MATCHING GIFTS CAMPAIGN BOOSTS FUNDRAISING
With the help of an anonymous donor, American Friends of Gatoto raised a record $109,000 in the last quarter of 2017.
The total reflects the donor’s one-for-one match of the $54,500 in other contributions received during the period. Also aiding the impressive results was the presence of Betty Nyagoha, Gatoto’s head, at fundraising events in Washington and New York in October.
Sincerest thanks to all of you who contributed. Your donations will help secure Gatoto’s continuing efforts and improve the lives of more than 1,000 of the world’s least fortunate children.
FOUR NEW MEMBERS JOIN AMERICAN FRIENDS OF GATOTO BOARD
Clare Allenson
Laura Kane
After graduating from Amherst College, Laura worked in project financing at an investment bank before segueing into the art world. Her husband, Mark Pinney, was born in Nairobi. In addition to being a board member, she is chair of the American Friends of Gatoto Development Committee.
David Morgan
SVP Business Development L’Oréal USA with previous experiences including international and regional roles based in Paris, including exposure to Kenya.
Conor Queenan
Born and raised in Dublin, Ireland, Conor first visited Gatoto as university student when he volunteered at the school in 2004 with the Irish organization, Suas. A Certified Public Accountant, he is currently a Senior Manager at PwC, New York specializing in the audit of hedge funds.
AMERICAN FRIENDS OF GATOTO LAUNCHES FACEBOOK PAGE
AFG’s Facebook page is up and active. Please like our page for updates on Gatoto developments and ask your Facebook friends to do the same. We need to share the good work being done at Gatoto with a wider audience.
GATOTO STUDENTS IMPROVE PERFORMANCE IN ALL-IMPORTANT KENYA CERTIFICATE OF PRIMARY EDUCATIONS (KCPE) EXAMS
After a successful 2017 in which Gatoto students outperformed comparable 2016 national test results, Director of Gatoto, Betty Nyagoha looks forward to another productive year in 2018.
The annual exams took place over three days from 31 October through 2 November and were recently released. Despite a contentious election period that raised security concerns across Nairobi, Gatoto students performed well.
Of the level eight students eligible to take the exam, the average score increased to 249 from the 2016 average score of 241. More than 25 students scored over 300, a score that makes attending many of the more competitive secondary schools possible. The top student at Gatoto scored an impressive 407, not far off from the national top scorer who secured 455.
What is the Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE)?
Since 1985, Kenyan primary students who have reached level eight, the final year of primary school (elementary and middle school), sit for the KCPE to attempt to qualify to advance to the four-year secondary level of education (high school).
The exam is open to all primary students from public and private schools that receive government support as well as informal schools such as Gatoto which receive no direct public support. The maximum exam score is 500. In order to secure a spot in district secondary schools, a student must score above 200. Admission to more competitive county schools requires at least a score of 350.
