“It’s amazing to be part of the first class to study in the new lab – a great experience and eye-opening.” These are the words of Fauzia Abba, a Grade 9 student who made history this July as part of the very first class to use Funzi School’s brand new science laboratory. Hazel’s Footprints Trust provided a £15,000 grant in December 2024 towards the project, with another funder granting a further £10,000.
Just eight months ago, this moment seemed impossible. When Funzi School transitioned from primary to secondary level to serve its 340 pupils, they faced a critical challenge. Kenya’s national curriculum requires science to be taught in proper laboratory settings, yet only three schools in their entire region had such facilities. For children on this small island community with no running water or mains electricity, the dream of accessing quality science education felt out of reach.
Building Hope, One Brick at a Time
In November 2024, Hazel’s Footprints Trust stepped in with a £15,000 grant to make this dream reality. Combined with £10,000 from the Allan and Nesta Ferguson Charitable Trust, the full £22,162 needed for the project was secured by January 2025.
What followed was remarkable. Construction teams worked seven days a week, and the island community watched with growing excitement as their children’s future took shape. By February, the outer structure was complete with its distinctive blue roof. By April, science benches were being installed. And by June, a fully equipped laboratory stood ready – meeting every requirement of Kenya’s national curriculum standards.
More Than Just a Building
“The lab is of fabulous standard and the best in the region,” explains Mr Mwakumanya, Deputy Head Teacher at Funzi School. “Students are able to learn well and hopefully be able to have good careers in the future.”
This laboratory represents far more than a building – it’s an equalizer. Children in this remote island community now have access to the same quality science education as their counterparts in Kenya’s major cities. The facility connects seamlessly with the Funzi and Bodo Trust’s farm school, creating a practical extension where biology comes alive through hands-on agricultural learning.
For teacher and parent Madam Mwakajee, the transformation is profound: “The students are overjoyed and learning different things which they could not if the lab wasn’t built. On behalf of Funzi parents, we are grateful and looking forward to the success of our children through the Trust.”
Breaking the Cycle
Education has always been at the heart of breaking poverty cycles, and this science lab opens doors that were previously locked. Students at Funzi Junior High School can now take national science examinations, pursue university studies, and access well-paid careers that seemed impossible before.
As Ashley from Funzi and Bodo Trust wrote during construction: “Education leads to jobs to the eradication of poverty!” These aren’t just words – they’re a promise being fulfilled every day in this bright new laboratory.
The Impact of Partnership
This project showcases the power of collaborative funding. Hazel’s Footprints Trust’s £15,000 investment, combined with support from the Allan and Nesta Ferguson Charitable Trust, created something transformational. Every penny donated has gone directly to giving these children the same educational opportunities available to their peers across Kenya.
Today, 340 students have the chance to “shoot for the moon,” as the project report beautifully puts it. In a world where quality education can seem like a privilege, Hazel’s Footprints Trust has helped make it a right for the children of Funzi Island.
The fully equipped science laboratory at Funzi Junior High School opened in July 2025, funded through partnership between Hazel’s Footprints Trust (£15,000) and the Allan and Nesta Ferguson Charitable Trust (£10,000).
