The Elimu Fanaka team observing the TaRL reading session at Bingu Stadium
The morning of May 20th, 2025, started like any other at our organization, but it would end as one of the most inspiring days of the month.
Evelyn Mghendi and Beryl Anyango stepped through our doors carrying more than just their travel bags from Kenya. As representatives of Elimu Fanaka—a non-profit transforming rural primary schools across their homeland, Kenya—they brought stories that resonated with our mission. Connected through our shared partnership with the Segal Family Foundation, we had been anticipating this visit with excitement, but nothing could have prepared us for the energy these two remarkable women would bring to our space.
From the moment our facility tour began, a remarkable connection formed. As we showcased
our youth programs and educational initiatives, our visitors’ faces lit up with shared understanding. They weren’t just guests; they were collaborators, instantly grasping our mission because they were fighting similar battles thousands of miles away.
The conversation flowed for hours. We exchanged stories of student breakthroughs, shared
strategies for community engagement, and realized our challenges, despite different countries, were strikingly alike. Their work in remote Kenyan villages, transforming struggling schools into vibrant educational hubs, mirrored our own efforts to empower young people in our community.
Their expertise and passion were undeniable, but it was their profound belief in education as a catalyst for genuine community transformation that truly resonated. They saw schools not
merely as buildings, but as engines for generational change. Evelyn and Beryl’s visit was a
powerful reminder of why we do this work. They proved that when organizations with shared
values connect across borders, the impact multiplies exponentially. Their insights reinforced our conviction that sustainable change flourishes when passionate people refuse to work in isolation. Sometimes, the most impactful partnerships begin with a simple invitation to share.
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