Give Hope to Kisumu's Underprivileged Children

Warm greetings from rainy Kisumu!

As we cross the halfway mark of the year, we’re pausing to reflect on the incredible start our Scholars made in Term 1 and to thank you for your part in it.

This update comes a little later than planned, but it’s full of stories worth waiting for. Thanks to your generosity, we welcomed a new cohort of 18 exceptional students into the RKF Scholars community earlier this year, bringing our total number of active scholars to 38. These bright young minds come from families doing their best with limited means, and through your support, they now have a chance to learn, grow, and lead, without the heavy weight of financial uncertainty.

Orientation, Mentorship & Community

The year began with a joyful orientation in February for our new scholars. They met one another, engaged in team activities like painting and human bingo, and learned more about RKF’s values from returning scholars and guest speakers. It was a day full of laughter, guidance, and warmth, a reminder that the RKF scholarship is more than just financial aid. It’s a community of care and belonging.

Two scholars from last year’s cohort shared their experiences, offering peer mentorship that set the tone for a supportive year ahead. As one shared, “I had lost hope in History, but this term I improved.” — Stacy, 2025 Cohort. Moments like this capture the heart of what we’re building: confidence, resilience, and the courage to keep going.

April Workshop: A Space for Every Voice

In April, we brought together all 38 Scholars for a four-day workshop centered around the theme of Inclusivity, a word that came to life not just in discussion but in every shared moment, from kitchen stations to trust walks.

The week opened with icebreakers and a check-in on the term gone by. Students explored prioritisation and time management using the Eisenhower Matrix, and bravely shared wins and struggles. “This term was enjoyable because I participated in school debates and I even topped my class in English,” shared Alpha (2024 cohort). 

From there, Scholars dove into the much-loved Cook-Out Challenge, judged on inclusivity, teamwork, and creativity. Chapati flipping and potato peeling sparked competition, laughter and leadership in equal measure. Later that day, Scholars teamed up to create stories inspired by RKF’s core values of Compassion, Community, and Change, infusing them with an emoji twist for a fun-filled afternoon of heartwarming storytelling.

The next day, our focus shifted inward with a Trauma Counselling session, led by therapist  Jacinta. Using gentle practices like the “Name Web,” stress release tools, and balloon affirmations, students were guided to acknowledge their emotions and reconnect with their sense of safety and self. Our scholar, Mary, later said, “I’m definitely teaching these to my friends back at school.”

That afternoon, our focus was devoted to career inspiration. A diverse panel of speakers, a doctor, artist, radio presenter, and humanitarian shared honest stories of how their paths evolved. Scholars were struck by their openness. Some speakers even offered to sponsor books and event access for the Scholars—a gesture that deeply moved the room.

Day 3 brought pure joy with colour-coded team shirts and a lively sports day. From sack races to three-legged showdowns, trust was built not just in the field but in small gestures of encouragement. The day ended with pizza and laughter followed by a movie screening of Inside Out, a first for many.

We closed the workshop with Parents’ Day, where families joined us for heartfelt conversations about performance, accountability, and support. Parents shared pledges to engage more, and Scholars reflected with pride on their growth. One even stood up to speak on behalf of a quieter peer, earning applause and showing just how far they'd come in four days.

Plans are underway for our August workshop, where Scholars have requested even more diverse speakers and new storytelling activities.

Every Child Deserves a Champion

Behind every smile in this report is a donor like you who said yes to a child’s future.

Your support ensures that children from underserved communities don’t just stay in school; they belong, grow, and thrive. Whether it’s a warm plate of food, a school term paid in full, or a moment of mentorship, your impact ripples far beyond the classroom.

Thank you for walking beside us.

We’ll be back soon with more stories of transformation from Term 2. Until then, know that your support changes lives: one scholar, one dream, one breakthrough at a time.

With your continued support, we can provide school meals, targeted academic support, and empowering workshops that help Scholars thrive both in and beyond the classroom. Every contribution keeps this journey going.

Links:

• Invest in a Child's Future
• More Stories of Change
• Explore More of Our Work

Warm Greetings from Team RKF!

In our last update, we celebrated the milestone of serving 1,000,000 meals, sharing the journey and impact we’ve achieved together through our Meals Program. Thanks to your continued generosity, we are reaching even more communities, providing hope and opportunity—one plate at a time.

Extending our Support: Odienya Primary School

Earlier this year, RKF extended its Meals Program to Odienya Primary School, a rural school on the outskirts of Kisumu in Nyando with approximately 550 students. The community faces a significant challenge: seasonal flooding due to its proximity to Lake Victoria. The majority of the workforce rely on agriculture, fishing, or informal, low-income work to earn a living. 

We first engaged with the Odienya community during a mobilisation and introduction effort in October 2024, which revealed an urgent need for a school meals program. Many students had been displaced, were living in evacuation camps, and faced long journeys to school—making regular access to meals extremely difficult.  In February 2025, RKF officially launched the Meals Program at the school. The response from students, parents & teachers was positive, with visible improvements in classroom participation.

After a short break during the school holidays, the program resumed with the start of Kenya’s second school term. In just the first week, we served 1,750 hot and nutritious meals, including both breakfast and lunch, ensuring students had the energy to focus and thrive throughout their day.

Since the program began, we have served 11,620 meals at Odienya. This is more than just a number—it represents one of many small, impactful steps toward our 2025 goal of serving 500,000 meals, and a future where no child learns on an empty stomach.

Cooks & Interns Roundtable

Every plate of food served through RKF’s Meals Program is powered by a dedicated team of school cooks and interns. While cooks bring consistency and care to every meal prepared, our interns manage daily logistics, ensuring meals are served safely and adhere to hygiene standards.

To build on our progress and strengthen operations, we hosted our first Cooks & Interns Roundtable of 2025, a space for honest reflection and practical problem-solving. Together, we revisited lessons from the previous term, discussed daily challenges, and explored ways to improve efficiency and impact in the months ahead. Though the session focused on serious insights, it was also a time of connection, with moments of storytelling, shared laughter, and even a spirited game of musical chairs. One cook shared a moment that stayed with us:

“A student told me, ‘The food was so good, I wish the term were longer!’”

Moments like this reaffirm that meals are more than nourishment—they are a reason to show up, stay engaged, and feel cared for.

The Impact Beyond Classrooms

Beyond the classroom, the Meals Program quietly strengthens the community itself. The program doesn’t just feed children, it creates meaningful local employment. By hiring cooks and interns directly from the community, we provide income opportunities for parents and caregivers, many of whom face limited formal employment options locally. This approach not only ensures cultural familiarity and trust in the program but also channels economic support directly back into the very households we aim to uplift. In this way, every meal served carries a ripple effect—nourishing students, empowering families, and building a more resilient community from within.

You can uplift communities like Odienya by ensuring no child goes to school on an empty stomach.

A donation of $25 or Kshs. 3,250 will provide 200 hot meals to students, helping them stay focused, healthy, and ready to learn. Your support goes beyond just food, it’s an investment in their future and a step toward a stronger, self-sustaining community.

You can donate securely online by clicking here or through M-Pesa via Pay Bill: 744040, Account No: SchoolMeals2025.

Links:

• 500,000 Meals: Donate here
• Read the latest from our Girls' Project!
• More on our Socials