When Jerrycans Become Drums and Labs: Kipini Learners Find Their Rhythm 

At Kipini Primary School, three boys drummed joyfully as other children sang to celebrate a historic day, the arrival of a science lab at their school. Only one had a real drum while the other two used jerrycans turned into instruments. Their music was more than celebration. It was a powerful picture of how learners have had to improvise in creative arts and in science, often making do with what is available. That reality changed as Echo Network Africa Foundation, in partnership with the School Equipment Production Unit, unveiled the very first Mobile Science Lab in Tana River County. 

A Lab Rooted in Practical Learning 

The new lab allows Junior Secondary School students to learn science practically, with microscopes, beakers, and burners replacing theory-only lessons. Importantly, it comes with a jerrycan to safely collect waste water from experiments. This stood in clear contrast to the jerrycans the boys used as drums. One made music for creative arts while the other makes science safer and more engaging. Together, they symbolise how education can flourish when learners have the right tools. Alongside the lab, dignity kits were also provided to girls, enabling them to stay in class with confidence. 

Partnerships Beyond Science 

The celebrations also reminded the community that education cannot thrive on equipment alone. Kassim Mohamed, a doctor from Kipini Health Centre, stressed the need for first aid training, since injuries are common during daily school activities. Community leaders raised concerns about early and forced marriages, which continue to hold children back from their studies. The local chief described the lab as an anchor to keep children in school and urged for stronger partnerships to secure the future of learners. 

A Call for Wider Collaboration 

Kipini’s story shows that every part of learning, from science to health to creative arts to safeguarding children’s rights, requires partnerships. Just as the boys’ music and the lab’s experiments both relied on jerrycans in different ways, every discipline relies on the right support to thrive. Echo Network Africa Foundation now calls for more collaboration to extend this impact to other schools across Kenya. No child should be left without the tools to learn, dream, and succeed. 

Women Leading Change: Mobile Science Lab Handed Over to Tunzanani Primary School

Echo Network Africa Foundation (ENAF), together with partners, has handed over its fourth Mobile Science Laboratory under the Girls Excel Initiative. The latest beneficiary is Tunzanani Primary School in Kilifi South. 

The school was selected because of its lack of a permanent laboratory and its potential to serve as a hub where neighboring schools can also benefit from the facility. At the handover, girls witnessed a powerful moment with the headteacher, the senior assistant chief, and the Junior Secondary School science teacher, all of them women, leading the event and inspiring the next generation. 

Breaking New Ground in Leadership 

For Headteacher Doris Jeza, the laboratory donation was a milestone both for the school and for her personal journey. As the first female headteacher since the school was founded in 1983, she spoke of the challenges that poverty, drugs and lack of awareness among parents have posed to children’s education. 

“We have had no laboratory for years, forcing teachers to only demonstrate concepts in class. This mobile lab means our children can finally learn practically. A child is not just a child of Tunzanani but of the whole of Kenya.” 

Shifting Cultural Norms 

Also present was Halima Hammad, Senior Assistant Chief of Kidutani Mawamba Sub location in Mtwapa. She reflected on how community attitudes toward girls’ education have shifted. 

Mentorship in the Classroom 

The role of mentorship came to life through Caroline Kache Kitsao, the Junior Secondary School Science Teacher. Having grown up in Kilifi and worked hard to pursue her Bachelor of Science in Education, she understands firsthand the barriers girls face. 

“It is not easy, but if you know what you want in life and go for it, you will succeed.” 

Caroline makes mentorship part of her teaching:

“Out of a 40 minute class, I take 30 minutes to teach and 10 minutes to encourage them. They are very free with me as a female teacher, and they can see what is possible through my own story.” 

Equipping Girls to Excel 

In addition to the laboratory, ENAF distributed dignity kits to the girls of Tunzanani, helping them remain in school consistently. For many, such support is as critical as the learning resources themselves. 

The initiative, spearheaded by ENAF and implemented in partnership with the School Equipment Production Unit (SEPU) and community partners such as the Safe Community Centre, continues to break barriers to STEM education. ENAF noted that to reach more underserved schools across Kenya, additional partners are needed. By joining forces with government agencies, private sector actors, NGOs, and local communities, more girls can be empowered to pursue education and leadership opportunities in STEM. 

The Girls Excel Initiative will continue rolling out mobile labs to more schools in the coming months, affirming that when women lead and mentor, and when communities partner for change, entire regions rise. 

Saba Saba Primary and Junior School and Thirikwa Primary School in Murang’a South have become the first beneficiaries of Mobile Science Laboratories under the Girls Excel Initiative. The program, spearheaded by Echo Network Africa Foundation (ENAF), seeks to break systemic barriers to girls’ access to quality STEM education by distributing mobile laboratories to 13 schools nationwide.