Maili Tatu is a village at the foothills of the Mount Kenya. Administratively it belongs to the one of the richest regions – that is why it receives no subventions. It lies on its outskirts, where droughts have scorched land for tha last three years – there was no harvest. The only source of income for its habitants is crushing rock for construction purposes. Everyone does it – even the children. A family is able to earn 200 schillings a day crushing rocks – that is equal to two bowls of bean. There is no electricity in the village. Water has to be carried from 3 kilometers away. It is ususally done by children.
It’s not only a school – it’s also a social assistance center. What children eat there is often their only meal. It’s also where they seek for medical help and fulfillment of their hygienic needs.
School lacks floors, seats, windows, toilets. Walls are not plastered. There are no basic school books (only one per class). There is no library. School lacks medical aids.
