Kenya: The gift of a genuine education at the Mbagathi Rudolf Steiner School

One of the main aims of the Mbagathi Rudolf Steiner School is to offer children from disadvantaged families a future – this applies to the majority of the more than 400 children and young people across ten year-groups, as well as in the nursery. Given that most children’s families are rarely able to afford the school fees, the school is urgently dependent on donations, for example in the form of educational sponsorships. Wycliffe Oduor is a teacher at the Waldorf School in Mbagathi and he shares with us his personal impressions of his work:

Wycliffe Oduor

Every morning, as the sun rises over the hills of Mbagathi, I am reminded of why I am here. At Rudolf Steiner Schools, education goes beyond books or exams. Here, the aim of education is to awaken the child’s spirit, namely curiosity, wonder and a deep sense of connection with life itself.

I have witnessed such changes first-hand. Just recently, in my Year 4 class, we were studying the story of Loki from Norse mythology, a tale full of trickery and its consequences. One boy was deeply moved. He said to me: “I think I sometimes behave like Loki, but perhaps I can change.”

In that moment, I saw not just understanding, but an awakening: a child beginning to look within and connect his experiences to something greater.

Scenes like this are not uncommon here; they happen in every class, every day. Whether through the medium of painting, movement, storytelling or little moments of laughter and wonder – here our children begin to discover their self-esteem and their potential. At our school, education means providing space for every soul to grow, rather than focusing on racing through the academic curriculum.

Many of our children come from families with limited financial means. Here they're able to discover that learning can be a joy and that a simple story can truly touch their hearts. The Mbagathi Rudolf Steiner School strives to offer every child this gift of an authentic education, regardless of their background.

Over the years, the generosity of friends and benefactors from around the world has managed to help sustain this vision. Your support has enabled the school to provide meals, learning materials and a nurturing learning environment for children who would otherwise never have had the opportunity of experiencing a school like ours.

To all friends of the Rudolf Steiner Schools, near and far: thank you for believing in our work. And to all those hearing from us for the first time, you are most warmly invited to join us. Together, we can ensure that every child who comes to us receives not just an education, but a life experience that awakens the best in them.

Wycliffe Oduor

The Rudolf Steiner School in Mbagathi relies on donations, such as educational sponsorships. Here you can learn more about the children at the Mbagathi Waldorf School for whom we are currently seeking sponsors: Educational Sponsorship in Africa