Our Mission

Our mission is to lift children from hopelessness to achievement.
Our children flourish under the nurturing care of African professionals committed to imparting faith-based principles to children in the most important time of life: the formative years from preschool to university. Armed with an education, these young men and women will return to their communities to serve as change agents in every sector of society. Change will come to Africa in the 21st century…one child at a time.

Enabling the Children of Kenya: Primary Education
Kinyago-Dandora School (KDS) was started in the fall of 1987 by John and Babby Schwarz of Kenya Children’s Fund after a visit to the slum villages of Kinyago-Dandora. Feeling overwhelmed by the suffocating poverty and the plight of children living in such squalid conditions, John and Babby decided to begin a program that would provide education and nutrition for children living in Kinyago-Dandora. The Schwarzes and the village elders first opened the doors of Kinyago-Dandora School in 1988 offering preschool and nutrition programs. The early success of these programs led to solid growth and the expansion of the school to meet the growwing need.

Currently, KDS has more than 800 students enrolled in pre-school, primary and secondary school classes with 53 more students preparing for and attending universities, colleges and technical schools throughout Kenya. Academically, KDS is one of the top schools in its district and our students often win local music and sports competitions. Kinyago-Dandora School was declared the “Best Overall Community School” out of 35 schools in their school district.

KDS also strives to serve the community of Kinyago-Dandora through health care (AIDS awareness, family planning, etc.) and spiritual health programs in the evenings. Additionally, St. Stephen’s Anglican Church uses the school dining hall on Sunday mornings to conduct services in English and Swahili for more than 400 people in the community.

Enabling the Children of Kenya: Secondary Education and Beyond
Students leave primary school well-prepared for the transition to secondary school and with skills to enable them to succeed later in life. Without a high school education, there is little chance for employment, forcing too many children into theft, prostitution and other dangerous, debasing activities in effort to survive and help their families.

Kenya Children’s Fund is completing construction of the Secondary School facilities. We currently have approximately 250 secondary students enrolled and in February of 2010 the first graduating class of KDS went out equipped for further opportunities. It is our policy to help graduating students to continue their studies at Christian institutions such as Daystar University or enable them to learn professional skills in a quality trade school.

Kenya Children’s Fund’s biggest accomplishments to date:

Developing a curriculum and teaching staff for KDS which is considered one of the best in Nairobi.
Providing primary and secondary education, nutrition, medical and spiritual care for impoverished children throughout Kenya.
Updating the Website and Sponsorship program.
Graduating the first class to attend KDS from nursery through secondary school graduate in February of 2010.

Primary Goals for 2010 and Beyond:

Provide sponsorship for all primary and secondary school children currently enrolled at KDS.
Create meaningful relationships between sponsors and friends of Kenya Children’s Fund and partnering ministries through visits to Kenya.
Continue to provide adult education programs that focus on AIDS awareness and basic parenting fundamentals
Complete secondary school construction on Kinyago Dandora Secondary School.
Provide scholarships for graduating seniors to attend University or a quality trade school.