Dr. Gladys Mwiti was pleased to find out that she was awarded C.I.S.F.'s Scholar-Leader of the Year award. As an organization, we are entirely proud that our own CEO is being honored in this way. Read more about her, and the award on the CISF website.

Dr. Gladys and Dr. Gershon Mwiti shall be in the US in March to receive her award. We're proud of you and we love you Dr. Mwiti!

~Oasis Africa Team~

High school graduates in Kenya recently received their KCSE (Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education) Exam results this past week. In the past there have been reports of students who either commit suicide, go into deep depression or harm themselves physically because their marks were well below the entrance levels required by public universities. With limited numbers of spots in universities, many high school graduates do not get their undergraduate degrees because they cannot afford tuition in private colleges, technical schools or polytechnics.

Dr. Mwiti was asked to respond to many questions posed by Citizen TV's viewers regarding this area. Her time on prime-time television encouraged many students whose options have suddenly been snuffed out. We realized that there's a greater need for more information regarding the options that high school graduates have if their first choice shall not work to their advantage.

Therefore, this is the first in a series of responses to those whose options after high school are limited.

Stay tuned.

Naomi James, our Counseling Manager, was invited to be a guest on BBC Kenya. Her expertise in psychology was required to determine the effects of boarding schools on young children. The following is an excerpt from her interview.

What are some of the effects of boarding schools on young kids, say those in primary school?

Children develop distinctive personality and behavioral traits depending on their proximity to and contact with their parents. In boarding school, children experience the lack of socialization with their families. They need their parents for growth in some basic areas such as physical, emotional, social, spiritual and cognitive development. Separation from their parents creates an emotional gap- a void that children long to fill with what is available.

The effects of separation include acting out, rebellion, delinquency, substance abuse, lack of values and principles in life, eating disorders, unhealthy relationships, and irresponsible sexual behavior. Also, we have noticed that an increase in emotional independence too early in life leads to suppression as the children grow older.

What about in exceptional cases where parents are away working most of the time and they leave their children alone?

Boarding school will be the only option but is not the best for the child. As a psychologist, I know that parenting is not easy. It is challenging in that it may touch on the parents' decision to keep a job and detach from their children, or change jobs or even their career for the sake of the child.

Parents, if faced with these tough decisions, can plan frequent visits to their kids' boarding schools. Also they should choose schools that focus on the development of the child in all aspects of life. For more information, you can contact me at naomi@oasisafrica.info. We're always available if anyone has any questions.

Thanks.