Jackline grew up an orphan in Nairobi, Kenya, but found refuge and hope through her education. A generous sponsor paid for her education when she was young, and as an adult she wanted to give other children the same opportunity.
So she founded a school that now serves more than 150 low-income students in the Mukuru slum of Nairobi.
The Jaombi Foundation School started as a small group of students in a single rented room. Today, it employs 7 teachers and has students ages 5 to 14. Jackline serves as a teacher and the principal.
Over time at the school, Jackline realized that some of her female students were dropping out because the school didn’t have restroom facilities. It’s a problem that’s seen in many developing countries when girls hit their teenage years and don’t have access to sanitation and/or the products they need.
So Jackline took out a Kiva loan to purchase two Fresh Life toilets to be placed near the school. Now her students have a healthy, private and sanitary option for a restroom.
She has fully repaid her $725 loan.
Jackline has big plans for the future. She wants to continue to grow the school to take on even more students, offer post-secondary technical education, and start a lunch program since so many students come to school hungry. She approaches her school as not just a place for students to learn, but a safehaven from the harsh conditions of the slum.
