Shariani Kenya, Educational Center, Phase 2

February 2010

Bringing in the design skills

Busy improving the business plan and funding plan we took time looking at the plans for the extension of the existing building. For every function the specifications were drawn up.

What became clear during the feasibility study is that we need a flexible building which can be easily adapted to all possible developments for the future. It should support activities like the present kindergarten, but also professional education (tailoring- computer) and business activities ( shop, business center)

Time to bring in some design skills. Together with Kiara Snijders and Floris Buné, who made the original design, different options for the layout of the building adding an extra floor were discussed. Extra space on the playground was created by developing a creative solution for the staircase to the second floor solving the problem of the new building next to the yard on the adjacent plot.

As a result three floor plans were drawn all with their different strong and weak points. Now let’s see how the local people look at these plans. Do they appreciate an entrance with a table at the soda machine or do they consider this as lost space….. With the right choices the building plans and the business case will be in a durable balance again.

Please feel free to contact us for further information .

Our e-mail adres: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Claes Brantjes, Bram Bergkamp, Maurits Heijbroek, Ruud Huising en Jasper IJsenbrandt

(Ambition Academy Executive MBA programma 2009/10)

 9 November 2009

Back in the Netherlands again with a lot of impressions and the idea that it has been worthwhile to visit the project. Only then you can make sense out of the number of ideas and thoughts. What is possible and what isn't possible. We felt that we can make a difference underpinning the right choices and that the project, with our help, can grow to a sustainable and self supporting future.

It is really amazing to see the happiness on the faces of the children we have met and the hope on their faces for a better future. For a better future we can help by bringing just a little of our knowledge and skills and combine it with the good and innovative ideas they have. Now we are starting with the fine tuning of the business plan and the search for funding.

If you have any thoughts of support, funding or other ideas please contact us via This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

 28 September 2009

Plans are nice. But let’s face reality.

Here an update on the project. From October 23 till October 3 Maurits Heijbroek, Ruud Huising and myself will visit Shariana. The goal is to conclude the current feasibility study. Up to now the plan is simple: Let the women of Shariana learn a profession, so they can earn a reasonable living with a normal effort.  In order to allow them to do so, let their children attend kindergarten and (that’s what we aim for) primary school. Learning a profession comes with practicing either product or services. That’s where funding starts. Is it feasible? Soon we will learn.

By the way, Claes Brandtjes and Jasper IJsenbrandt will stay behind in the Netherlands for further orientation on funding possibilities. Don't hesitate to contact them with ideas, actual support and suggestions. You can contact them via This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

- 3 september 2009

The last weeks we put much effort in creating the Project Plan. We presented this plan to a representative of the Wanawa Foundation as well as the professor for the Master Class 3PO at Ambition Academy. From both parties we received approval to continue our project and move to the next phase. With this approval we will further investigate the accommodation specifications, possible activities and sponsorship. We will do this by visiting the village Shariana in Kenya. The goal of our project is to create a self supporting facility on the current location and to build a second floor on the current kindergarten of the Shariana Educational center. We could really need your advice or support to bring this project to a success in 9 months. You can reach us by email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Extension of Educational Institute in Kenya  - august 2009

In May 2009 five enthousiastic professionals started to compose a Business Plan for the Extension of an Educational Institute in Kenya.

Asfter having talked to the different interested parties and gathering more and more information we are now fine tuning the different possibilities. One of the ideas is sponsorship of a scholarship by interested parties. Another one is starting a Primary School on top of the existing Kindergarten.

Through one of the members contact we received information about a Dutch Company who is setting up schools in Kenya already for some time. This company we will contact and try to get information and, perhaps, they want to help us or the organization in Kenya with their expertise.

If any one is interested in sponsorship of a scholarship already or any one with other interesting ideas and help then they can contact us via the email-address This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

In September some members of the team will visit the small Village Shariani in Kenya, then we hope to get more insight in the local needs and possibilities.

Cooperation with Wanawa Foundation -august 2009

"We need your help to realize an expansion on educational activities in Kenya. For a MBA program a group of 5 students set up a contact with the Wanawa Foundation. This foundation is a non profit organization that helps to improve the lives of children and adults in villages in Kenya. In the area of Mombasa this foundation started a kindergarten and a sewing school. In our project we want to help this foundation to realize new educational activities at this location. A possibility is to build a second floor on the building that is already there and start for example computer education or a primary school. There is a great demand in this area for this type of education of good quality. We appreciate every financial or informational help that you are willing to offer. In this weblog we will inform you about the progress and developments we make."