Project

KidStar Academy

​The KidStar Academy, a school, is the project of the Good Hearts organization. The school is located in Langata, directly adjacent to the slum Kibera southwest of Nairobi and was founded in 2009 by Alex Weigel. Currently, 201 students between the age of 3 and 12 attend the school, which employs 12 teachers and 12 other employees (cooks, secretarial staff, cleaning and security staff).

​What we do

  • ​The children are taught in all subjects according to the new Kenyan curriculum and prepared for high school. 
  • AAll students who attend the KidStar Academy receive a warm local porrigde ("Uji") in the morning and a warm, vitamin and varied meal at noon. Because only those who have a balanced diet can concentrate.

​​Through people like the manager and accountant Clarkson, the KidStar Academy becomes a place for the children they love. For many, this makes the decisive difference to their lives.

​This distinguishes us

  • ​Integrative: We accept all children and do not reject them on the basis of performance criteria. Thus, our school acquires an integrative character. Health aspects (physical and mental disability, HIV-positive, epileptics) do not play a role in admission to school.
  • ​Qualification of teachers: All teachers have a teaching diploma and are carefully selected. The Good Hearts organization has high standards for teachers regarding motivation, creativity and honesty. We can look back on many years of cooperation with teachers.
  • ​Above-average wages: Good staff requires appropriate pay. Our salaries for teaching staff are above the local average.
  • ​Individual support: We try to give every child the opportunity to improve. This is done, for example, by awarding the child who has improved the most in a year.
  • ​The GOOD HEARTS Organization clearly distances itself from violence as an educational method, as is unfortunately common in most Kenyan schools. We don't have employees who beat the kids.
  • Good contact with the parents: We involve the parents whenever possible and maintain close contact.

​Medical assistance

​The family members of a KidStar child who live under the same roof with the child can contact the GOOD HEARTS organization in the event of a medical emergency. Because if the family members are sick, the children often have to take on care tasks and are thus absent from school.

​What we do
  • ​We support children and their families in the purchase of medicines if they cannot acquire them on their own. 
  • ​If necessary, we organize transport to surrounding state hospitals or to the nearby Coptic Hospital. 

​Milestones

2024

​3 New classrooms were built and occupied in no time.

2023

​A truck speeds from the highway into our main building at night and destroys it.

2020

​Successful basic care of our children and their families with food as well as small group lessons during the corona pandemic.
Foundation stone laid for new playground and new classrooms.

2019

​Shell new school building donated by a local entrepreneur.

New environmentally friendly toilets built.

2018

​Completion of a new building with new brick school rooms for the 6th and 7th Great.

2017

​Electrification of the school by apprentices of the electrician school of Peter Baumgartner.

2016

​Stormwater pipe – drainage shoveled: construction of two stormwater pipes to secure the school grounds
Planting 200 trees: To increase slope stability on the school grounds and to mark the border, 200 trees were planted by the children
Conversion of classrooms: conversion/division of existing classrooms, sheet metal roof for more light

2015

​School hall with school kitchen built on newly straightened land (300 people capacity), volunteer work with parents
Creation of 2 gabions by the parents, stabilization of the slope

2014

​Major structural changes
Rock removed, land straightened and large area made usable
Primary school classes curbed in the countryside

2013

​First 3 preschool rooms created on new land, house for caretaker

2012

​Land of Nairobi's city government

2011

​Visit of the Swiss Ambassador Jacques Pitteloud. Beginning of a friendly cooperation with the Swiss Embassy

2010

​Moving to a corrugated iron building with 4 school rooms, kitchen and water tank

2009

​Start of KidStar Academy: Start of classes in small clay hut

​This is what it looked like in 2009

​A spontaneously created film from 2009 gives an impressive insight into the early days of the KidStar Academy.