Biography

Wambui and Mary Wamaitha, two women living in the Kware slum in Ongata Rongai, Kenya, decided that they could no longer stand idly by watching children spend their days on the streets because their families are too poor to send them to school. Although education is free in Kenya, public schools have fees for uniforms and other items that make attendence impossible for children of families who cannot afford to pay. 

In 2008, Wambui and Mary Wamaitha founded the informal one-room school in the Kware slum near Nairobi to provide primary education to children ages 3 to 10. Bright Junior School is registered with the government and Wambui and Mary continue to run the school with occasional help from qualified volunteers and part-time teachers. Wambui and Mary mission is to ensure the children living in the Kware slum receive an education and nutritious meals.Thanks to Mary and Wambui, children who would otherwise never gain an education are keeping pace with their peers. Serving approximately 40 children annually, Bright Junior School has ensured the nutrition and education for over 150 children, giving them opportunities to thrive as they grow.