eduKenya's story
Transformation starts small.
We often catch glimpses of poverty—photos on social media, short clips of worn-down homes. But what do we do when we are standing right in the middle of it?
In 2006, while spending time in communities experiencing extreme poverty in Nairobi, Kenya, Adam Gould encountered an unsettling reality: children left unsupervised and out of school, playing and wading through trash and debris, often missing multiple meals a day. These were not distant images, but daily life. Moved by what he saw and compelled by a desire to see lasting change, Adam partnered with Life in Abundance—an international nonprofit organization with Kenyan roots—alongside Pastor Isaiah Kamau and the Believers Centre Mathare Church to launch what became known as the Kenya Children Project.
Roots deepen.
The Kenya Children Project began by expanding the Believers Centre’s existing childcare program in Jangwani, Mathare—one of the poorest communities in Nairobi. From small beginnings, serving just 27 children, the project steadily grew over the years, eventually impacting hundreds of children directly and thousands of family and community members by extension.
In 2010, building on this growth and the vision taking shape, Adam and a close friend, Bob Kikuyu, transitioned the Kenya Children Project into what is now eduKenya, a fully registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
Surpassing expectations.
As our students grew in number—and as those same students grew older—the need for additional space became clear. With the support of generous partners around the world and the active involvement of the Mathare community, Mawewa Primary School constructed a five-story school building in the heart of Mathare. Children continued to walk to school each day, parents helped build the structure themselves, and the school became a source of deep pride and shared ownership within the community.
Around this same time, parents began asking our staff an important question: What comes next? They urged us to consider continuing this journey of transformation into high school. We recognized the opportunity before us, while also acknowledging that it would require new space, staff, and significant resources. Trusting God to provide, eduKenya welcomed its first class at Chelezo High School in 2015 and celebrated its first graduating class in 2019.
Walking with graduates.
Today, we celebrate a new graduating class every November. Many of these students have been part of the eduKenya community since they were toddlers. As our alumni network continues to grow, we pray that God will use each young person in unique ways—for the transformation of their own lives, their families, and their communities.
