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The Gates Academy is one of our most successful partners in education, consistently recording the highest results in their local area. Dedicated to providing a ‘gateway’ for rural children to achieve their highest academic potential, The Gates Academy has recently suffered a colossal setback and is in desperate need of assistance.

In rural areas like Homa Bay county, many families are struggling to keep up with the rising costs of secondary and high school fees. The only route available for talented children from poorer backgrounds is to try and attain a scholarship to assist them in paying their school fees. However, with the current state of government-funded public schools, children must struggle to learn in highly congested environments with up to 90 children in a single class.

As someone who worked as a teacher in the public school system for many years, Richard Awino has first-hand experience of how difficult it is to identify and nurture talented children in such congested classrooms. This is why he decided to found The Gates Academy, to create a space where teachers are able to connect with learners on a closer level, to identify their talent and nurture it towards its maximum potential.

We sat down with some of the wonderful members of staff from The Gates Academy and gave them the chance to share their stories.Read the full interview here.

Although they started out small, with just a single classroom for young children, the dedication of the teaching staff to quality and high academic standards proved successful. By 2023, The Gates Academy had expanded up to grade 8, where their children must go through national exams, and established a reputation for itself in the local area as one of the top performing schools. The compound where they started had now developed into a comprehensive facility with several well-built classrooms complete with cement floors and working electricity to offer the older children education in computer technology. Their cohort had grown up to over 400 learners, with a team of 13 teachers plus other subordinates and the administrative staff. They had even managed to save enough to purchase the neighbouring plot of land to use as a playing field, and constructed latrines and a water point there.

But their success was not to be smooth sailing, and the landlord who had initially donated the land for the school now demanded that they begin paying high rents in order to remain there. While they had originally agreed to a payment to purchase the land from the landowner, they had never received the title deed, and as he refused to cooperate, they were forced to leave.

After being forced to demolish their school buildings, they reconstructed them on the adjacent playing field. Thankfully, the title deed to this new plot is in the possession of the school, and they will not have to move again. But their classrooms are in a poor state compared with their previous facilities, with dirt floors and no electricity. They have also lost a high number of students, and thus are struggling to cover their teachers’ wages with the reduced income.

The school is in desperate need of support to ensure that these children are able to continue achieving their absolute best. If you think you can support,please head to our donation page.