Our Mission
The mission of the Western Kenya Education Organization (WKEO) is to provide scholarships to Kenyan students, particularly young women, with academic promise who could not otherwise pursue the classroom education they deserve. We do this in recognition of the right of all individuals to pursue their dreams and goals through education and the profound value of education in making the world a better place.
History
WKEO was started in 2011 by Courtney Schultz, who has been working and volunteering in Kenya since 1996. In 2000, when she was leading a student trip to build classrooms in Western Kenya, Courtney realized that many girls in 8th grade would not be able to attend high school because their families could not pay the requisite school fees. Instead their time in school and as kids would come to an abrupt halt, and they would be left with few choices but to marry or seek menial jobs. She decided to sponsor a girl through high school as a small but important way to make an immediate difference in this community. Friends and family followed suit and in 2011, she officially formed the WKEO, which today sponsors about 45 students in high school and 10 students in college each year.
Our students are an inspiration to many aspiring young people in their community. They come back to lead our annual meetings, provide peer-mentoring, and go on to support other needy kids to go to school.
We are proud of how this organization has grown, with the help and advice of so many of our donors and our two in-country leads, Susan and Pharies Emitundo. We have graduated nearly 80 students from many different villages and schools in this part of Kenya. Parents, students and teachers tell us that the hope for a scholarship and education gives the students in this poor and remote area something to work towards and inspires them to dream bigger about their futures.
All of your donations go directly to these students. Courtney covers all of the administrative costs. Please consider donating today. Educating a young person in the developing world is one of the most direct and immediate things you can do to make the world a better place, whether you care about democracy, conservation, or women and children's rights.
Our students are an inspiration to many aspiring young people in their community. They come back to lead our annual meetings, provide peer-mentoring, and go on to support other needy kids to go to school.
We are proud of how this organization has grown, with the help and advice of so many of our donors and our two in-country leads, Susan and Pharies Emitundo. We have graduated nearly 80 students from many different villages and schools in this part of Kenya. Parents, students and teachers tell us that the hope for a scholarship and education gives the students in this poor and remote area something to work towards and inspires them to dream bigger about their futures.
All of your donations go directly to these students. Courtney covers all of the administrative costs. Please consider donating today. Educating a young person in the developing world is one of the most direct and immediate things you can do to make the world a better place, whether you care about democracy, conservation, or women and children's rights.
the problem
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Educating children gives them hope, time to grow up, community, and confidence. For so many children in Kenya, they stop school after their primary education, when their parents have passed away or don't have enough money. When you give them a chance at an education, it's life-changing every single day! For all of them, it means a change to participate in civic life, provide for their families and others, and make choices about when to have children. For the girls in particular, education is their best hope of avoiding early pregnancy and marriage, female genital mutilation practices, and earning a salary and independence. |