We successfully piloted two innovations to support children left behind in reading and writing.
My Village
In 2023, we collaborated with the People’s Action for Learning (PAL) Network to pilot My Village project in 300 villages in Kenya,
Uganda, and Tanzania. My Village was a youth-led, community-based literacy intervention that enlisted youth volunteers to
conduct literacy learning camps after school and during the weekends at designated community spaces. It targeted children with
low literacy competences who were identified through household assessments. Eighty-six villages participated in the intervention
across three counties: Bungoma, Kilifi, and Kitui.
The data and evidence generated demonstrated that it is possible to improve numeracy and literacy through cost-effective
approaches at the school or community level. The project had three partners: Kyeni Kya Waasya (Kitui); Kaloleni Youth
Empowerment Group (Kilifi); and Milimo CBO (Bungoma). The initiative assessed over 15,000 children and benefited over 3200
children on literacy in 2023 alone
This project has boosted my confidence. After the training and implementation, I was nominated to be a member of the
development committee in my village. Champion from Makomboani, village
I happened to be in the parents’ meeting where the Champion requested for learning space in the village. As the parents
discussed the possible spaces available, I thought about my son’s incomplete house in my compound. I decided to offer this
space. I am happy to help children learn and I know that when they learn, we are safe because education helps them to avoid
stealing and doing other terrible things… I am happy that I am helping a child in a small way. Parent, Sirisia, Bungoma County
Napenda Kusoma
Napenda Kusoma is an initiative of the Kirinyaga County leadership and the South-to-South fellowship, hosted by Zizi Afrique in
Kenya. The lessons from My Village project were used to inform the conceptualization and implementation of Napenda Kusoma,
which aims at scaling through the government at the sub-national level. Its vision is to ensure that by 2026, all children in Kirinyaga
can read with comprehension by the end of Grade 3.
What did we Achieve?
Through this journey, we partnered with 12,213 parents across Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania, and enhanced their self-efficacy in
supporting learning. We witnessed parents step up to support learning. We broke the silos by initiating and sustaining a regional
learning network of over 400 participants in partnership with the Africa Voices Dialogue.
In addition, we contributed to improved foundational learning outcomes of over 16,000 learners (3,290 of these directly).
We also established a network of 290 youth champions and supported 76 teachers who were equipped with capacities to
assess Foundational Literacy learning outcomes, facilitate targeted literacy support to learners struggling to read, and engage
communities as they nurture a culture of reading at home.