African Kids In Need - A.K.I.N. -Dedicated to improving the lives of Africa's children.

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Welcome to the AKIN Learning Center

After nearly three years of working in Kenya to provide opportunities to children who dream of an education, we have realized our own dream. In 2010, African Kids In Need launches the AKIN Learning Center in Nairobi. This is a bold response to a challenge our students face as they enter secondary school. Since most of our AKIN students are orphans or children of extreme poverty, they have had poor preparation for learning. The Kenyan secondary school curriculum is a demanding one. To succeed a student must have a solid primary school background. The majority of the AKIN students do not. They come from homes where school is a luxury. Securing food and shelter for themselves and their siblings is the first priority. As a result, many of our students who have begun secondary schooling under AKIN sponsorships have struggled. As an organization we have constantly looked for ways to improve their chances of success. We have offered individual tutoring at school and last year we held three one week academic camps during school holidays. In some cases we have seen improvement, and we will continue to work in this way with our currently enrolled students. But these efforts may be a case of too little too late and the AKIN Learning Center represents a new approach.

A Message From Walter Ong'ala

Happy New Year from Project Manager of the A.K.I.N. Learning Center. Walter Ong'ala.

Word from the Project Manager

An Experiment To Be Shared

The AKIN Learning Center is an experimental program and will be continually monitored throughout the year. This website will be a conduit of information. Each student will have their own page on which to write about their experiences, and teachers and staff will also be given the chance to express themselves in a similar way. We will post videos and photos and give everyone involved a chance to blog about day to day life at the Learning Center. Testing data will be collected and shared with educators in the United States who are acting as consultants to the program.

We are also hoping to connect our Learning Center with a classroom of American students who will mentor our AKIN students via the internet. Funding for the startup of the program was provided by a single donor and cost of operations throughout the year will be covered through planned fundraising events. As with all our work in Kenya, we value the support and suggestions of our wonderful donors. Thank you for being part of helping these terrific African children!

An International Effort

Students at Nairobi Girls School visited by AKIN staff

Twenty five St. Francis students had sat for K.C.P.E. exams in November 2006,and received the results in December. They were still waiting for school placement when St. Francis was closed. Funds were not available to pay school fees, and other necessary costs. A group of concerned individuals from the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia decided to take action to assure that these children would be enrolled in secondary schools or vocational colleges as soon as possible.

African Kids In Need (A.K.I.N.) was formed in the United States to organize the effort. AKIN decided to make education its primary goal. Funds were raised in the United States to pay school fees and personal expenses for the 25 students. With the cooperation of the Children’s Department, all 25 children were soon enrolled. Twelve were placed in vocational training colleges, including Thika Variety Village for Boys and Nairobi Girls School for the girls. Both two year schools are run by the Salvation Army. The remaining thirteen students were placed at four secondary schools.

A brief history of A.K.I.N.

African Kids In Need was formed in the spring of 2007. This is the story of why it was organized :

Closing of St. Francis Integrated School

In April 2007, when the Kenyan government’s Office of Home Affairs acted (through the Provincial Children’s Officer) to close the St. Francis Integrated School it resulted in the immediate re-homing of more than 240 children who were housed there.

Where we are today...

After less than 2 years since A.KI.N. was organized to begin helping Kenyan children to go to school, we have acomplished a lot. We have achieved non-profit status in the United States, raised money to send 25 children to secondary and vocational schools, and rented a small office and hired a minimal staff to oversee our work in Kenya. In addition, we have received NGO status in Kenya and have accepted 22 new students into our program in 2008.

Download the December 2009 newsletter from A.K.I.N.

Download the September 2009 newsletter from A.K.I.N.