There was no money to pay school fees. There was no plan. There was no clear path ahead. As weeks passed, my classmates reported to their schools while I remained at home. Neighbours kept asking when I would be joining high school, but nobody had an answer.
Then one day, everything changed. The phone rang - On the other end was EFAC.
Read MoreMy story begins among flower farms, wheat fields, and the calloused hands of women who carried families on their backs. My mum was one of these hardworking women. Some days she bent over rows of roses destined for export; on others, she harvested wheat under the highland sun. On lean days, she patched together casual jobs, her wages thin but her will unbroken. With help from her sisters and the kindness of neighbors, she kept us afloat. Many times, it was those little acts of kindness that made the difference between staying in school and being sent home for school fees.
Read MoreKhadija joined EFAC in 2017 through the EFAC-Kijabe Children Education Fund (KCEF) partnership. Determined and driven from a young age, she pursued her dreams relentlessly and is now a Bachelor of Science in Software Development graduate from KCA University. Today, she serves as a community leader, driving grassroots change initiatives and is the recipient of the 2025 EFAC Lynda Trumbull Community Service Award for her commitment to service, education, and community upliftment.
Read MoreFrom the hills of West Pokot to the global stage, Regina Cheptoo, an EFAC alumna and founder of Jenga Jamii, is proving that true change begins at the grassroots. Her work empowering rural women through health, education, and climate resilience has earned her global recognition and reminds us why community matters.
Read MoreA 14-year-old girl once walked into her headteacher’s office and asked for a chance at education. Today, she is a human rights lawyer transforming lives across the pastoral county of Kajiado in Kenya. Your support can spark that same journey for another child.
Read MoreNovember 7th 2025, marked a special day for the 69 recent EFAC graduates - our largest graduating class so far. These newly minted EFAC Fellows completed their Wezesha Journey and are now headed into the world of work to continue their path toward success as leaders and changemakers!
Read MoreIn Kenya, talent, resilience, and determination shape our athletes: days, weeks, and months of harsh yet rewarding training that lead up to the podium. That’s also the case with most Kenyan school-going children, including Education For EFAC scholars. Their journey to success is filled with obstacles, yet they push forward, fueled by a deep desire to learn, grow, and uplift their communities.
Read MoreMy name is Waithira — a young, passionate, enthusiastic, daring lady from Nairobi, Kenya.
I was raised in a humble home by a resilient single mother. Maybe a common story, but one thing I learned early, and especially from my mother, is that strength isn't measured by wealth, but by will. Our days were filled with challenges, yet my mother’s determination instilled in me a powerful belief — those circumstances don’t define one’s destiny. With ambition as my compass and hard work as my vessel, I set sail on a journey to transform our story.
Read MoreEFAC is one of the best things that has ever happened to me. Every time I received an invitation letter for a workshop while in high school, I felt an overwhelming sense of excitement - it was a chance to learn something new and reconnect with my friends. Being the only child of a single mother, I wasn't exposed to much outside my small circle. Life happened within the confines of our four walls for as long as I can remember. This made me quite introverted, so the workshops have always been a breath of fresh air, filled with fun activities and meaningful interactions.
Read MoreIn Kenya, around a million students each year are of high school-ready age, yet many of them cannot pursue quality education due to the country’s fee-based structure. The national poverty rate hovers around 40%* of the country’s total population, making school fees an insurmountable barrier to students continuing their education. This, along with other societal demands, results in many young Kenyans having to end their educational journey after primary school. For girls, this problem is even more pronounced, especially in some rural communities, where girls are rarely offered the opportunity to go to school and face severe challenges such as FGM and early marriage.
Read MoreEducation For All Children (EFAC) was recognized for the second year running at the National Diversity and Inclusion Awards & Recognition (DIAR Awards) 2025! This happened at a colourful gala night, held at the Sarit Expo Centre in Nairobi on 7th March 2025. The Gala brought together organizations and individuals driving impactful change in advancing Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) across Kenya. We are proud and excited to be part of this remarkable celebration of inclusivity.
Read MoreThis is part of a series of reflections from EFAC Scholars participating in EFAC’s Climb Kilimanjaro & Elevate Education Fundraising Expedition.
The journey to Kilimanjaro in Tanzania was nothing short of remarkable, a culmination of months of preparation and an incredible team effort that will forever remain etched in my memory. I am still in disbelief of the experiences I have had as part of such a significant, exhilarating and complex climbing team!
Read MoreThis is part of a series of reflections from EFAC Scholars participating in EFAC’s Climb Kilimanjaro & Elevate Education Fundraising Expedition.
When I signed up for the Kilimanjaro climb, I was in a very reflective period of my life. I was just about to graduate from the EFAC program and join the alumni. I really wanted to give back to the program for the sake of another child.
Read MoreSpotlights on just a few EFAC Scholars and Alumni from the latest issue of the EFACtor Newsletter: Faustine selected for a Duke of Edinburgh International Award Initiative, Regina accepted to the Africa SDGs Mentorship Program, and Pauline attending UWC Atlantic with a full scholarship!
Read MoreOriginally published in EFAC’s Wezesha Magazine, Special Issue 2024
Growing up in Meru County, my early life was marked by both hope and hardship. Born into a low-income home, the financial strain on my family was exacerbated by my father's prolonged battle with a throat tumor. With my family's financial resources dwindling, my dreams of pursuing education beyond the eighth grade seemed increasingly out of reach.
Read MoreThis is part of a series of reflections from EFAC Scholars participating in EFAC’s Climb Kilimanjaro & Elevate Education Fundraising Expedition.
In October 2024, I had the unforgettable privilege to embark on a preparatory hike on Mount Kenya, representing my peers from EFAC (Education For All Children). This experience was part of a larger initiative, spearheaded by Lisa Van Sciver, to climb Mount Kilimanjaro in January 2025.
Read MoreOriginally published in EFAC’s Wezesha Magazine, Special Issue 2024
I cannot trace the exact moment I figured out that I had a love for mentorship. However, from a young age, all the way into my teenage years, I knew I did not know a lot of things. I did not know what high school to pick during selection, I did not know if I got in how we would manage the school fees, and I did not know how life would look if that was not a possibility—but it was, thanks to EFAC.
Read MoreOriginally published in EFAC’s Wezesha Magazine, Special Issue 2024
I cannot trace the exact moment I figured out that I had a love for mentorship. However, from a young age, all the way into my teenage years, I knew I did not know a lot of things. I did not know what high school to pick during selection, I did not know if I got in how we would manage the school fees, and I did not know how life would look if that was not a possibility—but it was, thanks to EFAC.
Read MoreOriginally published in EFAC’s Wezesha Magazine, Special Issue 2024
As students prepare to transition from university to the workplace, it is important to develop skills and strategies that will enhance their readiness for the job market. The following ideas offer practical steps to help students navigate this journey.
Read MoreOctober 9th marked a special day for the 48 recent EFAC graduates. These newly minted EFAC Fellows completed their 8-year Wezesha Journey and are now headed into the world of work to continue their path toward success as leaders and changemakers!
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