Sponsorship program

The sponsorship program allows individuals to contribute towards the education and well-being of underprivileged children in the Mathare community. Sponsors can choose to support a child (or more) for a minimum period of one year by making monthly or yearly contributions. These contributions are calculated to cover both the local staff as well as two meals a day during school days (Monday to Saturday).

Children are randomly assigned to sponsors from our pool of enrolled students. All students enrolled in our school are eligible for the sponsorship program, as we exclusively admit children from low-income backgrounds within the Mathare slum community. 

No, we do not allow sponsors to choose specific children for sponsorship. All children in our program come from families living below the poverty line and face significant hardships in their daily lives. To ensure fairness and equitable distribution of support, we employ a random assignment approach.

Sponsorship funds are primarily used to cover food expenses and salaries for teachers, a cook, and a program manager. Detailed financial reports are provided to sponsors, outlining how their contributions are allocated and utilized.

If you would like to make a one-time donation or explore other ways to support our organization, please feel free to contact us. We welcome all kinds of support! 

Sponsorship payments can be made through various channels, including bank transfers, MB-way or M-Pesa payments. Details for making payments will be provided upon confirmation of sponsorship.

Yes, sponsors will receive regular updates on the activities of our school and the progress of the child they sponsor. Updates may include photos, stories, progress reports, and general information about the school’s activities.

If you need to cancel or modify your sponsorship for any reason, please contact us directly. We understand that circumstances may change, and we will work with you to accommodate your needs. However, we ask sponsors to be mindful of the impact this program has in the lives of the children and the commitment they have to the organization. 

Lea Mathare Foundation is a registered nonprofit organization. While we cannot provide tax advice, sponsorship contributions may be tax-deductible depending on your local tax laws. We recommend consulting with a tax professional for guidance on the deductibility of your contributions.

There are many ways to get involved with Lea Mathare Foundation, including volunteering, fundraising, or spreading awareness about our cause. If you’re interested in getting more involved, please reach out to us for more information on how you can make a difference.

The sponsorship funds are managed by our Head of the Sponsorship Program – Inês Gassin. She is responsible for receiving the funds, communicating with sponsors and coordinating the purchase of goods with our program manager, Gregory.

Yes, you can make payments in euros through bank transfer or MBway.

All contact is managed through the organization for privacy and safety reasons, especially considering the young age of the children. We aim to protect them from potentially building strong emotional bonds with individuals they don’t personally know, which could become challenging if sponsors were to drop out of the program. Given that many of our students come from troubled environments, safeguarding their emotional well-being is paramount. Therefore, all communications are facilitated by us to ensure the child’s privacy, safety, and emotional stability. Any messages you send will be passed on to the child, and vice versa, through the proper channels. 

Absolutely! If you’re in Kenya or planning a visit, we’d love to have you visit our organization and explore Mathare. However, interactions with the child you sponsor will be limited to the school premises to ensure their safety and well-being.

Certainly! You can choose to sponsor as many children as you’d like. We appreciate and welcome all levels of support!

Yes, you can. However, any gifts or additional support should be arranged beforehand with the organization. During Christmas time, sponsors will be notified to ensure fairness in gift distribution. In case a child requires extra support due to emergencies or other situations, sponsors will be informed, and options for additional assistance will be provided.

If a sponsored child leaves the program for any reason, sponsors will be promptly notified, and you may choose to allocate the funds to another child or discontinue the program. Upon graduation, sponsored children are enrolled in public schools, where sponsors are encouraged to continue their support by covering their school fees.