The charity provides a totally free education, a safe and supportive environment, and an opportunity in life to the very poorest and most disadvantaged early secondary age children in Bombolulu, one of the most impoverished suburbs of Mombasa. We select children who, despite their desperate background, have already demonstrated the yearn to learn and improve in primary education.
With no money to pay for even state education, the alternative prospect for many of these children is an early exit from the school system, leading to unemployment, crime, forced early marriage, or exposure to the modern slave trade.
Our aim is to develop the whole child as well as giving them a great education, so they in turn can help the local community to advance and grow.
The charity has previously supported a kindergarten and primary school for poor kids from the same area to expand from 30 to 300 children. This school is now self-supporting, but many of their children had nowhere to go for secondary education.
As you would expect, the charity is operated and governed in accordance with the Charities Act 2006 and the reporting and operating requirements of the Charities Commission, the independent regulator of charities in England and Wales. The charity has been set up as a CIO – a charitable incorporated organisation.
The Charity Commission is stringent about the need for educational establishments in England and Wales and overseas to have all the correct safeguarding policies and procedures in place. As part of the approval process for the charity we are required to submit a wide range of information including the formal safeguarding policy and the written business plan for the school.
The object of the charity contained in the charity constitution, registered with the Charity Commission, is “To advance the education of children and adults in Mombasa and surrounding areas by providing facilities for education and work experience training.”
Chair of Trustees
Sally is our founder and principal fundraiser and administrator and much more. Her background is as an entrepreneur at a young age (she’s no longer a spring chicken) with a background in finance, business management and charity fundraising at DHL in the UK.
Charity Trustee & Deputy Chair of The Board of Governors
Ben is based in Kenya and is a former teacher and is now an entrepreneur in the transport industry. Ben is also the deputy chair of the board of governors of the school and provides a valuable communication link between the boards of the charity and the school.
Charity Trustee
Vivian is an HR professional based in Nairobi, Kenya, ideally placed to help advise on our team recruitment, management and development.
Charity Trustee
Paul is a property expert and entrepreneur. His practical property experience has been invaluable in managing and controlling our purchase of land and development of the school building.
Charity Secretary Trustee
Mary has a background as a special needs teacher and has been a member and chair of the board of governors for a UK primary school for many years.
Charity Trustee
Chis is a qualified lawyer and was the former head of legal at DHL. His advice on all matters legal affecting the school is invaluable.
Supporting the charity in the UK
It is imperative that we keep sponsors informed about the children that they are supporting. Without the sterling efforts of Geoff Ward, our child sponsorship coordinator, our supporters would be far less well informed about not only their specific children, but the school in general. Geoff is a volunteer and is an absolute star 😊. He has been supporting the charity for a decade now.