Kisii County Cultural Workshops - June-July 2025

Objectives

The June-July Kisii workshops introduced Russian language and culture in four public schools while documenting the conditions that affect daily learning: ICT access, feeding, sanitation, birth certificates, libraries, teacher shortages, and school safety. This was the first Kisii round, separate from the September follow-up.

What Happened

On 30 June and 1 July 2025, Path to Russia visited Entanda, Motonto, Mosocho, and Tambacha primary schools. In each school, selected learners practised Russian pronunciation, wrote and read simple words, learned greetings, and discussed Russian traditions and dress.

Entanda hosted 67 top students. Motonto hosted 50 selected pupils and launched a Russian Club with 34 immediate members. Mosocho hosted 35 pupils, who practised greetings and wrote their mothers' names in Russian while receiving postcards from Russian cities. Tambacha hosted 42 pupils and teachers in a creative session that included painting matryoshka stencils.

Key Moments

Kisii showed strong enthusiasm under difficult conditions. Entanda has no functional computer class, no feeding programme, no proper storm drainage, and no furniture in new classrooms. Motonto has Wi-Fi but only one computer and printer, an under-equipped library, worn classrooms, limited sanitary-pad supply, and no feeding programme. Mosocho serves 947 pupils with only 22 teachers, has no feeding programme, no computer lab, no library, leaking roofs, unfinished toilets, and only 237 learners with birth certificates. Tambacha has new classrooms not yet in use, too few teachers, no feeding programme, limited toilets, no library space, an incomplete fence, and documentation gaps.

Why It Mattered

The Kisii visits showed that learning continues even in strained environments. Teachers and pupils were creative, engaged, and open to Russian language activities, but the same core needs appeared across schools: food, sanitation, ICT, libraries, documentation, and safe infrastructure.

The next steps were clear: support teacher-led Russian clubs, use culture to strengthen literacy and creativity, mobilize partners for feeding and school safety, fund computer classes, and keep checking in with school leaders. Media coverage from Citizen TV, Ramogi TV, Kisii TV, Etaya TV, and Minto Radio helped make the story visible beyond the school gates.