1. What inspired the founding of your Foundation?
The Brainstorm Junior Children’s Centre was founded in 2010 with a strong passion for providing quality education and care to young orphans and vulnerable children in the slums of Kibera, Nairobi. Kibera is one of the largest informal settlements in Africa, where living conditions are extremely challenging. Access to basic needs such as clean water, sanitation, and electricity is limited, and many residents live in poverty. Most people rely on informal jobs to survive, and education remains out of reach for many children due to financial constraints.
I, George Jarona, was personally inspired to establish this centre due to my own upbringing. Coming from a very poor family, I was a beneficiary of sponsorship, which enabled me to pursue my education. My parents couldn’t afford to support me financially, so I received help from others. This experience instilled in me the desire to give back and help other children in similar situations in Kibera.
2. Can you describe the primary mission and vision of the foundation?
At Brainstorm Junior Children’s Centre, we envision a disciplined, independent, and morally upright society. Our mission is to shape the lives of orphans and vulnerable children within the Kibera community by providing programs and services that help them pursue their dreams and reach their full potential. In a place like Kibera, where poverty and lack of resources create significant barriers to education and development, we aim to offer a way out for these children.
3. What are the main programs and initiatives run by the foundation?
We run several vital programs aimed at nurturing the children’s development and supporting their families:
Quality Education & Care: We provide education and care to 229 children, from Day Care to Grade Six. Our dedicated volunteer teachers teach the children from Monday to Saturday. Despite their commitment, raising funds to support the volunteers' monthly stipend of Ksh 5,000 has been a challenge, as most of the children’s parents, many of whom are widows or single mothers, struggle to pay the Ksh 1,000 monthly school fee.
Feeding Program: Due to the extreme poverty in Kibera, many children come to school without having eaten. We offer two meals a day—porridge during break time and rice with cabbage for lunch. However, this program faces significant challenges, especially after the demolition of our school building, which forced us to rent a new location and stretched our already limited resources.
Talent Development Program & Computer Literacy: We aim to nurture the children’s talents in areas like art and creativity. Additionally, we have introduced computer literacy lessons, but due to a lack of adequate equipment (we currently have only two monitors), this program is not yet fully effective.
Child Sponsorship Program: We are actively seeking individuals or organizations to help sponsor children by contributing Ksh 1,000 monthly to cover their education expenses. Currently, two sponsors are supporting three highly vulnerable children, but we need more sponsors to help others, as well as to provide books and uniforms.
Widows Empowerment Program: Many of our children’s parents are widows who struggle to support their families in Kibera’s tough environment. We’ve established a program to empower over 275 widows by helping them gain financial independence through work. This program enables them to better support their families by paying for rent, school fees, and daily necessities.
4. How does the foundation support education for vulnerable children?
Our centre provides a safe space where children can receive quality education, meals, and care. In a community like Kibera, where the extreme poverty levels mean that many children work to help support their families or lack access to school altogether, our centre offers an essential lifeline. Fundraising is crucial for us to continue supporting the 50 orphans who can only pay Ksh 500 a month, and we depend on donations to keep our programs running.
5. Why did you decide to enroll your children in the International Kids Coding Bootcamp?
We decided to enroll our children in the International Kids Coding Bootcamp because we saw it as a beneficial and eye-opening program that aligns with our curriculum here in Kenya. In Kibera, access to technology and digital literacy is extremely limited. By exposing our children to coding and technology, we believe we can open doors to a better future for them. The Bootcamp helps improve their skills and builds their potential for future opportunities in an increasingly digital world.
6. What are the future goals for the foundation?
Our future goals include expanding our programs to reach even more vulnerable children and families in Kibera. We aim to provide better facilities, more resources for computer literacy, and stronger sponsorship programs to ensure that every child has access to quality education. Additionally, we hope to grow the Widows Empowerment Program to help more families become self-sufficient. Our long-term vision is to create a lasting impact on the community, breaking the cycle of poverty and providing every child with the opportunity to thrive.
About Kibera, Nairobi
Kibera is the largest slum in Nairobi, Kenya, and one of the largest in Africa. The estimated population ranges between 200,000 and 1 million people. Life in Kibera is marked by extreme poverty, with many residents living on less than $1.25 a day. The majority of homes are makeshift structures, and basic necessities like clean water, sanitation, and electricity are hard to come by. Most residents work in informal jobs, earning a meager income that is often insufficient to cover rent, food, and education costs for their children.
Despite the harsh conditions, many children and families in Kibera aspire to improve their lives through education. However, access to schooling is limited, and many children are forced to drop out due to the inability to pay fees. Organizations like Brainstorm Junior Children’s Centre are working tirelessly to provide these children with the education, care, and support they need to break the cycle of poverty and build a brighter future.
Through their various programs and the support of generous donors, Brainstorm Junior Children’s Centre continues to give hope to the children of Kibera, ensuring they have the tools they need to succeed.
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