Covid-19 has greatly affected our normal way of living since the first case was recorded in the country.
The government through the ministry of health had to enforce some additional laws to curb the spread
of the virus. These new regulations include wearing mask and use of soap and water or sanitizers to
clean hands every often. These new regulations have a high cost implication to many people since the
said items are expensive to buy. The economy has also been paralyzed, many businesses had to close
down and many Kenyans lost their jobs. Until now there is very little money in circulation and many
people are struggling financially.

After several months of schools being closed the government finally order the phase reopening of
schools and masks, running water and soaps or sanitizers were part of the compulsory items that pupils
needed to have access to in order to go back to school. These additional back to school essentials are
not easily obtainable by many of the pupils as their parents cannot afford. From our survey many of the
pupils were forced to miss school due to lack of masks and other essentials or had to use alternatives
such as pieces of cloth or handkerchiefs as masks. The few recommended masks you would find in
schools were in terrible conditions, either they were torn or very dirty since the pupils would wear them
every day. This puts the children at risk of contracting the deadly virus or other respiratory
complications.

Heads and Hands initiative Kenya (HnHkenya) Back to School Starters Pack Program is an initiative to
help school children acquire the back to school essentials and help them remain comfortably and safely
in schools. The program targeted kids from vulnerable backgrounds in three (3) schools in kajiado
county; Olkaria, Ilasit and Ilkiloriti primary schools. Through this program over 700 pupils and 30
teachers received masks, soaps, sanitizers, pens and pencils. Over 250 girls from the same schools
received an additional three months’ supply of sanitary towels to enable them to stay in school. These
essentials will enable the children to remain in schools comfortably and stay safe from the corona virus.

The back to school starter pack program was made possible by the generous support of Afrikapu and
Billian Music Family who donated the Masks, Kaloito Festivals, Sambu’s luxury décor, Tynela
collections, Bmpicz Photography, and other friends of HnH Kenya who donated sanitary towels, pens, pencils, soaps
and sanitizers.

You touched the lives of not only the children and teachers but the community at large.

Thank you for your support.