East Africa Character Development Trust Brochure EACCJ-Brochure-2019 | Page 2

OUR CHALLENGE
Kenya is a place
of extreme
poverty and
deprivation...
The population explosion from
10 million in 1970 to 50 million
today has stretched government
educational resources, particularly
in the primary sector. In “slum”
area schools class sizes are
regularly over 70, with three to five
children sharing a desk. There has
been virtually NO free secondary
education until recently.
Many thousands of youngsters
grow up without opportunity or
the life skills and motivation to
break the cycle of hopelessness.
As a result, they are at serious risk
of involvement in crime and drugs
and of radicalisation.
But it’s deeper then that. The
Kenyan educational system
focuses on academic results. It
lacks resources to develop young
children as people, with character
and basic core values. Thus
children in slum areas, unable
to access secondary education,
are hit both ways – inadequate
education and limited life skills to
appeal to employers.
...but also one of
considerable human
potential
Imagine the impact on Kenya if millions of unemployed
youngsters could lead normal lives, do normal jobs
and earn normal money.
Together with its affiliated charities in the UK and
Kenya, operating within the schools, we aim to bring
hope and opportunity to very disadvantaged young
Kenyan children - transforming their lives through life
skills taught in schools, increasing their chances of
gaining employment.