Please Help Us Build Our Preschool in Rural Kenya

The short story…

The Kenyan Education Ministry tells us that while they love our school, due to new government regulations, we'll have to move from our current small, rented preschool building to a larger facility. So - we’re buying land and building our own learning center. Already we’re at the halfway funding point for 4.25 acres with security fencing and we’re asking for your tax deductible help.

A little about our 20 year history and our future plans…

For over 20 years, the Imani Project - an Oregon based 501(c)(3) nonprofit - has quietly supported the children of a rural, impoverished region of Eastern Kenya. First with medical and healthcare needs in 2005 during the height of the HIV/AIDS crisis and then transitioning to educational and nutrition support over the years.

Our kindergarten through secondary students are supported by a group of our loyal sponsors who fund each child’s educational needs along with our “Day of Sharing” - a bimonthly distribution of basic, high nutrition foods.

In 2016, another community need was recognized - early learning - the 3 to 5 year olds. We rose to address this need with a community-run, open-to-all free preschool learning center.

Through the humanity of our donors, we were able to hire two part time teachers and rent a small ramshackle building for the preschool.

When our founder - public school educator Marlene Anderson prematurely passed away in 2024, our little learning center was named “The Mama Marlene Learning Center” in her memory. We worked on the little building cleaning, painting and repairing it but we couldn't make it bigger.

New government rules mean we need a permanent solution...

Recently, the Kilifi County Education Ministry made an inspection visit to our learning center. They loved our outreach to the community but said that we are out of compliance with the new Kenya Ministry of Education minimum physical school guidelines.

Being that our little building was rented, we’d have to either discontinue our program or we’d have to move.

Even before our board met, the choice was obvious... We would do what we had to do to go on. We were serving 54 children and there were twice that number on a waiting list. The Mama Marlene Learning Center was where the children were safe and learning. The children receive a uniform and a daily hot meal - which may be their only nutrition for the day.

We couldn’t walk away, and today, we’re asking for your help in “Phase 1” of the project...

Our first step is acquiring a piece of land and building a security fence around the perimeter.

The fencing is crucial for the security of our students along with protection against theft and poaching.

The Great News? We’re over halfway there!

The nine volunteer members of The Imani Project met and made the decision to chip in themselves to purchase a 4.25 acre piece of land in nearby Markebuni. So far, we’ve contributed $12,000 with $10,625 more to raise.

We’re working with the nonprofit Architects Without Borders/Oregon on the masterplan and design along with several additional nonprofits to bring water and solar power to the project - creating a

totally off grid school - “The New Mama Marlene Learning Center”

Please become a part of The Imani Project family and make “The New Mama Marlene Learning Center” a reality with your donation!