Educating street children in the Mathare slums

MCFPanairobi scholarship program supports students from financially challenged backgrounds to undergo formal schooling. The program beneficiaries were selected from Mathare informal settlement and its environs based on their vulnerability. Awareness of the program was conveyed through public forums i.e. administrative chief’s forums, places of worship, through radio announcements and social media channels. Application was made at to the scholarship officer at MCFPanairobi. The beneficiaries of the scholarship were selected using the MCFPanairobi preset criteria and once they meet the criteria they are enrolled in the program.

In the last quarter between May- July MCFPanairobi offered comprehensive scholarship support for 88 student through provision of tuition fees, accommodation, books, uniform, shopping, pocket money and transport to and from school during school. The enrollment is as follows: 

Kindergarten- 6

Primary school-38

High school- 19

College and university-24

Special school- 1

Key outcomes from the program

1. The students’ under scholorship showed improved performance compared to the performance before enrolment to the scholorship program. This is due to the fact that the students focussed motre into their education as they had no worries about the school fees and basic necessities that are needed in school.
2. The scholarship program also helped  students to develop an awareness of their strengths and discover their leadership and life passions. This is through the mentorship program offered by MCFP to the students enrolled to the scholarship program.

Feature story 

In this quarter, we feature the story of Pendo, a 12 years’ child, who was enrolled into our program in February 2023. MCFPanairobi through children department identified Pendo as a beneficiary of the scholarship program. Pendo and her two sibling were rescued after their mother was imprisoned due to her drugs addiction and involvement in criminal activities. MCFPanairobi facilitated placement of Pendo and her two siblings to a children home and then offered them scholarship to enroll back to school.

At First, Pendos performance was very poor as she was still struggling with traumatic experiences from her mother drug addiction and criminal activities and eventually led to her imprisonment. Through safe and stable environment, counselling and school scholarship support offered by MCFPanairobi and the children home, Pendos performance has gradually improved and she is now performing much better compared to the enrollment time.  

MCFPanainobi is committed to continue supporting Pendo and her two siblings to overcome the challenges they have faced and build a brighter future for themselves.