Pooling Resources: A Collaboration for Kenyan Children's Education

By Jamea J. Sale, PhD Photo Credit Gregory Wegst

By Jamea J. Sale, PhD
Photo Credit Greg Wegst

In the heart of Kenya, amid the vibrant enthusiasm of its people, lies a stark reality: resources are incredibly thin. Yet, within this landscape of scarcity, a lesson in resilience and creativity emerges, reminding us to appreciate our circumstances at home. Our music education outreach team, Jamea Sale, PhD, Niccole Williams, MME, & Greg Wegst,, are in Kenya for a second working visit. The energy of the people is palpable, but their challenges are undeniable. All one must do is stand in the midst of the students of Kapkemich to notice uniforms that are worn to threads and children with no shoes. Girls receiving access to sanitary pads and fresh undergarments shed tears of thanks. Amidst these trials, the positivity and innovation of Kenyans is humbling.

A collaboration has emerged between the current leadership of Kapkemich Primary/Secondary School and St. Anne’s Girl’s High School. Recognizing the power of music education to enrich young minds, they have decided to pool resources and position themselves as the go-to institutions for children interested in music, among other subjects, as a career. This initiative will draw students with specific interests to the school. It will likely be noticed at the government level, potentially paving the way for additional funding to this rural area.

Until then, there are immediate things that could greatly benefit these schools. For instance, Kapkemich Primary/Secondary School lacks wifi access, severely limiting its ability to operate efficiently in the 21st century. With wifi, they can more easily access materials and teaching aids available online including ones that the IHS&VR have specially created. I've learned that a purchase of a router with installation is about 13,000 Kenyan Shillings or $80 US, and a monthly fee is estimated at about 6,500KS  ($40) per month. For around $550 the school could have internet service for year.

Seven teachers at Kapkemich Primary have formed a Music Department and are eager to undergo formal training. They found a music certification course at Maseno University. To my amazement, $2000 would cover all seven for two semesters. This tuition is remarkably small compared to US tuition standards. However, the cost is an unfathomable on a Kenyan teachers salary.

St. Anne’s has expressed modest needs, including essential items like a USB flash drive and a DVD player, twenty soprano descant recorders, government music textbooks with a teacher manual needed for student proficiency tests, and a set of festival music. Yesterday I learned that the new part time high school music teacher salary of $188 US/month has not been covered. Yet, he has worked hard alongside us this week and is committed to building St. Anne’s program.

Kenya’s beauty is matched only by the strong hearts of its people, who continue to inspire us with their resilience and resourcefulness. As we navigate the disparities between our countries, we hope our donors’ generosity will continue to bridge the gap, allowing us to quickly meet the modest requests of our school friends. Let us remember the power of collaboration and its profound impact on this rural Kenyan community, regardless of geographical boundaries. Together, we can make a difference in the lives of these students and teachers, empowering them with tools needed to thrive in an ever-changing world.

We have set a goal to raise $5000 to cover all of these needs and perhaps more. Gifts toward the costs mentioned can be given at:
https://donorbox.org/february-2024-kapkemich-school-wishlist

A Disembodied Voice Revealed and An Unexpected Gift

Jamea J. Sale, PhD

Sitting on the guesthouse porch making plans upon the first day of our return to Kapkemich, Kenya, I pondered our previous experience. I wondered how the skills previously taught were being used and what the students and teachers recalled. Almost a year had passed since our first teaching trip in March 2023.

I heard a small voice call my name at that moment, but I could see no one. Then I realized the voice was coming from a tree overlooking our front yard where a young boy was perched, hugely smiling. It was Charles, a delightful student from Kapkemich Primary Secondary School who happened to live next door.

Charles made a unique connection with the Kenya Krew last year. We never had an opportunity to look closely at Charles because he would crouch deep in the roadside bushes, watching for us along the road as we conducted our music-teaching activities. Without fail, he would say, "Hello, Jamea, Niccole, and Christine." So, we found ourselves chuckling while addressing greetings to a disembodied voice in the shrubs.

