The Rendille are semi-nomadic pastoralists living in the arid northern desert of Kenya. They move their encampments around 3 times a year to follow the limited grazing available for their camels and goats.
How Can Nomadic Children Attend School?
Lack of access to education is why the literacy rate for the Rendille is so low - only 1%! To meet this need, Tirrim Schools have established seven nomadic schools that travel with the largest clans in the Korr region. Before this innovative idea, Rendille nomadic children had not been able to attend any school. When you sponsor a child, you make it possible for Tirrim Schools to provide the education these children need to build a strong and independent future.
Tirrim Nomadic Schools take place under a sheltering tree near the clan encampment for children in preschool through Primary 3. Children receive a nutritious meal and an education from a Christian Rendille teacher who is able to share God's love and the Good News of Jesus with students while teaching them basic academic subjects. What Does Child Sponsorship Provide? Child sponsorship is greatly appreciated by both the child and the parents. Your gift of $31/month allows Tirrim Schools to provide a nomadic child an education, nutritious noon meals, and an understanding of the Gospel.
How Much of the Money I Give Goes to Support My Child?
Your child benefits from 97% of the money you send. It goes directly toward providing the teacher and necessary materials for education, and to providing for a nutrious meal (food, cook, firewood, water, transportation of those to the encampment). Three percent is necessary to cover financial processing charges.
Can I Contact My Child?
We encourage you to correspond with your child periodically through FTCSF and Tirrim Schools. Visits to this primitive area (no roads, toilets, hotels, restaurants, etc.) may be made by the adverturous. Please contact FTCSF to facilitate visit arrangements through the missionaries administering the Tirrim nomadic schools.
Can I Give a Gift to My Child?
Rendille nomadic homes are less than 8' by 8' stick huts in which the entire family sleep. Therefore, gifts of toys, etc., are not able to be stored or carried. However, arrangements for appropriate gifts that will benefit the child and his/her family, such as a goat, sheep or camel, can be made and are very appreciated. Please contact FTCSF to facilitate gifts.
How do the Children Work to Help their Families?
Children help their families survive by assisting with chores like collecting firewood and fetching water. Finding firewood is an increasing problem and children sometimes walk ten kilometers in search of it.Water is fetched from the hand-chiseled wells, which can be five kilometers away. They bring a rope and well bucket, which they drop into the well to draw up water - a dangerous process. The children then carry home the heavy plastic containers on their backs.
Classes take place under a tree.
The children are given a nutritious lunch at school.
A schoolboy practices writing in the sand.
What is the Rendille Child's Diet?
Rendille children experience hunger on a daily basis. They and their families live on a subsistence diet of a cup of camel's milk or a cup of tea, and a thin gruel eaten at dinner. The slaying of a sheep or goat, which happens no more than once a month, adds an occasional meal of meat to the diet. As well as education, children who attend school receive a nutritional meal of maize and beans every schoolday.
Why are the Rendille so Poor?
The Rendille are extremely isolated. The nearest towns are a day's drive away, and the Rendille have no vehicles. There are no trash heaps and no people to beg from. Because of the climate and the salty soil, it is impossible to grow any crops or produce a living from agriculture. As a result, the Rendille depend on their animals for survival.
Why Have so Many Children's Fathers Died?
Typically, an older man marries a very young girl. This results in a high instance of widows. You will notice that many of the children’s fathers have passed away. The church and the Christian schools are teaching about Biblical marriage, and of the companionship and equality of man and wife.
Why are the Children's Ages not Listed?
Hardly anyone keeps track of birthdays. The Rendille function on an age-set system, whereby people move through the different stages at a particular time. Boyhood to warriorhood - every 14 years, following a circumcision ceremony. Girlhood to womanhood - at marriage.
Why are so many Children's Profiles Similar?
You will see marked similarities across all Rendille child profiles. This is because they live in a very small community, share the same culture, live in the same houses, survive by the same means, and play and learn together. However, each child profile accurately reflects information about that particular child, as gleaned through family interviews and from their teachers.
A Rendille home being re-built after a move.
The Rendille have a literacy rate of 1%, but children are taught the joy of reading at Tirrim Nomadic Schools.
