The School of Hope in Kibera Slums

The School of Hope was established in the year 2000 in the heart of Kibera Slums, with a mission to uplift the less fortunate and provide a safe haven for children facing immense socio-economic challenges. Serving as both an educational institution and a sanctuary, the school offers children not only education but also vital meals, ensuring they have the nourishment and care needed to thrive.

Today, the school serves 60 students, supported by a dedicated team consisting of one qualified teacher and three volunteer teachers. These teachers, a mix of passionate volunteers and recent graduates, work tirelessly to provide quality education despite the many hurdles they face. Financially, the school struggles as most parents cannot afford to pay school fees, often leaving the institution unable to collect enough funds to operate smoothly.

As a result, many children are sent home at the end of each month due to unpaid fees, creating an unstable learning environment. Over the years, the school has partnered with InterNations Changemakers on various projects aimed at improving educational experiences and ensuring continuous learning. Moving forward, the school hopes to stabilize its operations and help provide a secure future for its students. Funding is required to address the school’s urgent infrastructure needs and improve the learning environment for all students.

1)Kids Day Out Project

We are excited to host an enriching excursion for the children of the School of Hope in Kibera, giving them the opportunity to experience the beauty of nature in a green park within Nairobi.

For many of these children living in the slum, access to open spaces with grass and trees is a rarity, as their environment in the slums often lacks clean, safe playgrounds. Some of these kids rarely leave the slum, and the nearest public playground is far from the school, making it difficult for younger children to reach. To address this, the school often uses a clearing next to the school, but it lacks the basic amenities that would make playtime enjoyable.

This school excursion aims to provide the children with a memorable day outdoors, allowing them to enjoy the simple joys of nature, play, and community.
The cost of the excursion encompasses entrance fees, transportation for the children and three teachers, lunch and water (including their favorite french fries and soda), afternoon ice cream, and sports equipment like footballs and toys.

By reconnecting these children with the world beyond their immediate surroundings, we hope to remind them that they are part of a larger community, and that every child deserves the chance to experience joy and hope. LEAF aims to make this excursion a quarterly event and invites you to help make this vision a reality by supporting this initiative.

2)School Visits – Kids Fun Day Project / Christmas Basket Projects
(based on the time of year)”

Kibera, the largest urban slum in Africa and the third largest in the world, is a place of stark contrasts. While it struggles with overcrowding, limited infrastructure, and significant socio-economic challenges, it is also a community where resilience, innovation, and hope shine through. Home to over 200,000 residents, Kibera tells a story of strength, perseverance, and the ongoing efforts to improve living conditions. A visit to Kibera offers a powerful opportunity to reconnect with humanity and witness firsthand the inspiring efforts being made to provide education and promote sustainable development in one of Nairobi’s most underserved areas.

A visit to the School of Hope in Kibera provides an up-close look at how education is transforming lives in this challenging environment. Despite socio-economic hardships, the school serves as a beacon of hope, providing opportunities for academic growth, empowerment, and a sense of purpose to the children of Kibera. The visit, lasting about two hours, highlights the remarkable resilience of both students and teachers. It also serves as a platform for fostering meaningful connections, generating volunteers, and encouraging further support for the school and its community.

All donations during the visit go directly toward supporting the school’s groceries and essential needs, ensuring that students receive the nourishment required for their growth and learning. The visit includes a guided walk through Kibera with Teacher Gabriel, a visit to a local pre-primary school, and time spent with the children. Visitors can also explore local attractions like the Art360 center, where kids practice art, or visit open-air markets and freedom fighters’ caves. This experience not only offers a deeper understanding of Kibera but also creates lasting connections that contribute to positive change and a brighter future for the children of the School of Hope.

3)Volunteering Projects

The School of Hope in Kibera is a beacon of hope in one of Nairobi’s most impoverished areas, where poverty and lack of resources hinder children’s ability to access quality education.

The school relies heavily on volunteers to assist in various areas, from teaching and mentoring to administrative tasks and organizing extracurricular activities. Volunteers play a crucial role in bridging the gap created by resource constraints, offering much-needed support to both students and teachers.

Through LEAF’s volunteering program, volunteers can immerse themselves in the community, working directly with students to improve their academic performance, provide emotional support, and engage in hands-on activities that promote life skills development. Volunteers may also help with community outreach, assist in school maintenance, or organize playtime activities in the absence of proper recreational facilities.

Beyond the tangible contributions, volunteers will gain valuable insights into the challenges faced by children living in poverty, fostering personal growth and a deeper sense of empathy. The experience offers an opportunity to make a lasting impact while gaining a unique perspective on education and community development.
By living close to the school, volunteers can provide continued support, creating a sustainable and positive change for both the students and themselves, with love.

4)Facilities Project – Classrooms, Washrooms and Playground

The School of Hope in Kibera is committed to providing quality education to children in one of Nairobi’s most impoverished areas, where poverty and overcrowded living conditions severely impact students’ ability to learn and thrive.

