of the food and supplies that our center uses from local businesses. In addition, all of our local employees are from Kabiria, where we are considered part of the community and recognized as an important center for development. It is a joy to be able to work so that the children and adults of the Kabiria community can have a life of greater opportunities. Education changes lives and we exist to transform through Education. We are grateful to everyone who helps us and if you would like to help us continue, donate monthly to Hai Africa: https://lnkd.in/dzAsxJy7 #HumanizedEducation #FemaleLeadership #Education #ThirdSector #HaiAfrica

Work on the new Hai is ON! ✅🏚️ Hai and all its local supporters have been working hard to transform the lives of the children of Kabiria. It took a lot of courage, determination and persistence to face all the financial and bureaucratic challenges to make the dream of a bigger and better school come true. Today, we want to thank you all for your support and invite you to celebrate this dream of a new school with us. Your contribution is the reason more children in the community will now have the chance for a better future. Today, we also want to ask for your continuing support to complete the work and, in addition, increase the number of children in 2025. We have yet to reach 100% of the amount necessary for the full construction, and know that we will achieve it together. Our campaign is still active here: https://lnkd.in/dRWvJa28 You or your company can help us by donating construction materials or financial resources. You can also help by expanding our partners' network by: Sharing the contact of school supply companies Sharing the contact of companies that work in Kenya and/or are willing to help us even though our work is on the African continent. Becoming our ambassador or volunteer by donating your time and expertise. May this construction inauguration mark the beginning of a new Hai - a Hai with many more children who will have access to quality education, nutrition, and lots of love. Hai is growing! Be part of this dream. Join us! 🥹 #haiafrica #ngo #kenya

Meet Remmy Kavaya, a bright former student of Hai who resides in Kibiria, the local underprivileged community where our center is located. Remmy joined Hai in 2016 at the tender age of 5. Despite her initial shyness, she always wore a smile that could light up a room. At Hai, she learned how to write and read, gaining a robust educational foundation that prepared her for primary school with confidence. From the beginning, Remmy showed a strong work ethic and dreamed of becoming a teacher when she grew up. Now, at 13 years old, Remmy is a teenager attending Junior High School at Ndurarua Primary School. Since leaving Hai, all her tuition and educational expenses have been sponsored by Hai. She has grown tall but still carries her shy demeanor along with that same bright smile. Remmy has blossomed into a diligent student, excelling particularly in science. Her aspirations have evolved as well; she now dreams of becoming a nurse in a large hospital, driven by her desire to save lives and make a difference in her community. #haiafrica #ong #kenya

The Challenges of Early Childhood Education in Kenya Quality early childhood education is crucial for the future development of each child and the country as a whole. However, in Kenya, there are several obstacles that prevent all children from accessing this fundamental education. Main challenges: 1- Limited access: Many children, especially in rural and low-income areas, do not have access to early childhood education schools. The lack of free public schools, qualified teachers, and educational materials aggravates this situation. 2- Inadequate teacher training: Many teachers lack proper training, which affects the quality of teaching. It is necessary to invest in training and professional development programs for educators. 3- Socioeconomic inequalities: Poverty prevents many families from prioritizing their children's education, perpetuating the cycle of poverty. Subsidy programs or free education can help mitigate this problem. 4- Cultural and linguistic diversity: Kenya's diversity, although rich, presents challenges in education. Many children are taught in languages that are not spoken at home, creating a disconnect between their cultural identity and the learning environment. It is crucial to recognize and embrace this diversity in education. 5- Low parental involvement: Parental participation is fundamental to children's school success. However, many Kenyan parents face difficulties in actively engaging in their children's education due to economic pressures, lack of understanding of the importance of their role, and outdated views on education. 6- Policy and funding challenges: Early childhood education still receives little attention and limited resources compared to other levels of education. It is necessary to advocate for greater government investment in early childhood education and policy reforms that prioritize equity and quality. Organizations like HAI are working to minimize these challenges by offering free, quality education, ensuring teacher training, providing adequate nutrition, and promoting parental involvement. Investing in early childhood education is investing in the future of each child and the prosperity of Kenya. #haiafrica #kenya #ngo

Meet Juliet and Linda. It's heartwarming to introduce you to these two dedicated mothers who have found support and hope through Hai's community-based school. Despite facing significant challenges as solo moms, they have shown immense resilience in ensuring their children receive a quality education and a safe environment. Juliet, at 33 years old, is a single mom caring for three children.. Linda, also 33, is a mom of five. Both mamas learned about Hai through a friend and were drawn to its mission of providing free education to underprivileged children. Their decision to enroll their children at Hai was influenced by the assurance of a secure and caring environment where meals are provided, allowing them to work without worry. Hai's work extends beyond the school walls. We believe that children’s development is a combination of quality education and the life children live outside the school perimeter. Therefore, we pay close attention to our student’s immediate family and caregivers, providing support to enhance their skills and empower them to take an active role in their children's education. Juliet and Linda represent most of our mamas—strong solo moms who unfortunately did not have the opportunity to complete their own education or receive vocational training. With the best interest of our children at heart, Hai works closely with them in the hopes to leverage the entire family by offering food assistance, professional training opportunities, and grants to help overcome economic hardships. Juliet and Linda speak with gratitude about Hai, acknowledging the impact it has had on their lives and their children's futures. They feel proud to see their children receiving a quality education and are optimistic about what lies ahead. Their journey with Hai has not only eased their concerns about their children's education but has also empowered them to become stronger parents and individuals in their community. Their story reflects the transformative power of education and community support in uplifting families from challenging circumstances. Through initiatives like Hai, these mothers are able to navigate economic uncertainty with newfound strength and hope. #haiafrica #ngo #kenya

The importance of crocheting for learning At Hai, we follow the Waldorf pedagogy, a holistic educational approach that emphasizes experiential learning through manual work, fostering creativity, practical skills, and a deep connection to the natural world. And, guess what activity encompasses all this and more? You guessed right - crocheting! From a very early age, all of our students learn the art of crocheting. Some of the key benefits of this activity are: Improves fine motor skills: When children crochet, they refine their eye-hand coordination and strengthen their hand muscles, which are basic prerequisites for literacy readiness. Children with developed fine motor skills can hold pencils and pens correctly and mimic writing movements more easily, experiencing less frustration when learning how to write.    Develops concentration: While crocheting, children must focus on their hand movements and crocheting strategy to complete their artwork. This skill is transferable to many areas of school and life where sustained focus is crucial, particularly in today's fast-paced digital world. Builds self-discipline: Students work on crochet tasks from start to finish, helping them plan their work, assess progress, and adapt as needed. This process promotes resilience, confidence, and self-esteem. Hai teachers observe these and many more benefits in the classroom with this activity. For example, they also use crocheting as a form of children’s emotional self-regulation. Students find that crocheting brings calm and a sense of fulfillment, helping them set aside worries and focus their energy on this productive and enjoyable art. It is common at Hai to display our students' work for appreciation by classmates, parents, and the local community. We couldn’t be prouder of our children! #haiafrica #ngo #kenya