The Situation

Children living in Kibera, one of Nairobi’s largest informal settlements, face persistent barriers to education and wellbeing driven by poverty, food insecurity and unstable household incomes. While education is highly valued within the community, many families struggle to afford school related costs, and community schools often operate with very limited resources. This results in overcrowded classrooms, underpaid teachers, deteriorating facilities and inconsistent learning outcomes. Hunger is a daily reality for many students, directly affecting concentration, attendance and health. Although some students excel academically at primary level, very few are able to progress to secondary school or university due to financial constraints, reinforcing cycles of poverty and lost potential. St John’s Community School was established to address these challenges, but ongoing support is required to ensure its sustainability and to create pathways for students to continue their education

The Objectives

This project aims to improve access to quality education, nutrition and long term educational outcomes for students at St John’s Community School in Kibera. The project will strengthen the school’s operational sustainability by supporting essential costs such as teacher salaries, rent and basic infrastructure needs. A daily school meal program will provide consistent, nutritious meals to improve student health, attendance and engagement. In addition, the project will establish and expand a scholarship program to support high performing students to transition into secondary school and, where appropriate, university. By addressing education, nutrition and progression pathways together, the project seeks to create lasting impact for children, families and the wider community