Atsinafa Education Centre: How did it start?

Seeing children in Safina village, Ndalu, Kenya, eager to learn, in January 2013, John L Shabaya started Atsinafa Education Centre. There were no classrooms or an administration. Teaching and learning activities were under the canopy of trees. Later, through extensive sacrifices, 5 temporary classrooms, 1 kitchen, a shallow well and 2 latrines were built.

With Corona Virus -COVID 19 onslaught, it became extremely difficult for the school to raise funds and realise its dreams. Therefore, the CEO decided to close it. However, just when Atsinafa Education Centre was about to be closed, a miracle happened and indeed miracles happen….

Why was Atsinafa Education Centre started?

As education is the key to life, and knowledge is power that transforms people, the centre was started to give children and adults in the rural villages access to quality education. Certainly, almost everything in life hinges on education.

Given education, good space, encouragement to acquire knowledge, i.e., room to excel, anyone can excel. Overall, Atsinafa Education Centre was started to give learners an opportunity to improve their lives, realise their dreams, excel, and reach for the stars.

Atsinafa Education Centre is a legacy to the founder’s illiterate mother: Atsinafa Muhudia Shabaya, who encouraged her son to pursue education through and amidst various challenges. As the founder of Atsinafa Education Centre accessed education through libraries, a Resource Centre/library accessed by children and adults is a priority.