UK - Kenya twin schools respond to Obama election

Barack Obama's father was born and raised in Kogelo a village in the west of Kenya where Obama's grandmother and extended family still live. 

Kogelo is about thirty miles from Kisumu one of the centres of unrest in January following the disputed election results. 

Dozens of Kisumu schools are twinning with schools in the UK.  Children on both sides of the partnerships have been responding to the US election.

Obama comes across as an attractive figure to children in the UK and Kenya. 

Pupils of Davies Lane Primary in East London welcomed news of America’s first mixed race president. 

“I think the elections were fair," says Phoebe in Year 5, "because it means that it doesn’t matter what colour you are.  I think the world will change because children can reach for the top, because now they know they can be anything they want to be."

Ten year old Missy attends Obola Primary in Kisumu.  She interpreted Obama's success as evidence that hard work makes a difference.  “We should work hard to be like Obama," she says, "things will change if I live in peace and work hard in my studies.”

Fellow pupil Brian referred to the violence following Kenya’s national poll, “It’s good that America elected him in peace unlike here."

Eliud from Bonde Secondary School describes Obama as an inspiration: "Obama’s election means too much to us especially young Kenyans," he explains. "In fact to me it is a great challenge."
 
Peter, also from Bonde, says he has followed Obama's campaign closely. "The African leaders should learn a lot from this young black American," he says, "and let us exercise democracy worldwide especially Africa."  

Peter emphasises Kenyans can't expect special treatment from Obama but, he says, "the election of Obama has created a very good image for Kenya in the face of the world especially young children.  We are on the news the world over."

How did they do that? 

Bonde Secondary is linked with Northumberland Park Community School in London, Davies Lane Primary is linked with Nyaduong Primary in Kisumu, and Obola Primary is linked Woodland Community Primary in Rochdale.  

Read more pupil reaction from UK- Kenya linked schools here and from Plan UK.

They are among dozens of schools in Kenya and UK which are taking part in Plan UK's School Linking scheme.   More than 50 schools in the Kisumu area are taking part in the project. 

Read about the Obama Presidency on BBC News.

Share the news weekdays with your partner school with BBC World News for Children.  Listen on BBC Radio 7, online at here World Class and via our new podcast service. 

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