It seemed a great gift when Charles fully revealed himself in the tree and proceeded to converse. I was astonished that he recalled our names but more surprised when he voluntarily sang a perfect rendition of Che, Che, Kule, an African children's song we shared with the primary students a year ago.

What a heartwarming and delightful encounter with this young Kenyan boy! It's incredible how connections formed during our teaching trip a year ago have lingered and left a lasting impact. With his shy but endearing gestures, Charles seems to embody the curiosity and warmth that can thrive in cross-cultural exchanges. Enjoy this recording of Charles singing. It was a precious and unexpected gift.

Charles singing from the tree.

Charles, our next door neighbor, is revealed.

A view along our walk to school.

Kenya Ponderings - Dr. Jamea Sale

Yellow-Bird

3/15/202

I awoke this morning to a rhythmic tap-tap-tapping only to see our sweet bird at the window. Yellow-Bird visits several windows around the house, observing and singing her sweet song. She quickly takes flight if someone approaches, but Christine waited patiently one morning and captured her sweet song.

Morning Sounds

3/10/2023

It is incredible how quickly one can acclimate to the way of life in new surroundings. We have become accustomed to sitting on the front porch of our villa in the morning enjoying the sounds of nearby animals proclaiming a new day. Roosters competitively crow, cows complain that it is milking time while lambs cry to their mothers, and as background there is birdsong and the distant voices of children playing while adults plan their workday. What a joyful setting for the start of day.

We four, Greg, Jamea, Christine, and Niccole, marvel that we have been living closely together for so many days without tension. When a group of colleagues must literally hang their laundry out together, relationships will be tested.

However, there is a positive and affirming energy among the Kenya crew, otherwise known as Greg and the Girls, that I am not sure I have ever experienced before. Our days are jam-packed with work, learning from the Kenyan people, and keeping up with connections at home.

In the evenings, we are ready to decompress, and the house is filled with laughter as we share stories of the day.

The sharing does not end with our Kenyan experiences. We have found time to sit together in silence, doing so with no discomfort.

Greg has been a particularly good sport as conversations turn to “girl-stuff.” And we’ve shared many giggles as we tried new things together.

This knobby fruit is called bitter melon, and it is aptly named. We tried it raw and fried. Even though we didn’t care for it, it was fun to test it together.

When we begin long discussions together, there is a ring of laughter and an exchange of affirmation with one another. We are learning about each other’s lives and feelings and building trust in our relationships.

I believe that bonds are strengthened when humans can lift one another up, affirm and serve one another. I think each of my colleagues feel the same. Perhaps that accounts for the ease between us, even in the closest of quarters.

Here’s to dear friends! The 2023 Kenya-Crew will always be dear to my heart.

An Affirmation of Pride and Personhood Through Music - Niccole Williams, MME

After only a few days, we have fallen in love with the students at St. Anne’s High School and Kapkemich Primary school. Every day we are greeted with waves, hugs, handshakes, and questions about our day. Their sweet personalities, playfulness with each other, and eagerness to learn remind us so much of our students back home.

The girls at St. Anne’s, in particular, have been gracious, patient, and open with us as we have asked them to do many unaccustomed things. Making bubbles and singing through straws (SOVT), matching voice pitch to a bouncing beach ball, and doing many different (and dramatic) forms of movement while singing must have seemed very odd to the girls. Nevertheless, they have embraced methods of easing vocal tension and the use of learning tools for creating a blended, balanced choral sound.

We rehearsed with the girls from 7pm-9:30pm. The singers were rockstars as we worked tediously on a passage for alignment of pitch, word inflection, and blend. We showed the St. Anne’s HS singers many different techniques for learning musical passages, as well. Watching the girls’ faces light up as their sound finally melded into a beautiful passage gave me chills. Our evening concluded with a small dance party celebrating the choir’s hard work. Celebrating the kids enthusiasm, giggles, and pride in musicianship. has been a highlight of each day.

