In the last several months, students from Brookhouse School in Nairobi have really been global 'movers and shakers', taking their learning beyond the classroom to destinations around the world. In line with the commitment at Brookhouse to servant leadership development through membership of the Round Square global community of schools, the students have ventured far and wide to extend their understanding of the global issues facing young people in the 21st Century.
"Travel in itself is an education", argues Brookhouse Round Square coordinator, Willie Ng'ang'a, "and our students learn the values of cultural sensitivity and internationalism through Round Square conferences, service projects and exchanges." The list of destinations for these international experiences is impressive: exchanges with schools in Denmark, Colombia, Switzerland and California; conferences for groups of students in Florida, Jordan and the UK; and service projects in Cambodia, India and Thailand.
Other recent Brookhouse student trips have included Mathematics and Science congress gatherings in Japan and South Korea and a sports science symposium in Singapore, providing students with valuable extensions to their curriculum subjects.
"Being part of the global village in the 21st century means seeing other parts of the village to fully grasp global issues" says Njoki Muchiri, Head Girl at the school. She has just returned from an environmental sustainability Round Square service project in Canada. Brookhouse belongs to this worldwide organisation called Round Square, and as a global member the school is part of an international family of schools that includes Gordonstoun and Wellington in the UK, Daly College and The Doon School in India, and Deerfield and Hotchkiss in the USA, giving students greater confidence as they grow as global citizens.
Brookhouse first opened its doors in 1981, and celebrated 30 years of commitment to international education in 2011. In 2001 the school became the first British curriculum school in Kenya to meet the rigorous accreditation standards of the Council of International Schools (CIS), and since then has added IAPS accreditation for its Prep section. Brookhouse offers British system IGCSE and A-levels, and graduates proceed to the finest universities around the world. Brookhouse is also a leading provider of quality boarding in East Africa, with a purpose built on-site boarding facility.
Located in the leafy Nairobi suburb of Langata, 15 minutes from Nairobi city centre, and 30 minutes from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, Brookhouse provides a first class international education for over 700 children, aged 2 – 19 years, with an international mix of students from 40 nations.
Willie Ng'ang'a points to one factor that shines through at Brookhouse: “As part of our ethos, Brookhouse is proud of the cultural traditions and heritage of Africa, and celebrates its role as a provider of international education in Africa. Our role is to nurture young people living in Africa to develop the kind of international focus necessary for them to contribute effectively on the world stage as future leaders of conscience.”
Headteacher Lucy Ayodo also points to the Round Square philosophy as making Brookhouse a very special place: “We have a responsibility to mould these young people into respectful, sensible and humble young adults who embrace their responsibilities before they demand their rights, who contribute to society rather than seize opportunities only for themselves.” Thus, manners, courtesy and respect are at the core of the Brookhouse values system that enables the school to thrive, both academically and as a community.
And it certainly is a community on the move! So, if your son or daughter wants to extend their perspective, to boldly travel forth around the globe, then a Brookhouse education may indeed provide them with the experience to be a global leader in the future. For further details, visit the school website at www.brookhouse.ac.ke.
