OUR PROJECTS
KENYA​
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The Soweto Academy of Kenya was founded in 1988 by Reverend Chrispinus Okumu. It began as a feeding center and a nursery school for five orphaned children who lived in the streets of Kibera located in the outskirts of Nairobi, the capital of Kenya. The Academy sits on a piece of land that was once designated as a dump site by the city council of Nairobi. Living in extreme poverty, many children lacked basic nutrition and access to affordable education.
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They spent their days in search of food often at the very same dump site. Today there are more than 400 students enrolled at Soweto Academy from kindergarten through high school including 60 girls that are housed in a dormitory onsite. In addition to academic learning, all students are also provided with at least one meal per day. Teachers encourage students to pursue their dreams and utilize their talents for the purpose of making a positive contribution to their community. Over the years, many students have attained top scores in national exams and have gone on to greater academic achievements. Soweto Academy has also received accolades for its “Mighty Minnows,” a girls’ volleyball team that recently advanced to the East Africa Regional Tournament and competed with schools from several other countries.
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Our vision is to take part in enhancing the lives and realizing the potential of the students of Soweto Academy by accomplishing these goals:
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1. Raise awareness
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2. Provide financial support
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3. Empower the teachers and administrators
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NIGERIA
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The vision for the Alliance International School of Nigeria (“Alliance”) started when Rev. Dr. Lola Akiwowo visited the village of Imosan in Ijebu-Ode in her native country of Nigeria. She saw that too many children still lacked access to affordable education and thus began the Alliance journey. Teaming up with Rev. Dr. Mia Chang, a plot of land was acquired in 2015 and construction began in the following year. We are now scheduled to open Alliance and enroll our first students in September 2018! In the coming years, this three-acre compound will have an elementary school, middle school and high school with a cafeteria, dormitory, chapel and medical clinic for up to 500 students. Alliance will be constructed in several stages until it is completed in year 2020. In addition to academics, students will also be provided at least one meal per day. The teachers of Alliance will encourage students to pursue their dreams and utilize their talents to make a positive contribution to their families and community.
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Our sister organization called “Nextgen One World One Love Outreach International,” a registered nonprofit corporation in Nigeria, currently manages the construction of the school in Imosan and will operate the school once it is opened later this year. Africa River of Life** provides funding and administrative support as necessary. We are two teams across an ocean but share a singular passion to provide education to the children of Imosan.
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This video depicts some sights and sounds of Kibera!
K E N Y A
​The Soweto Academy of Kenya was founded in 1988 by Reverend Chrispinus Okumu. It began as a feeding center and a nursery school for five orphaned children who lived in the streets of Kibera located in the outskirts of Nairobi, the capital of Kenya. The Academy sits on a piece of land that was once designated as a dump site by the city council of Nairobi. Living in extreme poverty, many children lacked basic nutrition and access to affordable education.
​​Today there are more than 500 students enrolled at Soweto Academy from pre-kindergarten through high school including girls that are housed in a dormitory onsite. In addition to academic learning, all students are also provided with at least one meal per day. Teachers encourage students to pursue their dreams and utilize their talents for the purpose of making a positive contribution to their community. Over the years, many students have attained top scores in national exams and have gone on to greater academic achievement. Soweto Academy has also received accolades for its “Mighty Minnows,” a girls’ volleyball team that recently advanced to the East Africa Regional Tournament and competes with schools from several other countries.
Our vision is to take part in enhancing the lives and realizing the potential of the students of Soweto Academy by accomplishing these goals:
​
1. Raise awareness
​
2. Provide financial support
​
3. Empower the teachers and administrators
​
Groundbreaking
Rev. Mia Chang, trustee, celebrating the opening of a new classroom at Soweto Academy with Principal Johnstone and Rev. Chrispinus Okumu.
Soweto Academy in Kibera, Kenya
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Students and Principal Johnstone
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