Education is the key e.V. 
Educational perspectives for children from small communities in Kenya

Our Team:

The founders from left to right:
Executive Committee: Jules Hergenhan, Simona Cannetti, Carina Christler
Elena Pellizzari, Clemens Koziel, Daniela Kuich, Viona Shiri

 

Origin Story:

My name is Simona, I am italian, and for the last ten years I've been working as an educational support assistant at an elementary school in Berlin, the capital of Germany. My work mainly includes supporting and encouraging children with migration background and refuged children from many conflict areas by teaching them German and mathematics.

In October 2012, I traveled to Kenya for the first time together with my seven-year-old son Jules. Since then, I've been visiting this beautiful country regularly and have learned a lot about its culture, its inhabitants and their lifestyle and everyday life. During the last ten years, I was certainly interested in immersing myself in the daily school life of Kenyan children. By doing so, I was able to visit numerous schools. Although the number of educational institutions increased during the last ten years, their conditions remained poor or even got worse.


In the summer of 2021, an Italian friend of mine, Licio d'Avossa, invited me to the grand opening of a newly founded school as part of his association "Cremona for Kenya". The school "Kagombani Secondary School Don Primo Mazzolari" in Mambrui (near Malindi) was his sixth and last founded school: Licio retired afterwards.

It was a great get-together and an impressive experience! 
Not only for me but for the whole community! I could observe what school means to everyone, children, parents, teachers and villagers. It is a safe place as well as an alternative to living on the streets. Moreover, it's a treasured privilege and a real opportunity taken very seriously, even by the youngest of the children.

Education is an indisputable opportunity to build a solid foundation. A foundation that allows a better future desirable for these children and young people. That's why it is very important to sustainably improve the conditions of the numerous, already existing schools in all small as well as large communities. Maintaining those conditions in the long term should be a priority and therefore enabling all children to attend school.

In 2022, I decided to take a sabbatical year in order to live in close contact with people from small Kenyan communities for a longer period of time. The joy, the motivation, the eagerness and the serious commitment that all these children show for school impressed me deeply! Children from poor families, who do not have the opportunity to attend school, seem to be totally excluded and left on their own. It is not uncommon to see these children on the beach or on the street, asking tourists for food or some money for school uniforms or shoes. In Kenya, school uniforms are mandatory in order to be accepted at school.

All these touching experiences, together with the long and intensive conversations with Licio, my closest friends and especially with Kenyan fathers and mothers of school-age children, gave me the incentive to found the association "Education is the Key" together with my adult son and a group of friends. I also want to continue the valuable work of Licio and don't forget what he has done for so many communities and children. Let's think about how much knowledge, hope, and confidence a single and efficient school can provide in many years of activity! Let us not forget that education valuable and a sacred right for every child in this world, whether they are fleeing war or living in poverty!


Join us in supporting a meaningful project!
Let's make the right to education a right for ALL children,
regardless of their origin or social status!

Licio d'Avossa with children from a preschool and elementary school in Mambrui (Kenya), which were both founded by his association "Cremona for Kenya" in 30 years of activity!


Education is the key to unlock our children's future
and it is our responsibility to pass it on!




Our attendaces at the "Bahari ya Kati primary school"

Simona Cannetti (center) visiting the Bahari ya Kati primary school (background)
in November 2022. On the left teacher Constance Furaha, on the right teacher Rehema Josphat


Attendance at the Bahari ya Kati primary school in April 2023. From left to right:
Simona Cannetti, member Zablon Mweri Baya, teacher Constance Furaha, teacher Mary Chipa, teacher Mary Katore, teacher Rehema Josphat, members Viona Shiri and Jules Hergenhan


Member Viona Shiri together with children from the Beahari ya Kati primary school in April 2023




Antonino Cannetti and friends from Italy visiting the school in January 2023 and also donating money for school uniforms!





 Simona Cannetti and her father Antonino Cannetti visiting the school in February 2023.
The children are wearing their new school uniform, donated by our dear friends from Italy!
(see picture above)


Daniela Kuich and Simona Cannetti visiting the school in February 2023. From left to right:
Daniela, member Zablon Mweri Baya, teacher Constance Furaha with her baby, Simona