“The impact that your donation is having has been way beyond what we had imagined. It has brought stability to the school with all the benefits that that entails. Happier children, better results and less problems.”
Kidogo Kids’ trustees wrote to us with these words during the summer. We have just paid the third of three annual £3,600 grants covering two key salaries for their school in Nairobi. Specifically, we fund headteacher Eunice and the school accountant. As a result, this stable support creates positive change far beyond the school walls.
Rising From the Ashes
2025 began with a devastating crisis – a fire damaged the school just as the academic year was about to begin. The fire also devastated many homes in the community. However, the response of Kidogo Kids showed how stable funding builds resilient leadership.
Headteacher Eunice responded to the fire with quick thinking and decisive action. As a result, the school opened on time for the new academic year. This wasn’t just about getting children back into classrooms; the re-opening of the school served to maintain hope and normality in a traumatised community.
The Unexpected Benefit
Perhaps the most remarkable development was entirely unplanned. Because Eunice feels secure about her guaranteed salary, she has become very active in volunteering with Kidogo’s Ladies Empowerment Group. This after-school program supports mothers and young women in the community.
Her local knowledge transforms this initiative. For example, women now receive basic training from Kidogo to start their own businesses. Additionally, the program provides crucial social connection. In contrast to isolation that deepens poverty, these gatherings build community strength. Therefore, investing in key staff creates benefits that multiply throughout the area.
Meeting Crisis with Compassion
Economic and political challenges continue hitting Kenya’s poorest families hardest. Meanwhile, school fees remain difficult to collect. The accountant, paid for by the Hazel’s Footprints Trust grant, and local pastor make home visits to assess each family’s situation. Often they discover that parents can afford to send one child to school but they have no choice in requiring their other children work or beg.
Here’s where Hazel’s Footprints funding makes the crucial difference. Children whose families cannot pay fees aren’t turned away. Instead, they continue attending school. Furthermore, they receive two nutritious meals each day through another program. Without guaranteed staff salaries, this compassionate approach would be impossible. Simply put, the school couldn’t afford to operate this way.
Building Foundations for the Future
Both the headteacher and accountant work together effectively. Moreover, they constantly update Kidogo Kids on all school operations. This partnership creates the stable leadership foundation that every successful school needs. Importantly, salary security makes this collaboration possible.
The impact goes beyond day-to-day operations. When children see their teachers staying year after year, they feel secure. Similarly, when families know the school won’t suddenly close, they can plan ahead. Additionally, when the headteacher has security to volunteer in community programs, everyone benefits. These are the building blocks of lasting change.
The Power of Predictable Support
This third year of partnership demonstrates something crucial. Predictable, ongoing support creates transformation beyond the immediate funding target. By ensuring two key salaries are covered, the impact of our grant goes beyond just keeping the school running. It creates the stability that allows innovation, compassion, and community leadership to flourish.
In Nairobi’s slums, uncertainty dominates daily life. Therefore, this small island of stability changes lives in surprising ways. The project’s own trustees continue to be amazed by the results. Sometimes the most powerful investments free people to dream, plan, and serve others.
Hazel’s Footprints Trust has provided three consecutive annual grants of £3,600 to Kidogo Kids. As a result, we support educational stability for disadvantaged children in Nairobi, Kenya.