Working daily with my colleagues Dr. Jamea Sale and Christine Freeman at St. Anne’s High School and Kapkemich primary school has inspired my continued growth as a teacher. I have always respected them greatly, but teaching alongside them daily and watching them interact with the students has made my appreciation for them grow tenfold. In a few short days, I have learned many tools and ideas that I will excitedly tuck into my teaching toolbox to try out with my students back home.

Even more so, the way my colleagues are invested in the girls as whole persons and not just as musicians is absolutely beautiful. Daily mantras from them have included “strong women use their voices in any way they can” and “be the change you want to see in the world.” Teaching music is important, but reminding and affirming a sense of pride and strength in your students’ personhood is even more worthwhile. I am humbled and honored to work with Jamea and Christine and to have their friendship.

Students rehearsing Bluebird with Christine Freeman, MME

Overview of Our First Few Days - Christine Freeman, MME

We have been in Kenya for three and a quarter days now. The welcome has been humbling. Our gracious host, Fr. Anthony Kiplagat, greeted us heartily hosting a celebration for his birthday, and our friend Lydia’s birthday, along with the 42nd Wedding Anniversary of our new friends from FOSA (Friends of St. Anne’s), Ruth & Dan AND it was Dan’s birthday. We had Mass at Fr. Anthony’s home and a decadent buffet of traditional foods from Nandi county.

Fr. Anthony introduced members leadership he has founded as part of the community based “Singing Hills of Kaplelmet.” They stood and spoke one at a time about their personal experiences and goals for the future of the organization which has built a community music building in Nandi Hills. Fr. Anthony and the member’s vision for strengthening the musical community is inspiring. 

We enjoyed a long talk and then Mulatia, a guitarist and leadership member started to play records. Fr. Anthony taught us some dancing to his tribal Kenyan music played on 45-records. After several long days of travel and so much fun, we were truly exhausted for the rocky ride back to Kapkemich and overwhelmed by the first encounters with our new friends.

Our second day was rest and recovery, trying to adjust to the new time zone nine hours ahead of central standard time. The day yielded many great conversations with Ruth and Dan Schukmann-Dakotas regarding their love for the people of Kapkemich and their drive to give young girls opportunities. 

We made friends with a graduate of St. Anne’s, Mercy, who is to help guide us through our stay. She loves to sing and is a gentle, beautiful young woman. 

Jamea, Niccole, and I began working on some of the music and lesson plans we prepared in the states, talking through details and practicing. Mercy soon joined us in singing Bring Me Little Water Silvy, by Huddie Ledbetter arranged by Moira Smiley, and Si Le Le by Bobby McFerrin as arranged by Voces 8. It was a highlight of the day and surely will be one of our sweetest memories here.

To finish the day, Lydia Kageha welcomed us to her home in the evening “to take a meal.” Conversation flowed about how to best support Kenyans, rather than to do only what we think is best, and to build relationships, listen, and learn.  There will be more on this in Niccole’s next blog post. We again got dancing lessons for more contemporary Kenyan music and made lasting friends. Rafiki zangu! My friends!

Our third day was dedicated to preparation, rehearsing, reflection, and gathering information in order to meet the needs of the individuals we were meeting. The groundwork is laid, the work is ramping up, and our joy is immense. We are a bit short on sleep and jet lagged but are learning so much with each passing moment spent with the people involved with St. Anne’s Girls School, Kapkemich Primary School, and FOSA. Kwaherini! Goodbye all!

Are you happy? - Dr. Jamea Sale

Today brought the much-anticipated moment to meet the student body of St. Anne’s High School in Kapkemich, Kenya. It was a joyous occasion. The students and teachers warmly welcomed us (Jamea, Christine, and Niccole) through song. Such greetings of open arms and genuine interest in our well-being have been customary throughout our travels thus far. No community could have ever made us feel more welcome than the people of Kenya in the last few days.

St. Anne’s Form 3 and 4.

