WHAT do we do?
We pay for children from vulnerable or low-income backgrounds to attend secondary school or vocational training through the help of sponsors. We pay for high-quality schools, where kids get education, the food they need, and a safe, protected environment in which to learn and grow.
Every school holiday, we run 'life skills' sessions, where we bring in professional counsellors to help our students talk about key issues affecting them — including sexual and reproductive health, drug and alcohol abuse, stress management, and career guidance. Finally, we employ a social worker to check-up on their wellbeing, counsel them through any troubles, and stand by their side as they fight for their dreams.
WHY do we do it?
In Kenya, primary education is free. Secondary education is not. Although the government is making moves towards eliminating fees, in reality this means students must still pay for lunch, boarding, extra tuition and other add-ons.
This means many children are forced to leave primary school at only 14-years-old with no prospects for the future — or to spend years dropping in and out of class, searching for money to pay their fees. With no skills or qualifications to earn money, they are often forced into manual labour and must do dangerous physical work for low wages. Many children end up living on the street, pregnant or in child marriages, and very vulnerable to sexual exploitation.
what impact do we have?
Through education, our children are given the opportunity to build a better future for themselves. They have massive dreams of becoming doctors, lawyers, even presidents, and work so hard in school to achieve these. By being in school, our children are more protected from the dangers of sexual exploitation, street life, drug abuse and child marriage. And more than anything, their confidence and happiness increases dramatically, with new hope for their future.
We've offered 210 children the chance to attend secondary education.
since 2011, we’ve helped 130 students graduate with their kenyan certificate of secondary education, or a vocational training equivalent.
“I’m short of words — the love that you have shown me is even more than of a father. You have changed me. I have learnt so many skills. Finishing secondary school is a great thing — and my ambition now is to join your hands in making someone else smile, like the way you did for me. ”
Judy at secondary school, February 2014.
sign up to sponsor a child
Join our family of sponsors, and you will be matched up with a child who needs financial support to progress to secondary education — whether that's school, or vocational training. Your regular donations will help cover costs such as:
Tuition and exam fees.
School meals.
Boarding costs.
Books, uniform, hygiene and other equipment.
The wage and expenses of our social worker, who monitors the wellbeing of our sponsored children with love and kindness, providing counselling and advice to help them to overcome any challenges.
Our 'life skills' programme: every school holiday we organise sessions for our sponsored students to discuss issues they may be facing — including topics like sexual and reproductive health, drug and alcohol abuse, career advice, and stress management.
As a sponsor, you'll receive termly updates on your child, including photos, a letter, their school grades, and general news. If you like, you can write back, or send additional gifts — but this is totally optional!
We welcome monthly sponsorship from £10 per month. Please click the button below to set-up your sponsorship — please remember to select ‘monthly’ donation. Thank you so much!