Day of The African Child 2024

Twelve-year-old Hector Peterson was shot and killed by police for the right to learn in his own tribal language. This iconic photo shocked the world and exposed the horrors of the apartheid system.

On June 16, 1976, during the appalling apartheid regime in South Africa, students of all ages protested the neglected state of education for black children and demanded to be taught in their own language rather than that of their Afrikaner oppressors. Police opened fire on these children, injuring over 1,000 and killing more than 100 students. Reports of this gross human rights abuse went global, and the images and stories became forever etched in the minds and hearts of all Africans.

In 1991, the Heads of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU), while discussing ways to improve education on the continent, chose this event to symbolize the ongoing struggle for better education in Africa, initiating the Day of the African Child remembrance. Each year, a theme is chosen to focus on specific aspects of education needing improvement, while different countries highlight various areas for development. This aligns with the OAU framework “Education for the 21st Century” and its focus on improving the digital environment. This year’s theme is “Education for All Children in Africa: The Time Is Now.”

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Veronica, Lisa, Alice, Anne, Brian and Albanous.

Here at Ruben Centre, we have made significant strides in implementing this framework. The library boasts state-of-the-art reading tablets, thanks to the Edmund Rice Foundation Australia (ERFA). The school also has a well-equipped IT room and numerous tablets for accessing quality learning materials. Earlier this year, we added a server that enables teachers to access high-quality curriculum materials from different internet sites, such as Msingi Pack and its Kenyan curriculum material. Today, we officially launched a new IT center for the school, known as the Ruben Digital Learning Hub, which is equipped with laptops that enable teachers and students to learn the CBC pre-technical learning curriculum for years 7 and 8. Ruben Centre thanks our teachers and friends Brian, Lisa, and Anne from Australia for bringing us thirty laptops. Their two weeks of hard work have ensured everything is ready to go. Edmund Rice, a wealthy Catholic businessman in Ireland, like the OAU, was appalled by the poor levels of education and the total absence of education for thousands of Catholic boys. In 1802, he decided to act, converting a horse stable into a school for these boys. This small step began a long journey, leading to the establishment of Edmund Rice Education.

In 1896, the first Christian Brothers from Ireland arrived in South Africa to help educate children there. In 1988, the first Christian Brothers from Australia arrived in Tanzania, and three years later, they set foot in Kenya. The small steps here began in a small boarding school for the Maasai in Lemek in Ngong County. Eight years later, in 1999, three Christian Brothers took responsibility for the administration of Ruben Centre. These highlights represent a long and great journey. Edmund Rice was divinely inspired to start one school, and his quote, “The Good Seed Will Grow,” has been repeated thousands of times. Here at Ruben Centre, we have nurtured that good seed, and every year, we experience a great and mighty harvest. According to online research, 750 million children under 17 years of age live in Africa. The field for planting this good seed is vast, and here in Mukuru, we are helping realize Edmund’s dream of nurturing this good seed.

Roughly 3,634 good seeds are growing here at Ruben Primary School. We are cultivating the harvest, providing basic human rights to some of the poorest and most disadvantaged people, both small and big, thereby changing lives through the provision of essential needs such as health, education, and livelihoods. Edmund’s “One Stop Shop” mission is thriving here, and every year on The Day of the African Child, we pause to celebrate our significant mission. We believe in education and fun, and on this day as per our tradition, our good seed puts on performances to showcase their talents. Some performances particularly stood out as they emphasized the importance of maintaining a balance with technology and the digital era, acknowledging its benefits while expressing the desire not to let it consume their entire lives. They encouraged fellow students to embrace childhood, relishing the time they have, and enjoying outdoor play with others.

At 4:00 PM, Ruben Centre staff gathered at the hall to celebrate the African child in them. Performances from the senior orchestra, dance-offs among colleagues, and electrifying gymnastics floor shows lasted over two hours. Between these performances, employees of the year from various departments at the Centre were acknowledged, with Alice Wanjiru, a nutritionist at Ruben Health Centre, emerging victorious. Madam Kibaya, who is due to retire, was also acknowledged in her absence. Br. Frank was formally recognized for his recent Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM). The staff gathering concluded with a hearty meal a few minutes after 6:00 PM as the staff went home for the long weekend ahead. Our Centre is great, our mission is great because our committed staff are even greater. Today we honored all Ruben Centre staff and thanked them, showing appreciation for their great dedication, energy, and professionalism. Many have come here as a ‘good seed’ and have truly grown, and we are all harvesting from their journey here at Ruben.

By: Br. Frank O’Shea OAM, Ashley Kagio & Gregory Barake