Gitare Kenya OutreachSt. Josephine Bakhita Secondary School
Students gathered for Monday morning assembly at St. Josephine Bakhita Secondary School in Gitare, Kenya

Gitare Kenya Outreach

St. Josephine Bakhita Secondary School

“Building the Future, Desk by Desk, Class by Class”

Gitare Kenya Outreach Inc. is a 501(c)(3) non-profit raising funds to complete St. Josephine Bakhita Secondary School, provide resources for its classrooms, and sponsor students from very poor families in rural Kenya.

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Our Mission

Education is the key to the future in Gitare, Kenya

To establish a co-educational secondary day school in the village of Gitare, Kenya, constructing classrooms and other support facilities in phases over time.

Gitare Kenya Outreach Inc. continues raising funds to complete the final construction phase of St. Josephine Bakhita Secondary School, provide resources for the classrooms and sponsor students from very poor families.

Our missionThe Need
Students in an English class at St. Josephine Bakhita Secondary School

The Need

Why a secondary school in Gitare matters

Gitare is a semi-arid village 80 kilometers west of Nairobi. Most families are subsistence farmers, and crop failure directly affects whether children can stay in school.

Gitare, Kenya is the home village of Fr. Stephen Ndichu Karani. Gitare is located 80 kilometers (50 miles) west of Nairobi. This village covers an area of 44 square kilometers (27 square miles). The area is semi-arid. Inadequate rainfall throughout the year makes water scarce.

Most of the people are subsistence farmers who grow just enough food to feed their families. Crop failure is common and contributes to increased poverty in families, which in turn affects the education of children. In the past, only 36% of the people in Gitare have attained a high school education.

  • Only 36% of people in Gitare have attained a high school education.
  • More than 70% of Kenya's population lives in rural areas, where access to education is a major problem.
  • The poor, and girls most of all, have far less chance of attending school.
  • There are no public libraries in Gitare, Kenya.
See Why the School Matters
“To the young people I say, you are a gift to your communities and indeed the world. You are our hope and our future.”
— Wangari Maathai, Kenyan Nobel Prize Winner, 2004

11 photos — swipe or use the arrows

The School

Built in phases, by many hands

From two classrooms in 2011 to a science lab, library, offices, electricity and piped water — here is how St. Josephine Bakhita Secondary School has grown.

  1. 2008

    The Kenya School Project begins

    Holy Family Catholic Community of Dansville, Perkinsville, Cohocton and Wayland, NY begins The Kenya School Project as a ministry to serve the poor in Gitare.

    The beginning of the Kenya School Project in Gitare, Kenya, 2007

  2. 2011

    The school opens with two classrooms

    St. Josephine Bakhita Secondary School opens with two classrooms, with boys and girls of Gitare attending high school for the first time.

    The first two completed classrooms of the school, January 2011

  3. 2014

    The first graduating class

    The students who began in 2011 became the first graduates from the school, followed by many other classes to date.

    Students rejoicing at St. Josephine Bakhita Secondary School

  4. 2016

    Electricity reaches the school

    Electricity became available to SJBS, enabling lighting, access to computers, plugs and technology.

    A study station inside the school library

  5. 2019

    Clean piped water, and a new non-profit

    Clean and reliable piped water became available and now supplies the school. In April 2019 the ministry became Gitare Kenya Outreach Inc., a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation.

    Group photograph taken at the school in 2019

  6. 2020

    Covid-19 and the multi-purpose building

    Covid-19 affects the education, health and economic activities of students and their families. Work continues on the multi-purpose room.

    The multi-purpose building at the school in 2020

21 photos — swipe or use the arrows

Watch: our project in Gitare

Explore the school

Student & Community Stories

In their own words

Students at St. Josephine Bakhita write about their school, their studies and their ambitions.

A student at her desk during an English class at St. Josephine Bakhita Secondary School

Student, St. Josephine Bakhita Secondary School

Meet Mary

My name is Mary and I am a student at St. Josephine Bakhita School. I live in Cura Village, which is 7km from school. I need to get up very early to get to school on time. There are ten people in my family that includes my parents, four brothers and three sisters. We live on a single piece of land, where we have our three rooms made of timber. We practice subsistence farming on half of our land and have three cows for milking. I get to school by 6:30 am for my morning preps and then lessons start at 8:00 am. My favorite subjects are Biology, English and Kiswahili. I have a very busy day and work hard at my studies. We have clubs after all the lessons and leave school at 5:00 pm to head home.

Form Three

Gabriel

“My Dream School”

Read the full story (PDF)

Form Two

Jane

“My School, My Pride”

Read the full story (PDF)
More reflections & alumni letters4 student reflections and 3 letters from past students.

Photo Story

A year in Gitare

Photographs taken by board members, visitors and volunteers at the school and around the village.

See all galleries

Current Priorities

What your gift pays for right now

Your donation will make a significant difference in the lives of the rural poor families where it is located. A tiny percentage is kept in reserve for administrative costs.

Students in a classroom at St. Josephine Bakhita Secondary School

Complete Sponsorship of a Student

$485 per year

Tuition, uniform and shoes for one student for a full academic year.

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Students taking part in a science class

School Fees

$400 per year

School fees for a student from a very poor family in the Gitare community. This also covers books and learning materials.

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The multi-purpose building under construction at St. Josephine Bakhita Secondary School

Final Construction Phase

Ongoing

Completing the final construction phase of St. Josephine Bakhita Secondary School, including the multi-purpose room.

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The science lab at St. Josephine Bakhita Secondary School

Classroom Resources

Ongoing

Providing resources for the classrooms, science lab and library so students can achieve their high school certificates.

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Ways to Help

Five ways to stand with Gitare

  • Make a Donation

    Your donation will make a significant difference in the lives of the rural poor families where it is located. A tiny percentage is kept in reserve for administrative costs.

    Give now

  • Complete Sponsorship of a Student

    Tuition, uniform and shoes for one student — $485 sponsors a student for one year.

    See sponsorship costs

  • Volunteer

    Give your time and talents for events, the annual appeal, publications & media, and fundraising.

    How to volunteer

  • Pray

    Pray for the students, their families and the community of Gitare, using the prayer written for this ministry.

    Read the prayer

  • Share the Mission

    Share the newsletter and follow the school on Facebook so more people learn about Gitare.

    Read the newsletter

  • Give by check

    Gitare Kenya Outreach Inc.
    PO Box 373
    Wayland, New York 14572-0373
    Ways to Donate (PDF download)

Newsletter & Annual Appeal

Stay connected

Read the latest news from Gitare and this year's annual appeal letter.

News & Events
“The Lord has loved me so much … We must be compassionate.”
— St. Josephine Bakhita, 1869 – 1947
Students rejoicing at the start of a new school year in Gitare, Kenya

Help create lasting opportunities through education.

CLOSE TO ONE HUNDRED PERCENT of your donation to the annual appeal will be used for The Gitare Kenya Outreach for St. Josephine Bakhita Secondary School.

Donate nowWays to Donate (PDF download)