Kenyan educator combines hiking, teaching to support literacy in coastal schools

Driven by a passion for education and a love for hiking, Briyan Musumba, an educator, is raising awareness and funds to improve literacy for young learners in coastal Kenya, specifically in Kilifi and Kwale counties.

Musumba, who has been working in the region for the past four years, is committed to enhancing education through an innovative "Learning through Play with Technology" approach.

His dedication to helping children achieve their full potential has led him to combine his two passions, education and mountaineering.

Briyan’s journey began in 2023 when he volunteered at a local school in Mombasa, St. Augustine.

“My work revolves around innovative teaching training teachers to integrate playful learning through technology in their classrooms, so we have worked with 309 schools across Kwale and Kilifi counties. But on the side, an educator also doubles as a hiker or mountaineer. My reason for embarking on fundraising for school kids was as a result of volunteer work I did last year in 2023,” he said.

He assessed learners in Grades 3 to 5, which revealed that many were significantly behind in their learning milestones.

“In September last year, I supported one of my colleagues who started teaching kids in grades three, four and five. This involved getting to school very early before the normal lessons each day just to interact with the learners using playful learning to better improve their literacy skills. I did this for around three months in November, when the school broke for KCPE. That is when we stop allowing learners to focus on examinations,” he said.

After interacting with learners, he recognised the urgent need for improved literacy resources both in classrooms and at home.

“I saw a need for learners to have books that will help them improve their literacy skills, not only at school but also back home,” he explained. This realisation motivated him to turn his hiking passion into a fundraising effort to provide additional books for the children.

The initiative began with St. Augustine Primary School and soon expanded to include a community library in the Bangladesh slums of Mombasa.

Pwani Youth Network led by their founder and CEO Alfred Sigo and the librarians at Bangladesh Community Library. (Photo: Farhiya Hussein)

During a visit to the area in March, he discovered a library supported by the Pwani Youth Network, a local organisation working to uplift the community. “Seeing what they were able to achieve with limited resources, I saw an opportunity to contribute to the community library as well,” he said.

He has also partnered with Mvita Primary School in Mombasa, engaging with the school's current teacher to explore ways to support their literacy efforts.

He added that although he has connections to schools back home in Siaya County, he decided to start his work in Mombasa, where he has lived and worked for the past four years. “My ultimate goal is to eventually support the schools in Siaya County, but it was important for me to begin with the locality I have called home,” he noted.

Originally aiming to donate 100 books to each school, his goal has expanded due to the positive response from schools. “I now aim to contribute books to every school in Mombasa that needs them,” he stated.

He welcomes anyone interested in partnering with him in this fundraising effort.

This experience, he said, inspired him to provide additional learning support for these students and led him to think of ways to further support children lacking essential educational resources.

In August 2023, Briyan set out with a team of 26 mountaineers to climb Mount Kenya, Africa's second-highest mountain.

The four-day expedition along the scenic Chogoria Route was not just an adventure but also a mission to raise funds for educational materials. "Climbing Mount Kenya wasn't just about conquering a peak; it was an expedition that revealed the indomitable human spirit," he said.

The funds raised from this climb enabled him to donate books to Mvita Primary School, benefiting children in Grades 1 to 3.

“After climbing Mount Kenya, I learnt invaluable lessons about resilience, the importance of human connection, and the beauty of nature,” Briyan reflected.

Briyan Musumba, an educator, and hiker is raising awareness and funds to improve literacy for young learners in coastal Kenya specifically in Kilifi and Kwale counties. (Photo: Farhiya Hussein)

He now plans to take on an even bigger challenge, climbing Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa's highest peak, on December 27, 2023. This climb will cover 72 kilometres over six days to reach the summit, Uhuru Peak.

His aim is to raise funds to provide books for two primary schools in Mombasa County and a community library in the Bangladesh slum, all to enhance reading and writing skills for young learners.

According to him, the initiative is also about inspiring children to realise their potential. "I want to show them that anything is possible if you set your mind on a goal and work hard," he added.

Looking ahead, Briyan has set his sights on climbing Mount Aconcagua, the highest mountain in South America, at the end of 2024 or early 2025.

This hike will continue his fundraising efforts to provide more books and educational resources for children.

"I welcome anyone who wishes to partner with me on this journey. A book can change a child's life, and together, we can make a difference,” he said.