News
Read our 2012 newsletter, Habari za Kusoma!
12/17/2012
Check out the 2012 newsletter of Kusoma International - Laurenti Mohochi Educational Foundation. Read about Kusoma's recent scholars workshop and learn more about the construction at Kusoma's future library site. Kusoma - LMEF Blog
First class Mohochi Scholars finish school
12/2/2012
Check out the 2012 newsletter of Kusoma International - Laurenti Mohochi Educational Foundation. Read about Kusoma's recent scholars workshop and learn more about the construction at Kusoma's future library site. Kusoma - LMEF Blog
NURU eager to partner with Kusoma
11/18/2012
Education is one of the programs that NURU runs in Kuria. When I met their education team for a discussion on how we can be of help to each other, they were very excited about the prospect of having a functioning community library next to their offices. Kusoma - LMEF Blog
Report: library foundation completed
10/6/2012
Exciting times for Kusoma. Our library foundation has been completed. Check out the latest photos of the foundation after completion. Kusoma - LMEF Blog
August scholars meeting
8/27/2012
We had a meeting with our scholars on Saturday the 25th of August. We had a one-on-one with each of the students to discuss their progress in school. An excellent time was had by all. Kusoma - LMEF Blog
Kusoma breaks ground on new library
2/24/2012
The start of 2012 marks the beginning of construction on Kusoma's community library. The library will serve as a center for education but also as a place for community gathering. Kusoma - LMEF Blog
Three new Mohochi Scholars added in January
2/16/2012
Good news! We added 3 new Mohochi scholars in January. A huge thanks goes out to the board and our dedicated volunteers (and Davis Projects for Peace) who made this happen. Welcome to Kusoma Robare, Wangwi, and Samuel! Mohochi Scholars
Report: Mohochi Scholars summer workshop
9/27/2011
The August 2011 workshop was one of the most empowering workshops to date. The students had an opportunity to meet representatives from the USA (Enzo and Sarah) as well as guests from different fields... Kusoma - LMEF Blog
Scholar's workshop to be sponsored by Projects for Peace
7/2/2011
During the course of the workshop, participating students will be afforded the opportunity to gain strategic and thoughtful insight into the value of education, health, wildlife conservation, cultural history, international analysis, and other subjects under the thematic umbrella of ethnic interconnectivity. Kusoma - LMEF Blog
Video profile of Kusoma International
3/25/2011
See interviews with Sangai Mohochi, Ph.D. and two scholars. Courtesy of our sponsor OWCF. Watch on YouTube
Report: Mohochi Scholars winter workshop
1/3/2011
Read about the Mohochi Scholars' workshop held during the school break, December 2010. Read more on Kusoma - LMEF Blog
Watch Sangai Mohochi's 2009 lecture and speech
10/27/2010
Watch our founder, Sangai Mohochi, Ph.D. as he speaks to the Africa Studies department at Stanford. Then watch a presentation from Kusoma's very first fundraising event. Watch on YouTube
Read our 2010 newsletter, Habari za Kusoma!
6/25/2010
Check out the 2010 newsletter of Kusoma International - Laurenti Mohochi Educational Foundation. Read about Kusoma's recent scholars workshop and learn more about the One World Children's Fund and their matching funds offer for Summer 2010. Read more on Kusoma - LMEF Blog
Report: Mohochi Scholars Workshop - April 2010
6/12/2010
The first 2010 Mohochi Scholars' workshop was held at The KCC chairman's residence in Isibania. We thank Mr. Philip Mohochi for offering his house for the workshop once again. Read more on Kusoma - LMEF Blog
Kusoma Has Four New Scholars!
3/16/2010
After a challenging selection process because of the many worthy candidates, we are thrilled to announce four new Mohochi Scholars: Everlyn, Joseph, Esther and Isabel. Read more on Kusoma - LMEF Blog
Welcome 2010 Kusoma Scholars!
2/11/2010
Read about the 4 new Kusoma Scholars who have been selected as recipients of Kusoma - LMEF scholarships in 2010. Read more on Kusoma - LMEF Blog
Read our 2009 newsletter, Habari za Kusoma!
