Chemolingot Primary Archives

Chemolingot Day and Boarding Primary School head Ms Florence Lomariwo is one teacher that should be emulated by all for her role in safeguarding the rights of girl child in Baringo county.

Pupils at Chemolingot Day and Boarding Primary School in Baringo test the feel of new furniture donated to the school by Gilanis Foundation in partnership with Rotary Club of Nakuru in 2019.PHOTO/Pristone Mambili.

Born and raised in the area that for many years has witnessed retrogressive cultures such as Female Genital Mutilation as well as early Marriages, Ms Lomariwo took the bull by horns try and save the Girl child in the area from these harmful vices.

She says being brought up from the area she understands most of the issues girls go through in the society.

It is through her though that Chemolingot Primary School in Baringo County became not just an ordinary school.

The school which is located in Nginyang’ Division acts as a rescue centre to young girls who have been rescued from retrogressive cultures such as Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) and early marriages.

Ms Florence Lomariwo says the primary school has become home to over 200 Pokot girls who ran away from their homes to avoid circumcision and early marriages.

“The girls in this area have been going through a lot and that is why I decided enough is enough. I converted a section of the school to a rescue centre” she said.

The move has however not been that of roses as she admits that on many occasion she has received threats from even government officials after raising several issues that the girl child is undergoing in the area.

She however states such threats cannot deter her mission to save the girl child from such retrogressive cultures.

“I have even received threats for advocating for the rights of the girl child. But this is a mission I started and will not give up” she said.

Ms Lomariwo noted that the school’s population has increased to over 700 pupils with the majority being girls, hence the need for support to ensure that the pupils have a good learning environment.

The school has 13 dedicated teachers.

“The school has been absorbing girls who have run away from the retrogressive cultures such as FGM and early marriages since 2003,” said the head teacher.

Her appeal is to well-wishers to emulate Gilanis Foundation and the Rotary Club of Nakuru who have joined hands in supporting the school so that the dreams of the girls can be achieved.

147 vulnerable residents from Chemolingot in East Pokot, Baringo County have benefited from food and non-food items donations Courtesy Rotary Club of Nakuru in partnership with Gilanis Foundation.

***Some of the elderly after receiving their food hampers at Chemolingot Primary.PHOTO/Pristone Mambili.***

47 among them are girls from a gender based violence rescue centre at Chemolingot Day and Boarding Primary school while the other 100 are elderly vulnerable residents majority of whom are widows.

Speaking at Chemolingot Day and Boarding Primary school on Saturday during the handing over of the food and non-food items hampers to the groups, Rotary Club of Nakuru President Christopher Gasperi said the vulnerability of the girls at the Gender Based Violence Rescue Centre as well as the widows is what informed their decision to make the donation.

He added that this is in line with Rotarians’ Pillar on education and transformation of the society this is the 5th distribution exercise undertaken by the Rotarians.

Gasperi reiterating the Rotary Club of Nakuru’s commitment towards transforming lives with already 1000 families reached in Nakuru and Baringo Counties especially during this COVID-19 pandemic.

“As Rotary Club of Nakuru we felt it in order to step in and help the vulnerable groups here in East Pokot especially during this time of COVID-19.We have been doing education projects in schools but we also felt we should now adapt a new approach due to COVID-19” he stated.

Shamsher Gilani from Gilanis Foundation on his part revealing that the first visit to East Pokot area made them realize the needs of the locals.

He assured continue partnership with Rotary Club of Nakuru to support the vulnerable groups from the area so that they can also feel not left out in the society.

“We came here earlier and donated furniture and mattress to this school and now we have come to support the 47 girls who were rescued from the harmful cultures and now have this as their home. We want to assure the community that this is not the last time, but we shall visit more and work together.” he said.

The Gilanis Foundation has also sponsored Brian Mwetich and Joy Chelatan from the area and had joined National Schools before schools closed due to COVID-19.

Shamsher Gilani encouraging them to work hard and be role models.

“You have only one chance so use it well and you will be able to transform the society” Gilanis told them at Chemolingot Primary.

This even as lack of Lack of basics such as Sanitary towels in this area and retrogressive cultures such as early marriages have continued to hinder the dreams of many girls.

According to Chemolingot Day and Boarding school head Ms Florence Lomariwo, before Gilanis stepped in that teachers used to contribute a percentage of their salaries to purchase Sanitary towels.

While commending Rotary Club of Nakuru and Gilanis Foundation for the good gesture, she vowed to continue championing for the rights of girls in the area.

“I will always say thank you so much a million times to Rotary Club of Nakuru and the Gilanis for the gesture to support our girls” she said.

Sentiments echoed by area Chief John Kamama commending Rotary Club of Nakuru together with Gilanis for the gesture.

He said the move to support the 47 girls is key in transforming the society.

During the event, Nakuru based charity group Springs of Hope Foundation donated over 300 facemasks to the residents too.