What we do

At Lea Mathare Foundation, our mission has three main pillars: education, nutrition and community.

Pillar 1 – Education

At Lea Mathare Foundation, education is at the heart of everything we do. We operate a local primary school open to all children in the community, offering classes from playgroup to Grade 3. After Grade 3, students undergo national exams and are then transitioned to public schools.

In 2025 we have around 50 students in our primary school divided into 5 different grades: Play Group, PP1, PP2, Grade 1, Grade 2. Our goal for 2026 is to increase this number to 60 students and include Grade 3. We adhere to the Kenyan School Curriculum – Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC).

School Facilities: Our school is located in the Mathare slum – Mathare Valley 4B – in Nairobi. We have 4 classrooms, 2 bathrooms and a storage room where we also prepare our food. 

Parental Involvement: As a way to maintain the parents and/or guardians of the children involved in their education we ask all parents to support the school with a symbolic fee of 500KSH per month.

Pillar 2 – Nutrition

We believe that well-nourished minds lead to brighter futures. We provide two nutritious meals—breakfast and lunch—Monday to Friday, plus breakfast on Saturday – to all children enrolled in our school. Furthermore, we extend our reach by organizing large food distributions to benefit the elderly and our wider community.

Pillar 3 – Community

Community lies at the core of our foundation’s values. From organizing pad drives for girls in the community to undertaking clean-up projects in the local river and sewage systems, we strive to create a healthier and more supportive environment for all. We also extend our care and support to the elders, ensuring that no one in our community is left behind.