Kibagare Academy

The Kibagare Academy was founded in 2008 by Pastor Amos Otieno Okolo in order to protect children of the Kibagare Slums from the harsh, daily realities they are faced with, and give them the hope and foundation for brighter futures.
Right behind Loresho, a leafy green, well developed residential suburb for middle to upper class Kenyans and expatriates sits the Kibagare Slums. This slum is home to over 150,000 residents, the majority of them living on less than $1 a day. Houses in Kibagare typically consist of one room, shared sometimes with up to 10 family members, and they are commonly built of tin sheets which do not protect individuals from the changing climate. Sadly, every three out of five people whom reside in the Kibagare Slums are HIV positive, and they do not have the sufficient resources to continue with a healthy life for themselves or their families.

The Kibagare Academy, which educates children between the ages of 3-7 years, was founded by Pastor Amos Otieno Okolo of the Jesus Christ Is The Way Ministries Church in 2008. Pastor Amos and warm-hearted individuals created this accommodation as a way to protect children who were left unattended in the slums during the long day hours, as their parents had to go elsewhere to find money, many times reverting to begging, prostitution, drug dealing, and thievery. These children were often left with no food and are frequently victims of rape and abuse. Many of the children had no choice but to turn to begging themselves, and sometimes ended up abandoned and alone on the street. Kibagare Academy was built as a refuge for these innocent children. However, it did not begin as a school, but a daycare, and has recently blossomed into an educational institution. For, "education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world." -Nelson Mandela


Kibagare Academy is now school to 50 bright students, 12 of them being complete orphans and over 20 belonging to single parent families. Each student's family is asked to pay 300 Kenyan Shillings a month, approximately $4 US, to cover school fees. On many occasions, and with the case of the 12 orphaned students, there is no possibility of covering the school fees, yet the children are never turned away. While 300 Kenyan Shillings may be a minute amount of money to many of us, it can often be a copious and strenuous amount for a family to come up with in the slums.


The students at Kibagare Academy are fed Wheatabix, a wholegrain cereal, everyday, and for some this is their only meal. The cereal and milk are donated weekly by an Australian woman by the name of Roslyne Knobbs.


The academy, has grown through grassroots movements and survives based on donations. This is where we need YOU and all the help we can get. A donation as small as 300 shillings ($4) a month keeps a child in school and off the streets. Every bit of monetary donation helps and goes towards a greater good! Donations from the Kenyan community of books, art supplies, and food are so greatly appreciated. For those of you who may not be able to sponsor the school through monetary donations, you are also needed! We need volunteers, people who can come and teach, bring ideas, influence the Kibagare community, and show their love and affection towards the kids. Come and donate as little an hour a week to change your life and give an invaluable gift to this community.

OUR PLANS: Kibagare Academy at the moment is at full capacity and can only hold 50 students. We plan to build a larger school in order to take in, shelter, educate and feed more of the children wandering the slum of Kibagare. We plan to build a school which has dorms for the abandoned children, a kitchen to extend the feeding program, a proper toilet, the clean water supply they deserve, and hopefully electricity.