About Mathare

General Information:


Mathare Mabatini Sub-location (Mabatini) is a small area in Mathare slum, Nairobi. The area is densely populated as it measures approximately 100 meters by 300 meters and is home to more than 9,000 people. Furthermore, Mabatini is a highly underdeveloped area, even by the standards of a slum. For example, there are not many access points for running water and there is absolutely no access to a toilet within the area.

Most of the people living in this area lack the financial means to send their kids to a government-funded public school despite the introduction of free primary education as they must still cover the costs of uniform, food and learning materials. Therefore, most children are going to so-called informal schools. At these schools the pupils can attend for free in their own neighborhood. Unfortunately, the educational environment in these schools are not the best a student could wish for. Often these schools consist of a single roomed corrugated iron shack with no electricity or learning materials such as note books, pencils and textbooks. Ngotas Upendo Primary School is such an informal school.

The children attending this school do not have enough money to buy proper materials, or even food for the day. But with the idea that education is the basis for a better future, these children and the teachers are trying to make the best out of a very difficult situation. Since this primary school is situated in Mabatini, they also do not have access to a toilet or close-by tap water. The result is that the children and adults alike relive themselves in the small field next to the school which the children use as a playground. The health risks of this situation are apparent and effect everyone living in the Mabatini area and the children in particular.

Ngotas Upendo Primary school itself has a school building build of wood. The equipment is insufficient for teaching and only the teachers have textbooks. Still the children come to this school because other nearby schools ask for a small fee or require that parents purchase school uniforms and their own learning materials, which is impossible for these children in their current situation.