Strengthen Foundations, Nourish the Future
“Joining the KCEF board for me was out of something instilled in me while in high school in Kenya: ‘From those to whom much has been given, much will be required.’
I went on my first KCEF trip expecting I would give back to the community in which I was raised, but with each school we visited, I left with a heart full of gratitude for the work God is doing through KCEF and its partners.”
~ Dr. Allan Mulandi KCEF Board Member
Dr. Allan Mulandi with students at the St. Catherine Elite School in Kenya
Friends,
It has been quite a year in Kenya. From fires that threatened schools, politically-related violence in communities, and a comprehensive overhaul of the country’s secondary education system, our partner schools have endured a challenging year. Yet our schools’ leaders and teachers continue to inspire us with their resilience and faith. Moreover, we are so grateful to you for the ways you have partnered with us in support of over 3000+ children and youth.
It has also been quite the year for KCEF. For the past 19 years, KCEF has been completely volunteer-led, hiring a part-time Kenyan director only three years ago. Four years ago, our relatively small budget of $266,000 was spent in the service of five schools, their teachers and students. We now serve over 3,000 students and seven partner schools along with some auxiliary programs. In providing more than 610,000 meals annually, launching a vocational program with 700 graduates, and experiencing four-fold revenue growth, we have reached organizational capacity with our volunteers.
But thanks to the generosity of two major donors, our Kenyan director is now full-time and we have a full-time Executive Director—staff dedicated to expanding the number of schools we serve. We are moving from a volunteer‑led mission to a more professional operation focused on serving even more Kenyan children and youth from food‑poor and educationally impoverished areas. Why?
Because the needs are so great, and we are just scratching the surface. Nearly half of Kenya’s population is below the age of 19. Fourteen percent of these children do not even make it to primary school. Fifty-percent do not complete secondary school. One out of five children under the age of five has chronic undernutrition. Exacerbating all these problems is an unemployment rate of 70% in the slums of Nairobi.
Our goal is to identify more trusted Kenyan leaders with whom we can partner to help nourish and educate more of the children and youth being left behind. We want to make it possible for more of these kids to have hope and a future. Big gifts are allowing us to strengthen our foundations and make our mission more sustainable, but it is the regular, faithful donations from friends like you that allow us to nourish and educate the Kenyan children served by our partners day in and day out. Thank you for being a faithful supporter of this incredible work through your prayers and generosity. We are grateful.
~ Jennifer M. Jukanovich, Ph.D. Executive Director of KCEF
Vision
Our vision is to nourish and educate God’s children in Kenya.
Why?
The love of Jesus Christ compels us to use our best where the needs are greatest.
We believe…
- Every child deserves a hope and a future.
- Every child deserves to know they are fully loved and fully known by God.
- The poorest of the poor deserve to have access to the highest quality of education.
- A hungry child cannot learn.
- Local leaders are already doing good work. We want to join in where God is at work.
What we do…
KCEF provides a pathway for Kenyan students from food-poor and low-education areas to have a hope and a future. We partner with trusted local leaders to nourish students in body, mind, and spirit. We strengthen their capacity to ensure every student receives a daily meal, access to a quality education, Christian character formation, and opportunities for post-secondary vocations.
Milestones This Year
- Hired our first US Executive Director
- Hosted three trips to Kenya
- Celebrated the first official commencement ceremony for the Blissnet Vocational Program – over 700 students have graduated in three years!
- Added St. Catherine’s as an official partner school
- Added a Monday meal for the 910 children in the Kiandutu slum of Thika
- Added the Creating Positive Relationships Program to the Tanari Trust Rite of Passage Experience
- Doubled the number of 6th and 9th Grade Students receiving Christian formation
- Built Junior Secondary Classrooms and Science Labs for Gentle Bells, KICOSHEP, Blessed Children’s Center, St. Catherine’s
- Built bathrooms and security walls for St. Catherine’s to prevent thievery and keep the children safe
- Brought electricity and wi-fi to Gentle Bells School
- Helped Gospel Victory Academy get additional classroom space
- Added much-needed bathrooms and an additional primary classroom for the 400 students of St. Catherine’s
- Strengthened capacity by hiring accountants for schools
- Hosted two computer coding camps over the holidays
- Launched a Strategic Plan
- Increased # of individual donors by 20%
Where Are We Headed?
In our current state of serving 3,000+ students; six partner schools; over 625,000 meals a year, a vocational program with 700 graduates, and our revenue growing nearly four-fold in four years, we have reached organizational capacity.
In order to improve and expand, we must move from a volunteer‑led mission to professional, scalable operations focused on food‑poor and low‑education areas.
Strengthen
Strengthen organizational foundations and financial sustainability — US/Kenyan governance structures and policies, staff capacity, rebrand/celebrate 20 years, fundraising stability.
Improve
Improve educational quality —Christian formation for teachers and curriculum, digital literacy, teacher retention, and measurable outcomes.
Expand
Strategic expansion of partnership schools and vocational opportunities —within the food-poor/low-education areas of greater Nairobi.
Join Us In Transforming Lives
Follow the link below to donate online! Donations can also be sent via check to
6 Maple Street, Essex, MA 01929 made payable to Kijabe Children’s Educational Fund.