KENYA: MINISTER OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TOM MBOYA VISIT STAREHE BOYS' CENTRE IN NAIROBI

Record ID: 363676

  • Title: KENYA: MINISTER OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TOM MBOYA VISIT STAREHE BOYS' CENTRE IN NAIROBI
  • Date: 1st February 1968
  • Summary: MR. MBOYA WITH TEACHERS INTO BUILDING; MBOYA WITH MRS MONTEFORT; EXHIBITS; BOYS LISTEN TO MBOYA; MEMBERS OF STAFF; BOYS CLAP; TWO BOYS SHAKE HANDS WITH MINISTER. Initials IF/VS/JH/PC Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 16th February 1968 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: NAIROBI, KENYA
  • Country: Kenya
  • Reuters ID: LVA31L9ONXCVLEUPZM9J46TOO2NW
  • Story Text: MR TOM MBOYA, THE KENYAN MINISTER OF ECONOMIC PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT, RECENTLY VISITED THE RAPIDLY EXPANDING STAREHE BOYS' CENTRE IN NAIROBI. THIS CENTRE WAS OPENED SOME EIGHT YEARS AGO TO TACKLE THE PROBLEM OF THE CITY'S WAIFS AND STRAYS, AND NUMBERS AMONG ITS FIRST PROMOTERS A VISNEWS CAMERAMAN.

    AFTER TOURING THE CENTRE, ACCOMPANIED BY MRS MONTEFORT, A PEACE CORPS WORKER FORM THE UNITED STATES, AND VIEWING EXHIBITS PREPARED BY THE BOYS, MR. MBOYA DISCUSSED THE FUTURE OF THE HOME. HE SAID THAT KENYA'S EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM SHOULD BE GEARED TO TRAINING PEOPLE FOR SERVICE IN EVERY ASPECT OF COMMUNITY LIFE - BE IT AS TEACHERS, ARTISANS, SCIENTISTS OR FARMERS. IN THE PAST, HE SAID, THE EMPHASIS IN EDUCATION HAD BEEN UPON TRAINING LEADERS, BUT IT WAS ALSO ESSENTIAL TO TAIN PEOPLE WILLING TO WORK UNDER LEADERSHIP.

    MR. MBOYA REMARKED ON THE PROGRESS THE CENTRE HAD MADE SINCE ITS INAUGURATION IN 1960. ON THE FIRST NIGHT OF OPENING - IN A DISUSED POLICE STATION - THE CENTRE COULD DO NO MORE THAN PROVIDE A BOWL OF SOUP AND HALF OF LOAF OF BREAD FOR THE EIGHT BOYS WHO CAME IN FROM THE STREETS. A BLANKET WAS PROVIDED FOR THEM TO SLEEP ON THE FLOOR.

    NOW THE INSTITUTION IS ABLE TO HANDLE ALMOST 1,000 BOYS ON A FULL-TIME BASIS - NOT ONLY GIVING THEM FOOD AND LODGINGS, BUT ALSO EDUCATION THEM TO SECONDARY SCHOOL STANDARDS. THE SCHOOL HAS AN INTERNATIONAL STAFF OF TEACHERS, AND RECEIVES SUPPORT FROM OXFAM THE SAVE THE CHILDREN FUND, THE FOR FOUNDATION, AND OTHER INTERNATIONAL CHARITABLE ORGANISATIONS.
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