About Us

What: Kibera Youth Foundation advances the primary and secondary education of children furthest from opportunity in Kibera, Kenya.

Why: Schools are safe places for children to learn and grow. With an education comes opportunities for economic advancement, both for the child and their family. We believe a child’s background should not dictate their access to an education.

How: We organize a secondary girls scholarship program and fund projects that improve infrastructure and access to academic resources in primary schools.

Kibera Youth Foundation is a nonprofit 501(c)3 that was founded in 2014 as Kibera Hamlets USA after Rich and Rachel visited Kibera Hamlets, a primary school in Kibera. Kibera Hamlets USA supported students who attended or graduated from Kibera Hamlets. In 2022, the organization began partnering with and supporting additional schools and youth-based organizations in Kibera. Because of the expanded scope, the organization adopted the name, Kibera Youth Foundation, in 2023.

Since its inception, every dollar raised has supported our initiatives. All donations are fully tax deductible (EIN: 47-1044318).

Meet our team!

  • Judith Bogonko

    Program Support & Advisor • Nairobi, Kenya

    Judith is the Chief Commercial Officer at Fingo Africa. She has been actively engaged in mentorship and girls education programs in Kenya for many years.

  • Richard Grich

    Board Chair • Bethesda, Maryland

    Richard founded Kibera Youth Foundation (formerly Kibera Hamlets USA) in 2014 after his visit to Kenya with Rachel to further the education for underserved youth in Kibera.

  • Rachel Johnston

    Board Member, Finance & Operations • Washington, DC

    Rachel is the Chief of Staff at the DC Charter School Alliance. She first visited Kibera in 2014 and shortly after began working with Richard to advance the foundation’s mission.

  • Elana Laichena

    Board Member, Program Lead • Nairobi, Kenya

    Elana is a social entrepreneur who has started several ventures in the waste-to-energy and climate finance sectors in Kenya. She has volunteered in Kibera since 2015.

  • George Otieno Jaoko

    Scholarship Coordinator • Nairobi, Kenya

    George is the Former Board Chair for Olympic Primary School in Kibera and manages the day-to-day activities of the Kibera Girls Scholarship Program.