How We Do It
After nearly a decade fighting poverty through education, hand-in-hand with communities, we’ve refined a three-phased process that helps to create life-changing opportunities for students to realize their full potential.
This AWESOME process provides children and youth not only with access to the functional education they need to fully participate in their communities but also provides opportunities to learn how to be entrepreneurs and start and grow small businesses. Our ultimate goal is to help them become the sparks that ignite the engine of economic growth and development in their communities and nation.
Legacy is at the heart of the work we do at Village Impact. For me, it wouldn’t be enough to merely build schools where kids get educated. Our work is geared toward establishing communities in which kids break cycles of poverty and open their minds up to new worlds of opportunity. This is why we always stress the importance of entire communities coming along for the ride—because we are in it, and we want others to be in it, for the long haul. We want to offer individuals the valuable opportunity to provide for themselves, their families, and their communities, and to foster societies in which kindness and a possibility mindset generate even more opportunities.
Phase One – Make it Happen
Let’s get BUILDING!
We believe that local people best understand the needs of their communities. That’s why every Village Impact project is anchored in both the stated need for and participation and contributions by the communities in which we work.
Our projects are community-led and, after construction is completed, schools become community-owned. The local government then comes alongside the new schools for ongoing operational funding.
Once a community has completed a community needs assessment, and we have consulted and come to an agreement with local and government stakeholders, construction begins. This process can take 3-6 months. When the construction of the buildings and latrines is completed, the school is outfitted with essentials like desks for each classroom, book shelving, and water catchment systems.
Want to be a part
of the AWESOME?
You can help:
- Build a classroom or an entire school
- Establish school latrines and hand-washing stations
- Install water catchment systems
- Provide classroom essentials like student and teacher’s desks/tables, chalkboards, and book shelving.
Phase Two – Make it Awesome
Of course, Village Impact continues to help make our schools AWESOME after the initial build is completed. Schools are registered with the Kenyan government, who then provide financial support that helps cover the school’s day-to-day operating costs, including teacher salaries.
Our goal is to make our schools the best in the county. And while good academic results are a high priority, there are several other factors that go into giving our students the best possible environment in which to learn, grow and succeed.
We also provide supplemental textbooks, libraries, salaries for school counsellors (who offer individudal and group sessions), electricity, water and sanitation and so much more!
Take it to the next level!
You can help:
- Pay school counselor salaries
- Build school libraries and stock them with books
- Provide supplemental textbooks
- Put computers and/or tablets in classrooms
- Install enhanced electrical systems
- Enhance water and sanitation provisions
- Cover basic school maintenance costs
- Provide access to professional development for principals and teachers
Phase Three – Make it Last
The third and final phase of our AWESOME
process sets Village Impact apart from other organizations.
We know that many of our students will not have the opportunity to go to university. So, we strive not only to provide access to basic education; we also work to ensure that students are armed with the skills and training they need to find and succeed in employment or small business ownership after graduation.
A special focus for us is to encourage and support those who want to pursue entrepreneurial livelihood activities. With this in mind, we have created several entrepreneurial opportunities for students in our high schools. These include entrepreneurship summer programs, yearly summits designed to inspire and teach about entrepreneurship, as well as guest speakers, school business clubs and contests.
This lasting impact will culminate with the construction of the Village Impact small business/entrepreneurial college/academy, where students receive hands-on training and experience in building, running and scaling their small businesses.
Help them fly—potential unleashed!
You can help:
- Send senior students to entrepreneurship summer camps
- Build a small business/entrepreneurial college/academy
- Support Kenyan small-business mentorship partnerships
- Offset the cost of extension learning opportunities like student conferences and field trips
- Supply enhanced tech training and technology maintenance
- Access guest lectures and mentorship programs
Visit the completed Village Impact schools