Build a School in Gathanji, Kenya

Lawrence Barrett is organizing this fundraiser.

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For a kid in rural Kenya, education is generally their only hope. In particular, primary education (grades 1-8) is critical to building a better future. Students who score well on their primary exams can attend high school and university. Alternatively, passing primary exams can get a child into a vocational training program.

Without passing primary exams, on the other hand, life looks grim. There are very few opportunities. Most end up working for extremely low wages or subsistence farming. There is a high probability of coping through substance abuse (alcohol or sniffing glue). Both of these substances damage internal organs and impair brain function. In those unfortunate cases, life is difficult and short.

Tragically, there are few resources for kids in poor rural communities to prepare them for their exams. I lived in Nairobi earlier this year. There was a slum behind our apartment where my wife and I would regularly help students study for their exams. Life in a slum is anything but easy, yet, the kids we worked with had access to good educational resources, and most passed their exams. Rural children often have far fewer resources and, not surprisingly, have worse educational outcomes.

While I was in Kenya, I met Jude Katende. Jude grew up in a slum in Uganda. He was one of the lucky ones, working his way out and getting a university degree in education. He became a primary school headmaster and founded a successful sports academy. But in 2021, he left it all behind to move to the small village of Gathanji, Kenya, closer to his wife's family.

Jude has been dismayed at the lack of educational opportunities in Gathanji. There is only one option— a private school, which is unaffordable and regularly uses corporal punishment. Physical abuse is still all too common in Kenyan schools. Most kids in Gathanji either give up on school or, if their families can afford it, travel long distances to find better options.

Jude opened a restaurant in Gathanji to support his family, but his dream is to build a school that is accessible to the community and uses ethical classroom management practices. His family has donated the necessary land. Now, he needs the money to build and outfit the school. You can find the PDF of his proposal and budget below. He needs about $10,000 to build the school, but any extra we can raise will go to either additional resources or additional teachers.

I'll post updates from Jude as we go!

Here is a video from Jude at the site of the future school