The Mathari Children's Fund is a registered 501(c)3 in the US and a registered Community-Based Organization in Kenya which has been in existence since 1999. It was set up to help children living in the Mathari slum change their own lives through education and training. Kids in Mathari live very dangerous lives - they search the street for something to eat, and suffer hunger, violence and abuse. Education is the way out of the slum, and MCF gives these children the opportunity to build a new future.

MCF pays fees and costs associated with education, such as uniforms, books and travel to and from school. We also cover counselling and healthcare costs for children in the program, have a feeding program and, in certain circumstances, help with housing costs. We operate a savings and loan scheme to aid the start-up of small businesses in order to increase the financial stability of the families we work with. We offer peer education in the area of HIV/AIDS to help raise awareness, as well as build the children's skills and confidence to train others. Our approach is to work alongside the children and families, agreeing with them the plans and strategies that impact on their lives.

Over 300 children and young people have gone through the project since 1999. Their circumstances vary. Some are street children or orphans, some have been abused, all are hungry to learn and change their lives. All of them need a helping hand so they can make their own way in the future. The children and young people we work with now are at all stages of education, from nursery to college or vocational training. They are constantly doing themselves, and us, proud. Some key results in the past eleven years:

- 110 kids in school right now, drug-free, healthy and learning every day. Many of these would be dead by now if it weren?t for the program. 20 more joining next month.

- Over 300 children helped over the eleven-year life of the program to date.

- 15 have made it to university, colleges or technical training schools. I don?t need to tell you that they weren?t going anywhere near university when we first saw them on the streets.

- 64 have made it through to secondary schools, and are on their way to graduating.