Karanja, from Edmund Rice Foundation, shares an on-the-ground update from Kakamega County, where we are working with local community based organisation, Pursue to deliver the Schools Development Programme to strengthen community schools and improve learning outcomes.

In this region, many children cannot access public education because schools are too far away. Families rely on small, community-run schools like Maraba Shiners Academy, one of around 50 schools supported through the programme.

These schools serve some of the most vulnerable communities. Poverty remains a significant challenge – often leaving children with limited access to quality education.

The project is already seeing encouraging progress across participating schools:

• teachers and school leaders trained in effective pedagogy and instructional leadership
• Parents engaged through training in positive discipline, safeguarding and education support
• Improved literacy and student participation in classrooms
• Safer, more supportive learning environments

In schools like Maraba Shiners Academy, the impact is tangible:

• Teachers are gaining the skills they need to deliver structured, engaging lessons aligned with the national curriculum
• Students are increasingly attending school, participating in class, and developing foundational reading skills
• Communities are coming together to prioritise education, even in low-resource settings
• Local schools are becoming vital hubs—ensuring that every child in the community has a place to learn

As Karanja highlights, these schools are making a significant difference—ensuring children who would otherwise miss out on education are now in classrooms, learning and building hope for the future.