What We Do

In many Sub-Saharan African countries, including Kenya, orphans can attend primary school. However, few can pursue a high school education because they simply cannot afford it.

One year at a good Kenyan high school costs almost $1,000. The average Kenyan earns $1,380 / year (source: The World Bank) making it a challenge for many children to go to high school. The situation is much worse for orphans. The result? Most orphans don’t get any high school education, leaving them vulnerable to exploitation, gang activity and hopelessness.

We exist to give overlooked and vulnerable orphans in Kenya the life-changing opportunity of a high school education. We provide qualified orphans a full potential high school scholarship and mentorship. We also provide qualified high school graduates with full potential scholarships to pursue higher education with continuing mentoring. We see these orphans as STARS, Students Transforming Africa and Renewing its Society.

How We Work

We believe that getting a high school education and having  stable role models empowers an individual to change his / her life.  We also believe orphans must experience love and commitment (often absent in their lives) in order to learn trust, have hope and   learn to serve others.

We focus on providing “full potential” high school scholarships to orphans. A full potential scholarship is our commitment to sponsor a student through all four years of high school, provided they meet certain academic standards and demonstrate a commitment to integrity, personal responsibility and service to others.

“Intelligence plus character – that is the goal of true education.” – Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Education alone is not enough. Character and integrity are essential to become great leaders. We work with a respected Kenyan partner, acts as a guardian and mentor for STARS. They take care of all school requirements, such as paying school fees and purchasing uniforms. They also teach the STARS life skills, serve as role models and help them overcome past abuse, fear, and stigmas (e.g., AIDS).

STARS Children Africa raises and administers funds. With our local partner, we jointly support and monitor each STARS’ academic progress and character development. US-based volunteer staff travel annually to Kenya to provide additional mentorship and life skills.

Where We Work

STARS Children Africa has provided education for orphans in South Africa, Zambia and Kenya since mid 2003. Since late 2005 our work has been focused in Kenya. 100% of the funds we raise are used on the ground in Kenya. We can invest all our funds locally thanks to volunteers who donate their time and cover operational and administrative costs, e.g. website costs, annual non-profit registration renewal fee, etc.

Our Impact

To see the impact we’re having on lives and communities click here.

In these two photos above, following guidance, STARS on high school break built this house for a community widow.

Kevin, now a graduate in engineering, along with other university students volunteered to encourage and guide worthy students studying in high school.
STARS learning skills and growing food that they consume when back during school breaks.
Ken with Fredrick on his graduation day. Fredrick is a teacher in high school.
One of the STARS, Charles, in engineering shown at a sugar company on practical training.
Humphrey graduated in education from the University of Nairobi and is now a high school teacher.
Mentoring STARS (under the tree) are STARS Children Africa volunteers, Ken (standing with back to camera) and Verena (sitting with back to camera).
Derrick, graduate in administration, giving a motivational talk to high school students.
Image of girl with diploma
Faith graduated in environmental health science from a U.S. college in 2015, and has completed all requirements to receive a PhD from Penn State University in 2019.