Vitale H.G.M. Mixed Day & Boarding Comprehensive School

Primary School Makueni County, Kathonzweni Active
Project Progress 90%

Rural Excellence.

Vitale H.G.M. Mixed Day & Boarding Comprehensive School sits in Kathonzweni, Makueni County — a rural school with a national-level story. In the inaugural 2025 KJSEA assessments, over 70 of its learners achieved the Exceeding Expectations band, placing the school among the standout performers in the region.

With 593 learners and a committed staff team led by Headteacher Patric Munuve, Vitale H.G.M. demonstrates that geography is no barrier to excellence. What it needs — and what Books & Beyond is here to provide — is a library that matches the ambition of its students.

Education is a game changer. It makes the learners from the very humble background achieve what that other learner who comes from a noble background achieves.

— Patrick Munuve, Head Teacher

The project

What we are building here

Rural Excellence.

Vitale H.G.M. Mixed Day & Boarding Comprehensive School sits in Kathonzweni, Makueni County — a rural school with a national-level story. In the inaugural 2025 KJSEA assessments, over 70 of its learners achieved the Exceeding Expectations band, placing the school among the standout performers in the region.

With 593 learners and a committed staff team led by Headteacher Patric Munuve, Vitale H.G.M. demonstrates that geography is no barrier to excellence. What it needs — and what Books & Beyond is here to provide — is a library that matches the ambition of its students.

Education is a game changer. It makes the learners from the very humble background achieve what that other learner who comes from a noble background achieves. — Patrick Munuve, Head Teacher

What changed

The Transformation

Drag the handle to see the same room before and after.

Before
The before photo is not up yet
It goes here as soon as we have it.
After
The after photo is not up yet
It goes here as soon as we have it.

While it was being built

Most of this work was done by people who live nearby.

The library block going up
The library block going up
Walking through the library while it was still a building site
Walls and window frames in place
Walls and window frames in place
The outside almost finished
The outside almost finished
Inside, before the shelves arrived
Inside, before the shelves arrived
Plastered and ready for paint
Plastered and ready for paint

Where it stands now

The room is renovated and ready. What it does not yet have is books. Around 1,400 reading books, donated by supporters in the United Kingdom, are on their way. When they land they will be split between Vitale and one further school. Until then the shelves are waiting.

The journey

How this project is going

Every project moves through the same seven steps. Here is where this one has got to.

Step 5/7 · 90%

  1. The school asked

    A school got in touch and told us what they needed. We went to look.

    • A visit to Vitale H.G.M., and a room offered Books & Beyond came from Nairobi to see the school, having just finished at Kathonzweni HGM. 593 learners, Grades 1 to 9, no library. The school offered a room before anyone asked for one.

  2. We worked out what was needed

    Every school needs something different. We visit, we count the learners, we look at the room, and we write it all down.

    • One room, small but available, and a list of repairs The room was built years ago and needed work before it could serve as a library. It is not large. The school's position was that they would start with it and expand later rather than wait.

  3. Raising the money

    Shelves, paint, a roof that does not leak — none of it is free. This is the part where we ask people to help.

    • Funded with partner support Vitale's library is being built in partnership with the AJB Foundation. The school's own management named them when thanking Books & Beyond, and one of the learners thanked them directly too.

  4. Collecting the books

    Books come from families, schools and donors. Every one gets sorted, checked and catalogued before it travels.

    • ~1,400 books pledged by supporters in the UK Supporters in the United Kingdom donated around 1,400 reading books. They will be divided between Vitale and one further school once they arrive in Kenya.

  5. Building the library

    The room gets repaired, painted and fitted with shelves. Most of the work is done by people who live nearby.

    • Room renovated and made ready The room has been repaired and prepared. Shelving, furniture and stock follow.

  6. The doors opened

    Where we are now

    The library is open and books are moving.

  7. Handed over to the school

    The library belongs to the school now. We still visit, and we still count what is being read.

Impact at a Glance

593
Learners at this school
—
Books here
5/7
Stages completed
Pathways this library supports: 🔬 STEM 🌍 Social Sciences 🎨 Arts & Sports

Kenya's curriculum

CBC at Vitale H.G.M. Mixed Day & Boarding Comprehensive School

Vitale teaches to Grade 9, which is the year every learner in Kenya chooses a senior school pathway — STEM, Social Sciences, or Arts & Sports Science.

That decision is made here, in this building, by children who currently have no reference books to make it with. As the school's head of institution puts it, a library is where learners "explore the careers which are available". At Vitale that is not an abstraction. It is a choice a Grade 9 class makes this year.

How CBC shapes every library we build

Support Our Work

Every book donated, every hour volunteered, and every shilling raised helps us build the next library. Join the movement.

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