1/5/2010
Check out the 2009 newsletter of Kusoma International - Laurenti Mohochi Educational Foundation. Read about Kusoma's partnership with One World Children's Fund and get an update on the Library Project. Read more on Kusoma - LMEF Blog
Report: Sangai Arrives in Kenya
11/2/2009
Sangai Mohochi has arrived in Kenya and sent this message as an update: Our trip back home was quite eventful. It was very very tiring, especially because of the twins and the luggage. Read more on Kusoma - LMEF Blog
Report: Kusoma - LMEF Scholars Workshop
9/19/2009
Here is a report from John Owuor Oguda, who facilitated the recent Kusoma - LMEF scholars meeting. Kusoma - LMEF offers their deepest gratitude to John for taking the time to work with our scholars. Read more on Kusoma - LMEF Blog
Why boarding school students outshine day-school students
5/27/2009
Founding President Jomo Kenyatta went to a boarding school. So did his successor Daniel arap Moi and current President Mwai Kibaki. A large number of past and present cabinet ministers also went to boarding schools. Read more on The Standard
Public schools in grave state, private facilities no better
5/27/2009
With private primary schools contributing nearly 80 per cent of Form One pupils in national secondary schools, demand for places in the institutions are high. Read more on The Standard
Video: From the Bay Area to Kuria
7/23/2009
Two men, Sangai Mohochi and Jake Harriman, are reaching out from the Bay Area to Kuria, a small village in Kenya. They have each founded non-profits (Nuru International and the Laurenti Mohochi Educational Foundation) that have launched on the ground this year. Watch video from KMTP TV (Melanie Reynard)
Sangai's Trip to Kenya
8/4/2009
In Sangai's words: "On June 11th, three weeks shy of the first anniversary of the incorporation of Kusoma - LMEF, I boarded a plane at SFO for Kenya. I could hardy believe it had been a year since 11 people met in a small room at Stanford University to discuss what was then only an idea in my mind." Read more on Kusoma - LMEF Blog
Mohochi Foundation hosts first fundraiser event
7/13/2009
On the evening of Saturday, May 30th, accompanied by lively musical offerings from board member Mbithi Muthini, Kusoma International - Laurenti Mohochi Educational Foundation (Kusoma - LMEF) held its first evening of networking and fundraising. As president and CEO Basil Burke, so aptly put it, "the evening was perfect!" Read more on the Kusoma - LMEF Blog
High fees weaken free secondary tuition initiative
5/20/2009
Failure by public schools to adhere to school fees guidelines and unauthorised levies pose a challenge to the implementation of subsidised secondary education programme, says Education PS Karega Mutahi. Read more on The Standard
Kenyan high school students offer lessons in leadership
4/11/2009
Secondary school student leaders have put Kenya's top leadership to shame by holding a successful national conference days after a small team of PNU and ODM negotiators failed to hold a crucial meeting on the state of the coalition government. Read more on the Daily Nation
Schools start sending children home as free education cash crunch takes its toll
3/10/09
Some of Kenya's schools started sending children home on Tuesday as the crisis over free education funds continued to bite. The reports from Rift Valley province came as the government tried to fend off bitter criticism over its failure to disburse funds for the first term. Education permanent secretary Karega Mutahi could still not say when the funds, delayed for three months, would be released even as Nation reliably learnt that the cash was not immediately available. Read more on the Daily Nation
Portraits of Kuria
2/10/09
The fourth episode in the series documenting Nuru International's first year.
Meet the kind-hearted people of Kuria and hear the stories of six individuals who have chosen to partner with Nuru to end extreme poverty in their community.
Basil and Sangai go to BarCamp Africa
10/11/08
Basil and Sangai attended a recent BarCamp Africa conference held at Google on Oct. 11. It was an informal, cooperative event where lots of different people came together to talk about their various programs and organizations. Guy Kawasaki (an original Apple employee) was there and asked the panelists to each say why he should give $1000 to their organization. BarCamp Africa turned out to be a great opportunity for Basil and Sangai to share and compare their ideas with many different participants. They also learned from a Google employee that Google has software applications that they give out for free to nonprofits. (Photo: StrategicLee)
Kusoma - LMEF Chairman's trip to Kenya
9/10/08
During his September visit to Kuria, our Chairman of the Board of Directors, Sangai Mohochi:
- Visited several schools in the district, met with the head teachers, and observed the conditions in the schools.
- Captured the scenes by taking many pictures of the secondary school facilities in the area.
- Coordinated a team of university students from Kuria to carry out a survey on the state of education in Kuria. They prepared a report which is available for members to read. The information gathered by Sangai and the research team of students, as well as what is contained in the Kuria Development Plan (2002-2008) helped us to clarify our vision, mission, and strategic plan.
- Visited Kenya Commercial Bank which is the only bank operating in Kuria (it has only one branch at the District headquarters).
- Created a Kusoma - LMEF Coordination Committee which will work on our behalf in Kuria, identify needy students, and send information to the Board for a final decision.
Survey on education in Kuria West District
9/10/08
The report which Sangai sponsored on the state of education in Kuria West District was distributed to the board members. It provided some very interesting statistics and good recommendations that will most definitely guide our work. The objectives of the study were:
- To study the level of transition of learners in Kuria West District.
- To study the educational facilities including the number and categories of institutions in Kuria West District.
- To find out the number of professionals in Kuria West District.
- And to find out the rate of school drop out and how other factors affect it (e.g. child labor, peer influences, cultural practices).
Meeting with REACH student group at Stanford University
8/31/08
Kusoma - LMEF and the REACH student group at Stanford University met and agreed to work closely together towards common educational goals. Kusoma - LMEF board members will be getting the word out about an upcoming film festival, hosted by REACH.