Operation Imprezza - new beginnings

Imprezza secondary school was started in a Nairobi slum in 2001 by Catherine Omanyo, offering education to students who could not afford to attend school. Beginning with 100 pupils, Imprezza was part self supporting – the admission of some fee paying students subsidised the costs of others. The school was also supported by the proceeds of Catherine's dress making business. Imprezza prided itself on its equal opportunity policy for both girls and boys and was open to pupils from any tribe, religion or nationality. Despite a lack of resources, the school offered a high standard of education and students gained places at university or began successful careers every year.

The charity Operation Imprezza began in 2003 with the aim of supporting the school in its work. It funded a laboratory, library, kitchen, desks, chairs, equipment, medical care and introduced a nutritious diet for the students. Imprezza had expanded to accommodate 222 pupils by the time post election violence decimated Kenya at the end of 2007. Catherine, some staff and 37 orphans were forced to flee because of the fighting and eventually ended up in the bush in Western Province. Despite Western Province being the poorest part of Kenya and the nature of the temporary accommodation, everyone wanted to stay in the area rather than return to Nairobi. The local community asked Imprezza to stay in order to offer their own children an opportunity for education which did not exist prior to the school's arrival.

A local orphanage asked Imprezza to take over the primary school the orphanage had begun. A lot of work needs to be done, but when it’s finished Operation Imprezza’s Academy will take pupils from nursery age through to the equivalent of UK year 13. The Academy will take approximately 650 students and there is enough land to enable the school to start an agricultural programme. Agriculture will be a compulsory part of the curriculum and will allow the school to grow its own food and teach ‘best practice’ techniques to both pupils and the local community.

Wherever possible the local community is involved in the school; free training has already been offered to locals and women groups and part time work has been offered to some. Imprezza now has its own herd of pedigree British Toggenburg goats which will, when established, provide valuable milk for pupils and will improve the milk yield of the goats owned by the community by improving native goats through cross breeding. The school is staffed and run by Kenyans, the charity continuing to help but not running the project. As with the old site, the aim is of course to make the school self sustaining. The first phase of building begins Autumn 2009 and will be completed as funds allow.

The charity is registered with the Charity Commission (1113535) and is also registered in Kenya as Operation Imprezza Africa Trust.