Initiatives
Our vision is a world where every child's potential is valued and realized, regardless of circumstances. We envision thriving communities where children can access safe and nurturing learning environments, nutritious meals, and clean sanitation facilities. Our efforts aim to empower children with the tools, skills, and resources to overcome challenges, achieve their dreams, and contribute positively to their families and societies. We believe that there are 3-tiers to achieving success. We first address children’s needs through a feeding program. Next, we provide school supplies and build the school's infrastructure. Lastly, we involve the community.​​​
​​Ultimately, our dream is to create strong communities with the families of these very school children finding jobs and careers with the school as the center of economic growth.
Children's Needs
The Daily Lunch Programme
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The lunch programme has been benefiting 60 pupils from needy families. Each school day, the needy school children are provided with porridge and an egg at 10 am. During lunch, the children are given a plate of rice with beans or ndengu (green grams) and a fruit.
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Every Child Counts offers this lunch programme to 36 students as they move to high school.
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Waitua Primary School - 10
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St. Anne Primary School - 6
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Mutunkei Primary School - 6
Scholarship Program
Kenya is a middle-income economy with pockets of poverty across the country. Every Child Counts (ECC) has an opportunity to make a change in the lives of many children within the schools they are already working with for the ongoing projects (Waitua, Napara, Kanjeru, Kisawayi).
Every Child Counts plans to offer scholarships to 36 students as they move to high school.
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Kanjeru Primary School - 14
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Waitua Primary School - 10
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St. Anne Primary School - 6
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Mutunkei Primary School - 6
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School Infrastructure Needs
Construction of a Modern Kitchen
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Currently at:
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Kanjeru Primary School - 14
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Waitua Primary School - 10
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St. Anne Primary School - 6
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Mutunkei Primary School - 6​​​
Classroom Construction​
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Currently at:
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Kanjeru Primary School - 14
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Waitua Primary School - 10
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St. Anne Primary School - 6
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Mutunkei Primary School - 6
Construction of a Toilet Block
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Currently at:
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Kanjeru Primary School - 14
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Waitua Primary School - 10
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St. Anne Primary School - 6
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Mutunkei Primary School - 6​​​
Dig A Bore Well​
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Currently at:
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Kanjeru Primary School - 14
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Waitua Primary School - 10
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St. Anne Primary School - 6
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Mutunkei Primary School - 6
Local Community Needs
“I want to thank ECC on behalf of the children benefiting from the scholarship program. The scholarship program has ensured that our children work hard because they see light at the end of the tunnel. In turn, their hard work has improved the performance of the school. The other thing is about the feeding program. The enrollment rate has continued to rise partly due to the feeding program. The retention rate is also high. Because most of the children are from humble backgrounds, they were dropping out of school because of a lack of basic needs like food. They now come to school because they are assured of a cup of breakfast, a snack, and lunch every day. The feeding program has ensured that these children are doing well in school, just like the other children, which has continued to improve the school's performance.”
- Principal Modesto Mungai
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“The ECC feeding program started in 2019 and currently caters to 180 learners. These learners have a cup of porridge and a snack during break time. Then, they get a well-balanced diet of rice, beans, vegetables, and fruit during lunchtime. Initially, we were experiencing many problems because these learners, most of them, are, let me say, all of them from very needy families. Families where even getting a plate of food is a challenge to the parents. We had been experiencing the problem of absenteeism. Since the program started, these learners are always in school because they want to get the food, and their performance has also greatly improved. We thank ECC for helping us sustain these children in school. God bless you, and you continue supporting us.”
- Teacher Njoki Macharia
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​All the programs at Waitua have made a significant impact on the students. Waitua has significantly improved academic performance since 2019, as shown in the table below.
The school was the best in the zone in 2022 after beating thirty schools. According to the school records, the rate of absenteeism and cases of malnutrition among children have been reduced in the school, as shown in the table below. Teachers now feel more motivated to work in the school. The feeding program has made Waitua attractive to students already enrolled in other schools. Since 2020, many needy parents have transferred their children from other schools to Waitua so that their kids may benefit from the feeding program.
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This is the annual average of absenteeism in percentage. This was calculated by tallying the number of absent children in a school year and dividing by the total no. of students multiply by 100.
A tapestry of efforts, from fundraising campaigns to advocacy initiatives, unfolded as Every Child Counts - USA and local Kenyan champions worked hand in hand to address the multifaceted challenges faced by underprivileged school children. The numbers speak for themselves!
Recognitions and Awards
Position of the school in the Zone/ Sub-county based on National Examination (Kenya Certificate of Primary Education) results in the last few years.
Mean standard score (MSS) for all students in KCPE since 2019 (Max is 500)
Population of the school since 2017
Percent Absenteeism rate This was calculated by tallying the number of absent children in a school year and dividing by the total number of students multiply by 100.
Percentage of hygiene and nutrition related illnesses This was calculated by tallying the number of hygiene and nutrition related illnesses in a school year and dividing by the total no. of students multiply by 100.
