Education

In informal settlements in Kenya, girls face significant barriers to education, including a lack of access to quality healthcare and resources. This prevents many from staying in school, leading to lower earning potential, higher risks of contracting HIV, and poorer health outcomes for their children. Additionally, the undervaluing of women and girls means that the most vulnerable may never start school at all.

In 2009, the first class of girls was admitted to the Kibera School for Girls (KSG) to break the cycle of poverty and inequality in urban communities and enable young girls to reach their full potential. Today, we are focused on eight key strategies:

1. We shape the next generation of leaders by enrolling female students in community service projects, including SHOFCO internships, equipping them to become agents of change in their communities.
2. We strengthen the public school system in the areas where we serve by providing primary schools with access to teacher training and parent engagement initiatives, building STEM labs and clean, safe, and gender-segregated sanitary pit latrines to reduce the risk of sexual and gender-based violence (SGVB), and by distributing uniforms and sanitary pads.
3. We provide high-quality free education through the Kibera School for Girls (KSG) and Mathare School for Girls (MSG), to the most vulnerable girls in the areas where we serve.
4. We create safe and dignified learning environments and protect the rights of children by educating the community on hygiene, sanitation, and gender equality.
5. We continue to develop a comprehensive education model that equips girls with essential life skills, focusing on leadership development, emotional growth, resilience, and sustainable practices, including climate adaptability.
6. We extend essential services to the families of our students by connecting them to relevant SHOFCO programs.
7. We support students’ placements in prestigious Kenyan high schools, offering scholarships and mentorship programs during school breaks.
8. We run environmental clubs, where students learn about climate change, sustainable practices, and urban farming. These clubs also run multimedia campaigns, host community events, and maintain rooftop gardens to supply the school feeding program.

• Kenya’s most vulnerable girls in informal settlements gain access to quality education, with opportunities for long-term success.
• Public schools serving marginalized communities are strengthened, providing high-quality, safe environments that benefit all children and serve as replicable models nationwide.
• Children, especially girls, acquire essential life skills and grow up in safe environments with reduced risk of SGBV.
• Through a comprehensive curriculum including core subjects and intra-curricular activities, a future generation of innovative leaders is prepared to drive long-term societal change.

We are focused on eliminating poverty-driven school dropouts in both primary and secondary schools by providing bursaries, life skills training, and wrap-around services to keep girls in school and improve their academic outcomes.