The sharing of music and dance by the St. Anne’s children was representative of the beautiful Kenyan culture. Edwin Pakati, who visits the high school twice a week in the spring to prepare the St. Anne’s choir for an annual music festival, led the girls in a welcome song for us.

Edwin Pakati preparing the students for singing.

Stepping aside, we quickly arranged the song’s chorus into 3-parts, adding words to return the children’s greeting, singing “Jambo, rafiki yangu. We are humbled to meet you.” Before long we were sharing songs together. Edwin taught us a short piece to do with the girls. They had great fun assessing us until we sung our part correctly;

Our greatest wish today was to connect with Rose Kenebei, the school principal, and Edwin, the music teacher, as colleagues and friends. We also met Elias Murera, a self-taught pianist who also teaches physics and mathematics while overseeing the music experience for the students. We wanted to clearly ascertain the teacher’s desires for the week and their wishes for the future of music education at St. Anne’s High School and in the community. We found common ground in our belief that, as Edwin said, “music is life,” We very quickly began a collaborative plan for our time here and in the future.

It is challenging to communicate the experience of meeting the young women of St. Anne’s. They came in singles, doubles, and groups, small and large, to hold our hands and speak their names. We each recognized our own children and students in their beautiful eager faces and knew that we had much in common with the students. Tomorrow we will sing with all the students, Forms 1 to 4, and we hope to forge bonds to better understand the girls’ lives and hopes.

A common question we hear in Kenyan conversation is, “Are you happy?” Without reservation, we are sincerely happy to have this experience.

Changing Lives Through Song - Christine Freeman

My name is Christine Freeman, and I am a Fellow of The Institute for Healthy Singing and Voice Research. I am the Associate Music Director for the William Baker Festival Singers in Kansas City, and I teach sixth, seventh, and eighth-grade choir at a public school in Overland Park, Kansas. I have taught middle school choir for 18 years and specialize in the changing voice.

I first heard about the opportunity to travel to the village of Kapkemich, Kenya from the Director of the IHS&VR, Dr. Jamea Sale when she invited me to be the third teaching member of the team. I jumped at the chance.

I look forward to working with changing voices in another country, and I am humbled to be able to aid in the success of St. Anne’s Girls High School and its mission to provide education and opportunity to young women. Their purpose is close to my heart as a woman, mother, and educator.

This trip involves so many things about which I am excited, and there a many “firsts” for me to look forward to. For example, this is my first time traveling to the continent of Africa, the first time I have been a part of any educational outreach of this type, and the first time I will be working so closely with Greg Wegst, Jamea Sale, and Niccole Williams. Planning with Jamea and Niccole has been a highlight. We share mutual respect, and with the varied experiences and expertise we each bring, ideas have exploded. Together, we have assembled great resources, and I am excited to execute the plan to start music programs for the Kapkemich students.

Lydia Kageha is the administrator for the Virginia Wright Health Clinic which provides health education and services to the people of Kapkemich. She was in Kansas City, completing a master’s degree until recently, and her advice has been instrumental in understanding student needs. For me, her most important guidance was to communicate why studying music is worthwhile.

This advice prompted me to reflect upon my experience as a musician teaching in a public school. The music content area is not the highest-valued in US public school settings, and music educators often confront the need to justify programs, fight for funding, and defend our teaching methods. Why is music worth studying, and why is it worth having a music education curriculum in schools? I can list many reasons, but I think three vocal music ideas stand out: singing together, making music together, and learning about music.

Sharing music brings people together. Studying music and making music activates the brain like no other subject or medium can. Making music covers physical, intellectual, and emotional domains, connecting the body, mind, and soul. Ultimately, music connects people.

Connecting Through Music

While Jamea, Niccole, and I are traveling to Kapkemich to help the schools earn accreditation by adding music to their curriculum, the thing I am most looking forward to is connecting with people through music. I hope we can relate in a way that makes us appreciate our differences while showcasing everything we share.

