Urgent Flood Relief Fund to Support Students

Introduction 
In response to the devastating floods that swept across Kenya in April 2024, displacing thousands and damaging homes, NairoBits launched a flood relief initiative to provide emergency assistance to students and families within Nairobi’s informal settlements. Through collaboration with the Youth Initiative Kenya (YIKE) one of NairoBits community partners and the generous support from GlobalGiving, our project delivered essential supplies, ensured educational continuity, and met critical needs for over 100 affected families. This report shares the impact of these efforts and our continued commitment to supporting communities in times of crisis.

Overview 
The heavy rains that hit Kenya in April 2024 brought severe consequences to families in informal settlements, particularly in areas where NairoBits serves students and their communities. Flash floods swept through Nairobi, leaving devastation in Mathare, Kariobangi, Mukuru, and Kibera, and resulting in significant displacement, food insecurity, and loss of livelihood. Recognizing the impact on our students’ well-being and education, NairoBits swiftly launched an emergency relief fund to provide essential aid, partnering with Youth Initiative Kenya (YIKE) to address urgent needs.

Relief Activities and Support
NairoBits, together with YIKE, conducted relief activities to directly benefit affected students and families by meeting their most immediate needs:

Distribution of Essential Supplies: Over 100 families received food staples, including grains and cooking oil, as well as essential sanitary products and diapers for young children. This support was aimed at alleviating the daily hardships of those severely impacted by the floods.

Educational Continuity: To minimize disruption to learning, NairoBits waived commitment fees for over 29 students from flood-affected families. This financial support ensured that these students could continue their education despite the unforeseen circumstances, helping us achieve a zero dropout rate among affected students during this period.

Impact and Community Resilience
Our flood relief efforts had a meaningful impact, providing essential stability to families in crisis. Through the consistent support of our partners and donors, basic needs were met, educational disruption was minimized, and students remained engaged in their studies without additional financial strain.

Thanks to GlobalGiving’s emergency grant of $5,000 through the East Africa Hunger Relief Fund, we were able to amplify our reach and provide relief to more families in need. This contribution has been invaluable, particularly as the floods exacerbated food insecurity in already vulnerable areas.

Conclusion
NairoBits remains committed to supporting its students and the communities in which we operate. In partnership with organizations like YIKE and with the generosity of donors, we continue to stand by our community during times of crisis. We are grateful to GlobalGiving and all our supporters for empowering us to make a difference during these challenging times.

Links:

• This video expresses our sincere gratitude to all the donors.