December 21, 2024
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‘A Taste of Kenya’ to support education for Kenyan girls

Nelle Conley, a volunteer from DeKalb who started a music program at the Jane Adeny Memorial School for Girls in Muhoroni, Kenya, will be at the "A Taste of Kenya" fundraiser for the school on Oct. 11 at Faranda's in DeKalb to teach attendees the JAMS school song. (Photo provided)

DeKALB – Sample Kenyan food, be greeted with African drumming and celebrate the successes of the Jane Adeny Memorial School for Girls at “A Taste of Kenya” on Oct. 11.

The event is the fourth annual fundraiser for Friends of JAMS. It will be from 6 to 9 p.m. at Faranda’s, 302 Grove St. in DeKalb.

A fair-trade crafts market, quilt raffle, silent auction and a cash bar will be included in the evening. In addition, several volunteers who recently returned from Kenya will have first-hand stories to tell.

Jane Adeny Memorial School for Girls provides a high school education “good enough for the richest and open to the poorest” in rural western Kenya, Africa. The school was founded by Kenyans who now live in DeKalb and return to Kenya every year to give back to their original community.

The founders, Teresa Wasonga and Andrew Otieno, are presidential engagement professors at Northern Illinois University. Friends of JAMS is a DeKalb area charitable 501(c)(3) organization with the mission of raising awareness, friends and funds for JAMS.

All proceeds from “A Taste of Kenya” will benefit the girls at JAMS through scholarships for needy girls and support for extracurricular activities, such as music and sports. Funds also will go toward improvement of facilities for the entrepreneurship projects the students help run.

Last year’s fundraiser supported scholarships and the furnishing of the new Resource Center’s computer lab, school library, teachers’ offices and community education meeting rooms.

Tickets cost $35 in advance and $40 at the door. Tickets can be purchased online at https://dekalbcountytickets.ticketforce.com or by calling the DeKalb County Tickets Box Office at 815-758-1225. Box office hours 3 to 6 p.m. Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays or leave a message.

For information about Friends of JAMS, visit www.jamskenya.org.