Thousands of pupils from some of the schools worst hit by floods in the Nyanza region now have a reason to smile after the interior PS Dr Raymond Omollo donated learning materials to them as schools reopened for the first term.
Some of the most affected schools that received donations from the PS are located in Nyando Constituency which is one of the areas prone to flooding every year in the Nyanza region.
The support included donations of textbooks, exercise books, geometrical sets, pens, pencils and other learning materials.
In this phase of the support, hundreds of pupils from Ogenya Primary School in Nyando Constituency and Kadiju Primary School in Kisumu East Constituency benefitted.
Ogenya Primary is one of the schools that was adversely affected by floods within Kisumu County.
The school's classrooms and the ablution blocks were brought down by the raging floods following the ongoing heavy rains that are pounding Lake region counties.
The community around the school decided to have the school relocated to a higher ground.
However, the affected pupils are currently learning in temporary structures built by the community.
The school board members on Thursday told the Star that books and other learning materials were swept away by floods.
According to Victor Ayugi who works at the office of the PS, since last year, the PS has donated textbooks and other learning materials to different Primary Schools within Nyanza counties.
The official who supervised the donations of the learning materials to the schools told the Star that more than 10,000 learners have since benefitted from the initiative within the Nyanza region.
Ayugi who coordinates the undertakings on behalf of the PS said the main objective of the initiative is to identify and support schools that are adversely affected by floods and those that have disadvantaged learners.
"We target the worst hit schools and learners whose parents or guardians are not able to pay school fees," he said.
According to the coordinator, the programme is happening in the four counties of Luo Nyanza of Kisumu, Migori, Homa Bay and Siaya.
The team, led by the coordinator has visited different schools within Siaya, Migori, Homabay and Kisumu Counties to offer various support that aids learning.
"Since the programme is specifically targeting disadvantaged learners, parents, teachers and schools, it is a huge relief to them. They are not overburdened since we have already donated learning materials. This is where parents spend a lot of money," he added.
He said that apart from the learning materials, some schools have also been fenced. In contrast, others got infrastructural developments like opening and desilting Canals and streams around schools in flood-prone areas through the initiative backed by the PS.
"The PS is committed to ensuring that all learning institutions in Nyanza Region churn out the best students and citizens," Ayugi noted.
"With the aim of uplifting Nyanza Region, the PS is deliberate in his commitment to invest in the education of our youngsters, giving a fair chance to each and everyone as a gesture to give back to the community," he added.
Speaking to the Star on Thursday, Dr Omollo reiterated that young people are the future of every country and every society.
"The fact that the youth will play a key role in the future requires us to equip them with the right education and skills. But we do not only look at the future, we also look at the present," the PS said.
He further observed that education bridges the gap between the poor and the rich.
"Education is our passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to the people who prepare for it today. It unites people from different backgrounds and brings them to a round table because it's the only equaliser," he added.