In late 2022 Marie Eggen Norløff and Veronika Nyhus started engineered a multi-purpose hall at Eco Moyo Education Centre in Kenya, which aims to provide a space for sports activities, community events and student assemblies throughout the rainy seasons.

While the students and staff were enjoying a well-deserved break, we were hard at work constructing a brand new playground and sports area. The football field was relocated to make it larger, and around this expanded field, a vibrant playground equipped with parkour elements, swings, and various other recreational facilities was created. Additionally, shaded benches and a pavilion with changing rooms were added. None of this could have been possible without the help of our dearest friend Nelson, who again and again shows his love for the kids and our project.

George, Marloes’ father, visited the school on our first day back from the mid-term break. They toured the entire compound, including the new workshop area. George shared a meal with the students from Class 6 and had the opportunity to meet Teacher Violet and learn about her work in the Leap Lab. Our permaculture expert, Stephen, and Kazungu, our gardener, gave George a tour of our new school garden, and George had the chance to send a heartfelt thank you to Yvonne, who has supported the entire garden project. It was wonderful to meet George and finally put a face to someone we’ve mostly known through emails.

We have recently installed a new Starlink wifi system thanks to the efforts of our cousin Max. This technology has revolutionized our connectivity by beaming stable and consistent wifi signals from a new satellite in outer space, right in the heart of the African bush! This means that the frustration of dealing with dropped signals during online meetings and education, as well as writing newsletters, is now a thing of the past!

Malin has volunteered with Eco Moyo three times in the past and has developed a deep affection for both the place and the children. She will be overseeing Eco Moyo’s social media and communication efforts across different countries and collaborating organizations. When she’s not busy with these tasks, you’ll most likely find her on the football field!

From January to June, Oliver, Maida, and Elliot (6) stayed at Eco Moyo. During their stay, Elliot attended PP1, and Maida was busy capturing it all for a documentary. Oliver’s contributions to Violet’s group of students will also be greatly missed. They really fell in love with this place, and vice versa!

Thanks to the Eco Moyo Auction, a new workshop area has been constructed, featuring two spacious classrooms for art, carpentry, and practical skills. The enthusiasm of students and staff was contagious as they explored new tools and crafting activities. A Creative Club was introduced as an extracurricular activity, providing more opportunities for creative engagement and skill development.

On March 25, Eco Moyo Education Norway and the Art For Change Foundation held a joint event to auction off a collection of artworks and objects. The funds raised were divided between the two initiatives, supporting their efforts to create positive change through art. The event was filled with joy, energy, and vibrant African rhythms, thanks to the dancing group Matata from Kenya. The Art For Change Foundation uses the Affirmative Art methodology to help people illustrate their personal vision of the future and achieve it.

Affirmative Art and Karmøy Folk High School collaborated on a project to create a wall of dreams. Students from different classes participated in a workshop to express their creativity and aspirations through art. They painted the wall with their future dreams, creating a beautiful and inspiring space. Affirmative Art is an initiative that collects and supports people’s dreams around the world.

The Eco Moyo Auction is an online auction initiated by Martin Whatson and Fredrik Bornø Haukebøe. They curate an impressive array of artists from across the globe to make a meaningful contribution to the Eco Moyo school by auctioning their extraordinary creations. Most artists represent the “street art community” - many with pop art features and graffiti like expressions. Martin enthusiastically decided to contribute by selling his artwork to support the project, a commitment he has upheld ever since. Fredrik joined forces and together with incredibly generous artists, art dealers, and collectors, they have become an integrated part of the Eco Moyo family! Please visit ecomoyoauction on Instagram to see all the pieces donated by amazing artists from around the world and watch the video for the amazing 2022 results!

Thanks to Marloes’ fantastic effort, Eco Moyo Education Centre can now provide daily lunch for all its students. This has a big impact on their health, well-being, and educational journey. A massive round of applause goes to West Consulting and all the generous supporters of the “Go Fund Me” campaign in the Netherlands. Your support has made a tangible difference in our students’ lives. And that’s not all—we’re excited to announce that we’re cultivating a significant portion of the food served in our very own garden, which was also brought to life through an initiative from the Netherlands. A special mention to Yvonne who used her birthday to raise funds for the garden. Kazungu, our always-smiling gardener, and the permaculture expert Stephen are doing a great job! A heartfelt thank you to Yvonne for sparking this wonderful initiative.