Kenya- Providing Youth With a Holistic Approach to Leadership through Education and Mentorship
Situation
In Kenya’s informal settlements (often referred to as slums), secondary education represents a critical but fragile opportunity for young people. While access to primary education has expanded nationally, high school carries significant associated costs for families, including fees, uniforms, transportation, and—in some cases—boarding expenses. For households relying on unstable or informal incomes, these pressures increase the risk that students disengage or drop out during adolescence. Fewer than 15% of students from informal settlements who complete grade 8 go on to attend secondary school.
Students in informal settlements also navigate overlapping challenges that affect learning and wellbeing: disruptions to school calendars, economic stress at home, and limited access to mentorship and supportive spaces outside the classroom. For girls, these challenges are often compounded by caregiving responsibilities and heightened social risk.
CFK Africa’s work is rooted in the understanding that staying enrolled in school is not enough. Students in slums require consistent guidance, encouragement, and leadership development to remain engaged and complete secondary school.
Partner Approach: CFK Africa
CFK Africa has worked alongside communities in Kenya’s informal settlements to empower youth for 25 years, combining education support, youth leadership development, and health services through a locally led, partnership-based model.
Within its scholarship-linked student programming, CFK Africa emphasizes:
Structured mentorship and psychosocial support
Leadership and life-skills development
Peer learning and alumni engagement
Continued connection to trusted adults during school breaks and other disruptions
This approach reflects CFK Africa’s broader Theory of Change: youth thrive when they are supported holistically and connected to strong community networks.
2025 Impact Highlights
In 2025, Give to the World supported the programming that contributed to a structured set of student support activities delivered consistently across the academic year. In total, CFK Africa facilitated 30 sessions designed to reinforce academic progress, leadership development, and continuity of care:
20 study camp sessions, delivered across the three school breaks, providing academic reinforcement and structured learning during periods when students are most vulnerable to disengagement
8 mentorship and leadership sessions, including academic mentoring and youth leadership programming
1 learning visit, exposing students to broader educational and career pathways
1 annual student review, supporting progress tracking and individualized guidance for all beneficiaries
Not all students participated in every activity; engagement varied based on availability and location. This flexible model ensured access to consistent support throughout the year while adapting to the realities of students’ lives.
CFK Africa’s monitoring and feedback indicate that students participating in these activities demonstrated:
Improved academic engagement
Greater confidence and self-awareness
Increased willingness to support peers and take on leadership roles
These outcomes reflect CFK Africa’s emphasis on developing young leaders, not just supporting students. CFK Africa’s impact is evident in stories like Mercy’s (https://youtube.com/shorts/XywiaVQQr1M?si=Yc6aTktkBJiVGnmw), who thought that her education would end at elementary school, but with CFK Africa’s scholarship support, she graduated from high school and is now pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Public Management and Development, something that many young girls from slums only dream of.
Why This Matters to Give to the World
Give to the World prioritizes investments that support people at moments of highest leverage. In Kenya, secondary school years are one of those moments—when modest, well-targeted support can help students persist through instability and emerge with the skills, confidence, and values needed to contribute to their communities and grow into the next generation of leaders.
While student programming in Kenya’s slums represents a small share of Give to the World’s overall portfolio, it delivers an outsized impact by reinforcing resilience, leadership, and continuity during a pivotal stage of life.
2026 Outlook: Student Programs in Kenya
In 2026, Give to the World anticipates continued support for CFK Africa’s student programming as the organization expands its reach to serve up to 150 students, responding to growing need and strong outcomes.
Building on the 2025 model, programming will continue to include:
Study camps during school breaks
Mentorship and leadership development sessions
Opportunities for peer learning, alumni engagement, and academic reflection
In total, CFK Africa plans to deliver approximately 30 structured sessions across the year, offering students multiple touchpoints of support throughout the academic calendar.
For donors, this work can be understood in simple, tangible terms:
$110 helps ensure a student has access to mentorship, leadership, and study programming throughout the school year, supporting their academic journey and personal development
$550 can support a study session serving up to 150 students, creating shared learning and reinforcement during critical school breaks
In 2026, CFK Africa will celebrate its 25th year of impact, delivering life-changing programs for youth in Kenya’s slums. Give to the World looks forward to continuing a meaningful partnership during this milestone year. Specific activities and scope will continue to be shaped in close collaboration with CFK Africa and informed by on-the-ground conditions.
