Mbegu, meaning “seed” in Swahili, is a nonprofit organization dedicated to nurturing children’s aspirations and empowering them to create lasting change in their communities.

Just like a seed holds untapped potential, Mbegu believes every child possesses unique greatness waiting to be cultivated. Through education, mentorship, and empowerment, we awaken curiosity, ignite passions, and provide the tools for success.

In the heart of Lake Victoria, Kenya, lies a small island where dreams take root. Mfangano is a place where magic intertwines with the promise of a brighter future. It is a sanctuary of joy and tranquillity, offering a unique setting for our endeavours.

We wholeheartedly believe that when equipped with the right resources and opportunities, anyone can build their dreams into reality. Mbegu is paving the road for students and islanders to build their own aspirations and goals to drive change within their community.

In January 2024 we welcomed the first batch of 30 students from Saint Mary Academy School into our higher-education program.

To support their life journey and fulfil Mbegu's vision, we must also provide the necessary infrastructure to cater to their primary needs.

We are building a high school with boarding facilities where they can access the national school curriculum free of charge. In Kenya, there is no free education, and tuition fees are prohibitively expensive in both public and private schools. By waiving these fees and offering high-quality education without cost, we ensure that these young boys and girls have the opportunity to learn and build a promising future for themselves.

In addition to their compulsory education, we foster their personal growth through initiatives that encourage emotional intelligence.

Our goal is to create a secure environment that nurtures a family-like atmosphere and motivates them to become the individuals and professionals they aspire to be.

At Mbegu, we believe in empowering children beyond the confines of a traditional curriculum. Our focus lies in nurturing their emotional intelligence and cultivating vital soft skills that will enable them to:

• build inner confidence and self-awareness;

• unleash creativity and curiosity;

• develop strong interpersonal abilities, communication and empathy;

• sharpen critical thinking and problem-solving.

By creating opportunities that enrich their life experiences and providing a diverse range of workshops in various areas:

• Personal Development: this includes fostering self and social awareness, addressing sexual health and financial literacy amongst others.

• Employability and Self-Sufficiency Skills: workshops will cover practical skills such as bread-making, cooking, fishing, gardening, tailoring, engineering, mechanics and accounting, empowering the students to become self-sufficient and ready for potential job opportunities.

• Arts and Creativity: nurturing artistic expression, we offer workshops in theatre, dancing, painting, music, photography and fashion design to encourage creativity and self-expression.

• Cultural Awareness: to broaden their horizons, we introduce foreign language workshops, and interactive sessions on geography and culture and organize school trips within Kenya, exposing them to different localities.

• Mentorship Programs and Role Models: students will benefit from motivational conversations and interactions with individuals from similar backgrounds who have achieved diverse successful careers, providing them with valuable guidance and inspiration.

This forms the essence of our work. We begin by conducting a needs assessment, supported by a psychologist, to gather essential information and tailor a comprehensive plan that aligns with the local context and challenges. These educational initiatives are thoughtfully integrated into the school curriculum, and we equip teachers and caregivers with the necessary knowledge and skills to effectively nurture the emotional growth of the students.

Building a high school allows us to create multifunctional spaces where we can develop quality workshops and classes to promote and nurture the innate talents of the children involved. The high school serves as the foundation of our project, as we must care for and protect the children too.

Currently, we have built two classrooms (where one for now is acting like a girls dormitory) and four toilets (two for boys and two for girls). By January 2025, our goal is to construct more facilities: two classrooms, and one office; along with two dormitories, to separate boys and girls. We anticipate that the construction of all the infrastructure will progress steadily over the next three years, depending on our resources and income.

Once the school year begins in February 2024, we will establish a living routine for our students and incorporate these workshops and initiatives into their curriculum, as well as extra-scholar and weekend activities.

Moving forward, our success relies on consistency, perseverance, continuous evaluation and support. We understand feedback from students, teachers and parents is essential to assess the impact and make necessary improvements. We provide ongoing support and resources for teachers to ensure the sustained integration of emotional intelligence education into the high school’s culture and practices.

We aim to plant the seed and provide the tools to cultivate and nurture their dreams.

Our work extends far beyond individual impact – it encompasses empowering the entire community. At Mbegu, we collaborate closely with locals, fostering a sense of ownership and nurturing a circular economy that uplifts families and fuels the education of their children.

By prioritising the perspective of the community members and actively listening to their needs, we create an ecosystem of mutual support and respect that allows both to fulfil our purpose.

We work with locals and islanders in our construction projects, contributing to their businesses and generating an income opportunity for our neighbours. From February 2024, we've employed:

• 3 teachers,

• 1 grounds manager and security guard,

• 2 cooks/housekeepers.

Mbegu’s co-founder, Jim Walker Peter, was born and raised on the same island where we are building the high school. He is a crucial part of our effort to support practices that empower his community and foster self-sufficiency.

In our pursuit of creating a promising future for others, we are mindful of the pitfalls that plague well-intentioned efforts. Mbegu differentiates itself by embracing a conscious approach that safeguards against harmful attachment patterns and negative co-dependency.

We are committed to challenging and dismantling the white-saviour complex and decolonizing international volunteering. We continuously educate ourselves to ensure our actions have a positive and sustainable impact on the community we serve.

Mbegu is compromised to drive sustainable development long-term. We promote practices for self-sufficiency and strive to create opportunities for economic growth within our school and the community. Since 2021, we have sustained our steady progress by selling local handmade totes and accessories. Although we aim to explore other commercial ventures and scale this area of funding, donations and other form of economic support play a crucial role in sustaining and enhancing the project’s impact, covering start-up costs, subsidizing free education, facilitating growth, and ensuring the provision of quality education to our students.

It’s important to acknowledge that achieving complete financial independence can be a gradual and complex process. We balance self-sufficiency practices with realistic expectations and the need for financial support to achieve long-term sustainability and success.

Reflecting on our journey, we take immense pride in the tangible achievements we have accomplished thus far thanks to your support. From cleaning our land to reinforcing the property with fences and gates, from bringing the power of electricity to our ongoing efforts in establishing a reliable water and septic system, we are building a solid foundation for an outstanding program on the island.

We are very proud of how the school is taking shape. Today, we can claim that we have built 2 classroom, 4 toilets and Kasaluna (two guests rooms with bathrooms).

With your contribution, we can continue to make incredible progress and take our operations to the next level.