The School
St. Josephine Bakhita Secondary School
A co-educational secondary day school in Gitare, built phase by phase since 2011 and still growing.
Milestones
How the school was built
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.
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.
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.
2016
Electricity reaches the school
Electricity became available to SJBS, enabling lighting, access to computers, plugs and technology.
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.
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.
Facilities
What stands today
- Two original classrooms (2011)
- Two additional classrooms
- Science lab
- Library
- School offices
- Electricity (2016)
- Piped water (2019)
- Multi-purpose room construction
A week at school
- The Academic Year begins in January.
- The students walk to school every day; Monday through Friday.
- The school week begins with an assembly on Monday morning with the hoisting of the National Flag, prayer, and the principal's address.
- Classes begin for the week.
- Students eat lunch at the school.
Construction Progress
Then and now
Buildings raised in phases as funds allowed — each one photographed during construction and after completion.
Before
AfterClassroom windows
Progress at St. Josephine Bakhita Secondary School, photographed by visitors and volunteers.
Before
AfterThe multi-purpose room
Progress at St. Josephine Bakhita Secondary School, photographed by visitors and volunteers.
2026 Update
The school today
The most recent photographs sent to us from Gitare.
Classrooms & Learning
School life, 2022 – 2023
Science laboratory, library, awards day and classroom life at St. Josephine Bakhita.
“One child, one teacher, one book and one pen can change the world. Education is the only solution.”
Building the School
Construction, phase by phase
Foundations, walls, roofing and finishing work carried out by local builders, documented from 2008 onward.
Archive
Moments in time
Photographs from earlier visits to the school and the village.
Every classroom completed is a class of students who can stay in school.
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.