At the Mwatate Children’s Home, located in a gem-mining community in Kenya, school represents something very powerful. It’s a secure path of structure and stability. For children who cannot rely on parental support, education becomes the most reliable way to gain independence and create future opportunities.
Children arrive at Mwatate for many different reasons. Some have lost both parents. Others have one living parent who cannot safely or financially care for them. A number of children have experienced situations involving substance abuse, neglect, or physical harm. Some are placed at the home by local authorities for their protection, with the hope that they may be reunited if conditions improve.
What all the children at the home share is a need for stability — a place where they can learn, grow, and feel safe.
Secondary school plays a central role in that stability. Unlike in Tanzania, secondary education in Kenya is not government-funded. Tuition, uniforms, fees, and required essentials create a financial barrier that makes continuing school nearly impossible for the children living at the home.
Because of donor generosity, that barrier has been removed for every child at Mwatate. Each student has the chance to continue their education, stay on track academically, and work toward a future shaped by their own goals, not their circumstances.
For students at Mwatate, secondary school is more than the next academic level — it’s the gateway to:
But without parental income or family support systems, the cost of attending secondary school is unattainable on their own. Tuition, fees, uniforms, exam costs, and required materials can quickly climb beyond what any child here could ever afford.
Scholarships fill that gap — completely.
For each child, a full year of secondary school includes:
The total cost: $550 per student per year (this represents a discounted rate provided by the Kenyan government)
This single investment ensures each child can stay enrolled, stay on track, and stay focused on their future.
Donor support has ensured 100% of children at the Mwatate Children’s Home can attend secondary school every year.
Since 2018, 110 students have been supported through this program.
For a population of children without parental resources, this is extraordinary — and it’s directly attributable to donor participation.
Secondary school gives these students the stability and structure they need during the most formative years of their lives. With school fees covered, they can focus on learning, developing, and dreaming about their futures — not the financial barriers that would otherwise stand in their way.
Unlike other communities, children at Mwatate:
This is not just financial assistance — it is long-term educational stability for children who need it most.
Supporting secondary school access for children at Mwatate contributes directly to:
A small investment today creates opportunities these children can build on for years; opportunities they would never have access to without donor support.
*represents a discounted rate provided by the Kenyan government.
Every December, the children at Mwatate look forward to one of the most joyful traditions of the year: the Mwatate Christmas Celebration. For kids who live full-time at the Children’s Home, this day is more than a party — it’s a moment of pure childhood wonder, connection, and fun.
Thanks to generous donor support, all 50 children will celebrate Christmas this year with:
This special day delivers the light, joy, and unforgettable Christmas moments that every child deserves.
A better future starts with a single act of kindness. When you give, you help miners work safely, help students stay in school, and help families build stronger, more stable futures. Stand with the people at the heart of gem mining—your gift can change what’s possible.
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