Friends of Fizi releases first annual impact report
What began in 2024 as a small group of volunteers supporting 80 children at a school in Nairobi's Kabiria neighbourhood has grown into a registered organisation serving 170 students, backed by over 30 active volunteers working across continents. Today, Friends of Fizi Kabiria releases its first Annual Impact Report, documenting a year of milestones that have reshaped both a school and the community around it.
The report, covering November 2024 to December 2025, offers a transparent account of the organisation's programs, partnerships, and lessons learned during its foundational year. From infrastructure upgrades to teacher training, food security initiatives to digital literacy pilots, the document captures how coordinated community action can address some of the most pressing challenges facing vulnerable children in urban Kenya.
A year of concrete progress
The numbers tell a story of tangible change. Over the past year, the organisation completed four major infrastructure projects: a renovated kitchen meeting county health standards, a playground built from recycled materials by community volunteers, a connection to Nairobi's public sewage system, and the installation of rainwater harvesting infrastructure, including two 10,000-litre tanks and a water filtration system.
Seven teachers enrolled in professional training programs in Community Health Care and Child Care and Protection, supported by anonymous donors and mentored through more than 60 hours of structured sessions. Food donation campaigns collected an estimated 800 kilograms of supplies, while a partnership with a local food bank now delivers weekly provisions to ensure consistent meals for students.
The Christmas Campaign alone exceeded its target, raising KES 386,500 to provide school uniforms for every child—a milestone that reflected months of coordinated outreach across social media, WhatsApp networks, and personal connections.
"Every meal served, every classroom painted, every mentoring session delivered represents a choice made by someone to believe that change is possible, even when circumstances suggest otherwise."
— Ian Munene, Chairperson, and Ludmilla Souza, Head of Advocacy and Partnerships
Lessons for the road ahead
The report does not shy away from challenges. Volunteer turnover, coordination across time zones, and the ongoing need for stable funding are acknowledged as areas requiring continued attention. The organisation notes that maintaining improvements—from kitchen facilities to playground equipment—remains difficult given limited resources and the demands of daily school operations.
Yet the lessons point toward sustainable solutions. Smaller, committed teams consistently outperformed larger groups with lower engagement. Community participation in projects—families cleaning classrooms, repairing furniture, building alongside volunteers—multiplied impact in ways external intervention alone could not achieve. And structured documentation proved essential not just for accountability, but for building donor trust and informing future grant applications.
"We carry a responsibility we do not take lightly. The children of Kabiria deserve nothing less than our continued commitment to building systems that will outlast any single campaign or project."
— From the Leadership Message
Looking to 2026
The year ahead brings ambitious plans: expanding the Child Sponsorship Program, completing classroom renovations, restarting the digital literacy course for students, and pursuing tax exemption status to strengthen financial sustainability. A socio-economic mapping project, planned in partnership with a university, aims to build the evidence base needed for future grant applications and community-driven programming.
For the leadership team, however, the priorities remain grounded in people. “As we step into 2026, we carry with us the faces of 170 children who arrive each morning ready to learn,” the report's leadership message concludes. “We carry the voices of teachers who stayed late for mentoring sessions, volunteers who crossed oceans and time zones to contribute, and donors who trusted us with their generosity.”
Friends of Fizi Kabiria invites supporters, partners, and the wider community to read the full report and join the journey ahead. Whether through sponsorship, volunteering, or simply sharing the story, every contribution brings the organisation closer to its vision: a future where the children of Kabiria have the resources they need to learn, grow, and thrive.
Read and download our 2025 Impact Report here.