This month, I (Jane Mwikali) had the joy of hosting my two younger sisters, ages 14 and 17, who are visiting from Switzerland during their school break. Their days have been filled with spending time with extended family, vacationing at the beach, shopping, and screen time, enjoying the kind of freedom and safety many teens take for granted.
But spending time with them has been a sobering reminder of how different school holidays look for the children we serve here in Kenya.
For our over 3,000 students, school isn’t just a place to learn. It’s often the one place they receive a daily meal, are provided with structure and are protected from the dangers of street life. When school closes for the holidays, those safety nets vanish.
In the slums of Nairobi and the rural communities we support, school breaks can become periods of real risk. With limited supervision and few safe alternatives, children are vulnerable to crime, drugs, exploitation, and early pregnancy, dangers that increase every day they’re left idle and unsupervised.
That’s why we launched computer Coding Camps in all our partner schools during the April and November holiday breaks. These camps are designed to keep students engaged while introducing them to basic coding, digital literacy, and problem-solving.
In a world where technology drives opportunity, these camps are about more than just learning to code. They’re about building confidence, creativity, and a sense of purpose.
Teachers at our partner schools have all been asking me if we could host a camp during this August holiday. Unfortunately, we could not offer that this year. But our goal is to expand camp opportunities that augment learning during the school breaks, giving even more children a safe, empowering space to grow.
Your continued support allows us to hire facilitators and fund the learning materials and meals necessary to sustaining and growing this life-changing program.
Thank you for walking this journey with us, and for helping ensure that every child, no matter where they live, can find safety, learning, and hope, even when school is out.
Gratefully,
Jane Mwikali
Country Director
Kijabe Children’s Education Fund