Our StoryBlair in Kenya began with a simple idea: that every child deserves the opportunity to learn, grow, and build a better future.
In 2005, Blair Academy teacher Quint Clarke founded the nonprofit Blair in Kenya to partner with communities in rural Kenya to support the educational and medical needs of children. From the beginning, the goal was not simply to provide aid but to build true collaboration between Americans and Kenyans.
Working with community leaders in a village overlooking Lake Victoria, the need for a school quickly emerged as the top priority. Land was donated by the local community, and construction was organized locally so the school would belong to the people it served.
In January 2013, the Blair Educational Center opened its doors in Kisumu County, Kenya, providing education and healthcare support to children in the region.
That same year, Blair Academy student Kelvin Serem approached Mr. Clarke with an idea: to bring the Blair in Kenya model to his own village. Working with local leaders and Blair Academy supporters, a second school—Blair Serem Academy—was built in Kelvin’s home community.
The Schools Today
Today, these two schools educate more than 1,100 students from nursery school through grade nine and support hundreds of families through education, healthcare, and community programs.
Because when children have access to education and health, entire communities grow stronger.
Why Blair in Kenya
1. 100% of your money goes to supporting our goal of improving the lives of Kenya’s rural poor through educational, medical, and economic opportunity.
2. Blair in Kenya only works in two communities and all of our money goes to people we know and trust. Our work is a partnership with these communities; they donate their time and money as well to support our work. We are side by side with the leaders of these communities in finding ways to improve the lives of these children.
3. Your donation is tax-deductible.
4. We have a proven track record of great results -- the proof is on the ground. We now educate over 1,200 students in a vibrant and positive learning environment.
Our model and the future
Both our Kenyan and our American team volunteer for this project which has allowed us to hold true to our 100% model whereby the entire amount of any donation goes towards supporting these children. Additionally, all of our volunteers who travel to Kenya pay their own way to maximize the impact of your donation.
In truth, the only way these projects work is because of the trust that exists between our Kenyan and American partners. We aren’t working with strangers, but with friends, and this cooperation has allowed us to streamline our operations to focus on providing opportunity.
While we have made significant progress over the past decade, there is still much to be done.