Chapin was pleased to welcome two educators from a SHOFCO (Shining Hope for Communities) school last week! A community organization based in Nairobi, Kenya, SHOFCO provides free education for girls, PreK through grade 8, through two institutions – the Mathare School for Girls (MSG) and the Kibera School for Girls (KSG). SHOFCO also provides healthcare, school supplies and other essentials for students and surrounding communities.
Through our rewarding partnership, that began in 2011, our educators have spent several summers in Kenya supporting SHOFCO schools and learning from their teachers, and SHOFCO students and faculty have visited Chapin as well. Just last week, Rachael Awinyo, the Head of Mathare School for Girls, and Mary (Mesh) Morgan, a member of the Future Education department, spent two days at Chapin for an illuminating exchange of ideas and information.
Rachael and Mesh first met with past Upper School participants of our SHOFCO Global Program, who visited Kenya over spring break, as well as the 2025 cohort and their teachers. They spent time with our Class 12 President of Self Government and Division Heads, exchanging leadership ideas and practices, and spoke with members of our Health and Counseling Departments.
After observing Chapin’s updated Literacy rotation in Kindergarten, Rachael and Mesh spent time with two Lower School Learning Specialists and our LS Librarian to ask questions and discuss strategies for engaging struggling readers.
Mesh later met with Chapin’s Coordinator of Internships and Director of Student Life to hear about how Chapin fosters leadership and “real-world” opportunities for our students. Mesh, in turn, shared facets of her robust program of internships that she coordinates for SHOFCO graduates. Alumnae Engagement and Planned Giving Officer Muriel Isaac ’01 also spent time with our guests, offering ways to keep alums connected.
Through our partnership, Chapin K-7 students enjoy a special pen-pal exchange with girls at KSG and MSG (with our US students hand delivering correspondence when they visit in March) and, before departing, Rachael excitedly delivered another round of letters to our students in person!
“Over their time here, both teachers commented on how friendly they found both our spaces and the professional community,” said Head of LS Arts Integration Sarah Bellantoni, who has spearheaded Chapin’s partnership with SHOFCO for over a decade. “They also felt that each conversation felt like an exchange of wisdom and experiences. The visit only further strengthened the relationship between our schools.”