It has also been great to share this experience with my students in Overland Park. During our third school quarter, my students have been learning about Kenya, their music, and their language. Each of my three choirs has prepared Swahili language choral pieces. We will perform the pieces in our spring concert shortly after I return home, but we have already recorded them for the Kenyan students to hear. My singers look forward to getting feedback about the songs from the Kenyan children. They also wrote letters for me to deliver to the Kenyan students. They loved sharing about their lives and are anxious for responses from the Kenyan students. They especially want to hear about how the Kenyan educational experience may differ from middle school life in Overland Park, Kansas. As Niccole mentioned in her blog entry, my students cannot wait for me to greet the students of St. Anne’s and make new connections across the world.

Changing Lives Through Music

Music changes the lives of people because it touches their hearts, something I have experienced personally. In 2006, I became a member of the William Baker Festival Singers in Kansas City after a friend who was passionate about singing encouraged me to audition. Auditions were that day, and It is hard now to imagine where I would be had that happened.

I am thankful that sharing music with others has brought me innumerable opportunities, many of which have been because of the William Baker Choral Foundation and Dr. William O. Baker. I fully expect this opportunity in Kapkemich to change my life and my heart, and I hope the music we share on our trip will also touch other hearts. I am so grateful to Greg Wegst for his connection and support of this trip, Jamea Sale for the invitation to join, and William Baker for his vision to create a foundation that has changed and will continue to change so many lives and touch so many hearts.

Connecting Students Across 8,252 Miles

Niccole Williams, MME | February 20, 2023

Hello, my name is Niccole Williams, MME, a fellow of The Institute for Healthy Singing & Voice Research and a music educator in Kansas City. This March, I will be traveling to Kapkemich, Kenya, with IHS&VR Fellows Dr. Jamea Sale and Christine Freeman, MME, to work with St. Anne’s Girls High School students and Kapkemich Primary School students. When Greg Wegst, a member of the Choral Foundation’s Board of Advisory and supporter of Kenyan education efforts, approached me to be a part of this team, I jumped to accept the invitation. My passion is helping all people, especially helping those with changing adolescent voices, to connect with and understand their singing voice and to help them cultivate a lifelong love of music. The ability to nurture and grow your musicality is powerful and flows into so many other areas of life. It is an important part of developing the human spirit. Music, after all, is about connection.

Upon learning that I would be traveling to Kenya, my middle and elementary school had many questions about the invitation and what the IHS&VR team would do in Kenya. The students especially wanted to know about the Kenyan children. I took a day to talk with them about where I was going and the history and mission of St. Anne’s Girls School and Kapkemich Primary. My students were shocked to learn that education is not always an option for Kenyan girls due to financial issues and cultural norms. It was tough for the children I work with to wrap their minds around such differences, but it also inspired many of them to want to help and find ways to support them in the future. I also discussed some of the exciting ways we will work with St. Anne’s Girls School and Kapkemich Primary School, including assisting their teachers with the introduction of vocal pedagogy into the classroom and mapping out a music literacy curriculum, spending time working with the students in individual and group settings and delivering instruments for their program.

Many more questions and conversations have taken place in my classroom about life in Kenya and how things are progressing for the upcoming trip. However, the two most frequent requests have been, “Don’t forget to tell the girls in Kapkemich that I say ‘hi,’” and “you should show them “this” song.” Thus, an idea was born. My middle school students will exchange letters and music with the girls from St. Anne’s. My students will write letters full of questions about children’s lives in Kenya, the music they enjoy, and other questions. They will share about their lives here in Kansas City. My classes have picked the songs they’ve loved learning for me to share with the students in Kapkemich. They are looking forward to hearing and learning the music we learn and bring back from the girls at St. Annes. We have designated a few songs that both my students and the singers at St. Anne’s will sing. It has been cool for Kansas City middle schoolers to imagine that there will be students just like them singing the same songs on the same days 8,252 miles away. What a wonderful opportunity to connect music-loving students across the world.

Niccole