KEEPING AKILI GIRLS IN SCHOOL THROUGH SCHOLARSHIPS

Dear Donors,

Your generous support continues to be the lifeline that keeps our students in school, restores hope, and builds the foundation for a better future. This semester, your contributions helped us ensure that all students in our scholarship program remained in school. One student, Mary, found herself at risk of dropping out after the withdrawal of her county government scholarship. Mary had been admitted to a reputable boarding school with the support of local county government scholarship that ROF helped her secure, but with the sudden end of government support, her education hung in the balance. Thankfully, ROF was able to step in and cover part of her school fees while her parents continued raising the remaining amount. This timely intervention allowed her to stay focused on her studies and avoid disruption to her learning. Mary’s story is one among many that reflect the real and immediate impact of your support.

Beyond tuition and partnering with parents to provide text books and learning resources, we know that supporting students holistically is vital for their long-term success. That’s why, in June, we organized a Mental Health Awareness Retreat for 32 of our scholarship students during their midterm break. Held at the Kisumu Sports Ground, the day-long retreat provided a safe, nurturing space for students to unwind, reflect, and strengthen their emotional resilience. Through games, team-building exercises, and open conversations facilitated by our staff, students explored important themes such as trust, communication, decision-making, and peer support. The activities sparked joy, laughter, and deep reflection, reminding us that mental wellness is a crucial part of academic success.

In addition to supporting our scholarship students, we also scaled up efforts to address another major barrier to education: lack of school uniforms. This quarter, we are thrilled to report that 1,000 students from 11 different schools received new school uniforms through our uniform distribution initiative. For many children, especially those from vulnerable households, lacking a uniform often means staying home. With your help, these students can now attend school with dignity and confidence. Uniforms may seem small, but for these children, they are powerful symbols of belonging and opportunity. Looking ahead, we are preparing for our annual STEM Camp this August, where scholarship students and other learners will come together to explore real-world solutions to community challenges. This year, they will co-create water security innovations using technology; developing ideas that could help solve water scarcity issues in their villages. We can’t wait to see what they come up with! Your support continues to transform lives not just through academics, but by restoring self-worth, confidence, and joy to every student you touch. From all of us at the Riley Orton Foundation, thank you for standing with our girls and helping them build the futures they deserve.

With deep appreciation,