Education changes everything.
Help us break the poverty cycle for our
students in East Pokot.
How It Works
Give the gift of quality education
What would your life be like without education? For most of us, growing up without the opportunity to go to school is unfathomable. But for the communities we work with in East Africa, it’s the norm.
According to a study by UNICEF, 44% of girls and 34% of boys (10 to 19 years old) from the world’s poorest families have never attended school or dropped out before completing primary education.
At So They Can, we know that education is key to breaking the poverty cycle, which is why we've made it our mission to provide quality education to some of the most vulnerable communities in Kenya and Tanzania. We do this through a range of projects that contribute to improved learning conditions, teacher training and development, and inclusive partnerships with the community and in-country governments.
For a monthly contribution of $55, you can join our community of sponsors who ensure that we can continue to run these important projects and change the lives of the children we work with.
Where does your investment go?
Quality teaching
School and classroom improvements
Learning resources
School feeding programs
Access to clean water
Keeping girls in school
Quality teaching
Learning resources
School and classroom improvements
School feeding programs
Access to clean water
Keeping girls in school
What will you get in return?
See the world through our students' eyes
As a student sponsor, we'll connect you with one of our students from a community where your money is being invested. Twice a year, you'll exchange letters and hear first-hand how your contribution is making an impact.
Stay connected with our teams on the ground
Join our regular online events 4 times a year, hosted by our amazing team in Australia, New Zealand and East Africa. These events give you the opportunity to discover more, ask questions and learn how you're helping our students break the poverty cycle...
Track your student's progress
You'll receive an annual progress report on the impact of your investment, including an update on the student that you're connected to. Education is at the core of everything we do and we encourage all our students to reach for the stars.
Our Community
Life in East Pokot, Kenya
Growing up in East Pokot is full of challenges — from harsh climatic conditions and inadequate infrastructure, to limited education and the some of the highest illiteracy rates in East Africa.
Many children are put to work before completing school, and girls are subjected to harmful traditional cultural practices such as female genital cutting, as well as early marriage.
Getting a quality education in East Pokot is a rarity. While primary school is free in Kenya, the schools are only able to offer very basic, sub-standard education to their communities. The largest population of the community has not known the benefits of going to school. There is persistent shortage of teachers in schools, making it difficult for teachers to effectively manage their students.
Your sponsorship enables us to work with our collaborative schools to deliver our projects that lift the standard of education. Find out more about these projects and how your sponsorship will empower the most vulnerable students in East Pokot to receive a quality education here.
FAQs
So They Can has a Sponsorship Program that allows supporters to support a student and ensure that they receive a quality education.
While primary education is free in Kenya, the schools are only able to deliver sub-standard education, causing many students to drop out early. Your sponsorship enables us to work with local schools to deliver our education projects to lift the quality of the education in schools and ensure a sustainable future for the whole community. These projects include:
- our school community to build relationships with community and ensure the long-term sustainability of the projects
- my voice to build confidence and empower students to speak up and take ownership of their education
- school improvement to ensure students are learning in a safe and vibrant environment
- teacher development to improve teaching standards
- early steps to build interest in learning and early literacy
- keeping girls in school project to engage the whole community of the importance of girls education
- a school feeding program that includes one hot meal a day
- access to fresh water and medical checks
- hope for a poverty-free future
Find out more about our education programs here.
A. By credit card
We accept Visa and Mastercard for monthly contributions.
OR
B. Direct Debit
Monthly/annual contributions can be paid from your bank account.
Please email us at sponsor@sotheycan.org to receive the direct debit form.
Yes you will receive an annual tax receipt in the currency of your donation at the end of the financial year.
Donations to So They Can qualifies for tax deductions in Australia, New Zealand and the United States.
Yes, absolutely! As a child sponsor, you will receive a colour photo and information on your sponsor child including their first name, their age and class, and an insight into what they like about school and what they enjoy doing.
Yes, please!! It is one of their favourite days of the year. So They Can collect your letter and delivers it to your sponsor child and we then collect the letter that your sponsor child has written, just for you, and send it to your home address. This happens twice a year. Your letters need to be with us by 1st of March, and the 1st of August each year.
Yes, it is. Please indicate a preference on your online when you click START YOUR SPONSORSHIP above.
No. There is no contract. You can sponsor for as long as you like. In our experience the relationship between you and your sponsor child grows stronger all the time. A special connection forms and we are sure it will be a very memorable experience for you.
Yes, you can! We warmly welcome visitors to our school in Kenya and meeting your sponsor child is something very special.
Yes. Like in any school, students leave from time to time. Sometimes, it is due to them moving out of the area to follow a job opportunity or to live with other members of their family. If circumstances change for your sponsor child, we will notify you and join you together with another one of our students who is in need of your support.