Supporting the Healthy Growth of Children

BACKGROUND
Soweto Junior Education Centre is an elementary school located in Kibera, on the outskirts of Nairobi, Kenya. With a population of over 2 million, it is the second largest slum in sub-Saharan Africa. Unemployment is high and opportunities for work are few. With an average income of less than $2 per day, poverty is prevalent.
The school was first opened in 2005 by Jeff Juma, the Principal ( to read Jeff's Story). It is an independent school and receives absolutely no government funds, despite being overseen by the Ministry of Education.
Between 2006-17, the Canadian nonprofit group positively AFRICA partnered with the school on several initiatives, including supporting nutrition for the children. Positively AFRICA also partnered with Enterprise4Good, a Calgary, Alberta-based organization. Before positively AFRICA closed its doors in 2017, they collaborated with Enterprise4Good to purchase a piece of property close to the school on which to construct an apartment building. The apartment building will generate an income for the school for the running of its operations.

School Documentary

CURRENT SITUATION
Soweto Junior teaches classes ranging from K–5. It has a student population of 300 youngsters aged 4-12 years. Currently, 15 of the children are orphans and a handful are HIV positive. The school takes in poor and vulnerable children regardless of the ability of the parents to pay the school fees. No child is turned away from the school. Due to this lack of consistent funding, the school operates on a shoestring and cannot afford to provide meals to the children on a regular basis. For some of the students, school meals are their only food of the day.
The cost to purchase the maize, rice, and beans to support the students is high. While parents contribute what they can, there is never enough to cover the entire cost. Support Soweto Junior School relies on your donations to ensure that each child receives one meal per day to enhance learning and maintain good health.

Contact: sabine@supportsowetojuniorschool.org


Support Soweto Junior School
1927 Quamichan St.
Victoria BC V8S 2C3