I qualified as a physics teacher in 1997 and spent three good years at Bassaleg School in Newport and living in Cardiff. However, ever since my teacher training I had toyed with the idea of teaching overseas and with the turn of the millennium I decided it was now or never. VSO were the obvious choice of voluntary organization to work for as they were well established, had a good reputation and had an excellent support network. So on August the 28th 2000, eight months after applying, I found myself jetting off to work at Koyonzo Mixed Secondary School in Western Kenya. After 3 months After 6 months After 9 months The placement Koyonzo is situated in Kakamega, a main sugar cane growing area in Western Kenya.
Most locals are small scale subsistence farmers.
Others grow sugar cane for local companies. The school was only opened 5 years ago with funds raised by the local community and the pupils are aged anywhere between 14 and 21. The school consists of 4 classrooms and an incomplete laboratory. It has no electricity but does boast a volleyball and netball court which is put to good use. Justin will also look at ways to equip the science lab and build a school library under the auspicious guidance of the dynamic Headmaster Mr Musikoyo Sylvester Angoye, an instrumental figure in the development of the school to date.