We ensure children access quality education by covering school fees, providing learning materials, and supporting their academic journey from primary through secondary school and beyond.
Walking With Every Child Toward a Different Future
Rooted in Mathare, we support children and families through education, care, and long-term accompaniment.
Mathare Children’s Education (MCE) is a grassroots organization based in Mathare, one of Nairobi’s largest informal settlements. We currently support over 230 children and young people through education, mentorship, family-connected boarding care, and leadership development. MCE began in response to urgent needs for safety and care among vulnerable children. Over time, we learned an important lesson: lasting transformation does not come from removing children from their communities, but from strengthening families and walking alongside them consistently. Today, our work focuses on long-term accompaniment, ensuring children grow within stable environments while remaining rooted in their families and communities.
Why our work matters
In communities like Mathare, education alone is often not enough. Periods of social and economic instability can disrupt a child’s ability to remain in school and transition successfully into adulthood. MCE exists to provide stability during these moments, supporting children holistically while strengthening the family systems around them. Our goal is not temporary relief, but prepared independence.
Our Approach
Our model combines education support, family-connected boarding care, psychosocial support, mentorship, and skills development pathways that prepare young people for independent futures. Children attend regular schools while remaining connected to their guardians, receiving structured support during vulnerable seasons. Alongside academic growth, young people develop practical and creative skills that open pathways toward economic empowerment. We believe support should restore dignity, build responsibility, and enable long-term self-reliance.
What Makes Our Approach Different
Our work is shaped by a simple belief: lasting change happens when children, families, and communities grow together over time.
- Family connection remains central to every child’s journey.
- Support is long-term, not just crisis-driven
- Care goes beyond education, addressing emotional and social well-being.
- Young people are prepared for independence, not dependency.
- Communities are strengthened alongside individuals, creating lasting impact
How we serve
Education & Academic Support
Residential Care (Boarding Program)
For the most vulnerable children, our boarding program in Ruai provides a safe, stable home environment with consistent care, structure, and support during critical seasons.
Psychosocial & Emotional Support
We support children’s emotional well-being through counseling, mentorship, and safe spaces that help them process experiences, build resilience, and develop healthy relationships.
Health & Nutrition Support
We promote healthy development by ensuring access to nutritious meals and basic health support, enabling children to grow, learn, and thrive physically and mentally.
Holistic Child Development
We nurture the whole child through mentorship, leadership development, life skills training, and talent development, preparing them for a meaningful and independent future.
Life Skills & Talent Development
Children are equipped with practical and creative skills — including sports, arts, and problem-solving — that build confidence, unlock potential, and open pathways for growth.
Servant Leadership Development
We raise young leaders grounded in values, responsibility, and service, equipping them to think critically, lead with purpose, and positively impact their communities.
Family Strengthening & Reintegration
We work with families through training, resource support, and economic empowerment to create stable home environments and enable children to thrive within their communities.
