TIMELINE

LOOK AT HOW OHAM HAS GROWN FROM 2010 – 2020!

OPEN HEARTS and MINDS was founded. While living in Kenya Sarah and Phil Boyer met Edward Odhiambo who dreamed of building a school for the children of his village who were missing out on their education due to poverty. OHAM made Edward’s dream a reality and the children’s dream of an education come true.

• We opened Hearts and Minds School in an old borrowed building in the community.  Little did we imagine how we would grow from these humble beginnings.
• All our children were given mosquito nets… so important in trying to prevent malaria.

• We squeezed a second class of 10 children into our school by putting up a dividing wall in the middle of the old building.
• We also built a covered lean-to so the cooks didn’t get wet during the rainy season whilst preparing and cooking the children’s delicious food.

• How were we going to accommodate our 3rd class?  We built the annex!  This was basically a mud building with a tin roof added on to the original building.
• We purchased the land for our permanent school and then started building the first classroom block… very exciting!
• Our first set of 12 water filters were distributed to families in the community… so happy to be providing safe drinking water to them.

tHE MOMENT HAD COME…

• … the new Open Hearts and Minds School was ready! 
• The children had their lessons in their brand new classrooms in January!
• Everyone was so excited, including us! 

• We had not built another classroom block yet so our new students used the church next door as their classroom.
• We built and installed playground equipment… the children had never seen anything like it!  The laughter and joy could be heard all around.

• Our second classroom block was built, including a teachers’ office.  OHAM School was growing so fast.
• Another 20 water filters, with a much improved design, were distributed… approximately 60 families now have access to safe drinking water.

• We built a new kitchen and installed 2 high-efficiency wood burning stoves. The cooks were so happy… no more smoke in their eyes.  
• Also built a staff toilet block.
• We installed two 6000 litre water tanks and guttering… now we can collect rain water so it can be used during the dry season. 

• Our third classroom block was added.  We now have enough classrooms for the whole primary school: pre-unit to grade 8.  Quite a milestone!
• We purchased mattresses for all our children to ensure they can use mosquito nets effectively and get a good night’s sleep… happy children!

• We built another toilet block for the students.
• Our first class at Open Hearts and Minds class graduated.  Such a proud time for all of us!  
• The clean water scheme was expanded by distributing 30 more water filters in the community… over 100 families can now drink clean water.

• Our first cohort of students started secondary school.
• OHAM committed to funding their fees for 4 years secondary education.

• OHAM School closed in March due to Covid-19.
• A fundraising drive raised enough money to feed the families of our children during this difficult time.

All of this has been achieved through the generosity and support of a growing network of Open Hearts and Minds sponsors and donors…we thank you from the bottom of our hearts.