With limited access to basic facilities as a community school, the school faces significant challenges in offering a conducive learning environment. Currently, classrooms are makeshift, unsafe, overcrowded and poorly equipped, while washroom facilities are outside school premises, insufficient and unhygienic. Additionally, the school lacks a proper playground, limiting the students’ opportunities for physical activity and recreation.

This facilities project aims to renovate and expand the school’s infrastructure by improving classrooms, building modern washrooms, and creating a safe, functional playground for the children.

By addressing these critical needs, the project will help enhance students’ learning experiences, improve their health and hygiene, and provide a safe space for physical and emotional growth.

Your support can make a lasting impact on the children of Kibera, helping to foster a healthier, more effective learning environment despite the challenges posed by poverty.

5)Food Drive Project

The School of Hope in Kibera, one of Nairobi’s largest informal settlements, is running a crucial school feeding project aimed at providing nutritious meals to its students.

In Kibera, many families struggle with food insecurity, and children often come to school without having had a proper meal, which significantly impacts their ability to focus and learn.

The school feeding program ensures that every student receives at least one balanced meal a day, helping to combat malnutrition and hunger. This initiative is essential for improving students’ concentration, energy levels, and overall well-being, creating a more conducive learning environment.

By addressing the basic need for food, the project not only supports the students’ health but also enables them to thrive academically, breaking the cycle of poverty and giving them a chance at a brighter future. Your support of this food drive will directly impact the lives of these children, giving them the nourishment they need to succeed in school and beyond.

6)Sponsorship Project

The School of Hope in Kibera is dedicated to providing quality education to children from some of the most vulnerable families in Nairobi.
In Kibera, poverty is widespread, with many families struggling to afford basic necessities, let alone school fees.

Currently, more than 20 children attending the school are unable to pay their school fees, putting their education at risk. Without financial assistance, these children may face interruptions in their studies or even be forced to drop out entirely.
This project aims to provide the necessary support to ensure that these students can continue their education without the burden of unpaid fees.

By supporting needy students with school fees, we can help break the cycle of poverty and empower these children to create a better future for themselves and their communities. Your support can make a significant difference in the lives of these children, giving them the opportunity to learn, grow, and eventually thrive, regardless of their financial situation.

7)Qualified Teachers Project

The School of Hope in Kibera, like many community schools in underserved areas, faces significant challenges in providing quality education.

Due to financial constraints, the school has relied on volunteer teachers, as most students’ families cannot afford to pay school fees. However, after much effort, Headteacher Gabriel was able to find a qualified teacher, Teacher Winny, who is committed to guiding the volunteer staff and ensuring the students receive the best possible education.

Despite this positive development, the school continues to struggle with teacher salaries and is seeking support to fund Teacher Winny’s salary.
This funding is essential not only to retain Teacher Winny but also to ensure the school’s ability to deliver the new Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) effectively.

By supporting to get more qualified teachers, you are helping to provide these children with the opportunity to access quality education, fostering growth and development for the future. Education is a key part of reconnecting humanity—helping to bridge gaps, ignite potential, and create opportunities.

We invite you to join us in ensuring that the students of the School of Hope receive the education they deserve, empowering them to break the cycle of poverty and contribute to a brighter, more equitable future for all.

8)Go-Green (Tree planting) Project

How many trees do you want to plant? 🙂

Planting trees has been mentioned severally, as one of the most important actions we can do today to ensure the sustainability of the planet, by significantly addressing 4/9 of important boundaries that ensure life:
-Stabilizing the climate,
-Improving Fresh Water,
-Improving Planet Diversity and
-Food production benefits;
Plus highly improving the other sustainability boundaries.

The School of Hope in Kibera is excited to launch its annual Tree Planting (Go-Green) project, aimed at instilling environmental consciousness and a sense of responsibility in the students. Kibera, one of Nairobi’s largest informal settlements, faces numerous challenges, including poor air quality and limited green spaces. Many of the children at the School of Hope grow up without exposure to nature or environmental stewardship, making this initiative an essential part of their education. By involving the students in tree planting, we not only contribute to improving the environment but also help foster a sense of pride and ownership in their community.

Volunteers will play an active role in this project, working closely with the students to plant trees in and around the school grounds. This year, we are calling on the community to support this global and national environmental drive by assisting us in providing treelings, which will be available on-site. Volunteers will also have the opportunity to walk with students to the planting site, just as we did in previous tree planting events, providing a hands-on experience that connects the volunteers with the local community.

The tree planting activities are particularly impactful, as they take place during the rainy season, which is the best time to ensure the trees take root and thrive. Volunteers will gain not only the satisfaction of contributing to a meaningful cause but also a deeper understanding of the environmental challenges facing urban communities. They will engage in planting, nurturing, and educating students about the importance of trees in combatting climate change and improving local conditions. This initiative encourages teamwork, environmental awareness, and personal growth, leaving a lasting impact on both the volunteers and the students involved.