St Mary's Polytechnic Students during a practical session in the school workshop

Day secondary school juniors in a group photo

Juniors Program.

In 1998, a program was initiated to care for the numerous "Street Boys" in the town of Nyeri. Many of these children came from existing homes but had become "drop outs". For many, their parents could not afford to send them to school or did not have the ability to cope with their children. For some, the family situation is not supportive for a child to go to school on a regular basis. Often costs and embarrassment prevent a child from attending school. The initial number of 30 young boys grew to nearly 200 in short order and these were placed in local primary schools.

The success of this program is based on the very positive "older brother peer modeling" that occurs from the gooddiscipline and seriouness of purpose in studies that these boys gain from the older Secondary students. Thus, in a caring but disciplined environ, these young children develop into fine young men with good character values. At present, there are 150 in residence in this program who attend local public Primary schools after initial "preparation" in St Mary's own pre-school program on campus.

St Mary's Feeds, Boards and Pays basic Primary SChool needs for over 160 of the very poor children of Nyeri town and its environs. These young boys live "side-by-side" with older Secondary School students who provide an "older brother" influence within a disciplined, caring community.

After completion of their Primary school education, they are taken into either St Mary's Secondary, St Mary's Polytechnic or enrolled in an outside Day Secondary if they either choose to lice at home.

Vocational Training Centre.

In 2007, a full-fledge Vocational training school was started on St Mary's campus. Students learn Carpentry, Welding, Electricity and Auto Mechanics in addition to English and Mathematics in a 2-3 year program culminating in sitting for the Ministry Certification in at least tow of these areas. They are then provided ith a tool kit upon graduation to facilitate their being employed. The polytechnic will, in future, accept outside Applications and operate a Production Workshop for selling products to outside vendors. There are 15 students at present in this program.

Day Secondary School.

Graduates of the Child Rescue Program above who would find the high academic pace of St Mary's Secondary School program too demanding are enrolled in local Public Day Secondary schools and may continue to live at St Mary's or choose to live with their families. Given a chance to excel among other similar academic-ability students, they will be encouraged to succeed beyond their native potential.