The project

In the heart of rural Kenya, Nguku School serves over 400 children eager to learn but facing significant barriers due to a lack of educational resources. As the only school in the village of 2,600 people, Nguku School is an essential pillar of the community, yet the potential of its students are limited by the absence of basic study materials like textbooks, physical classrooms, and clean water—critical resources for academic achievement.
The Nguku Library Project is a community-led initiative to transform the educational landscape of the village by building a dedicated library and e-learning space that will equip students with the tools they need to excel and prepare for their national exams, which determine their future trajectory.
With a goal to raise 2,824,187 shillings (approximately $22,000 USD), we hope to create a vibrant learning space that fosters a culture of reading and academic achievement. Your support directly contributes to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal 4: ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education for all. By providing textbooks, digital literacy courses, learning materials, and a safe study environment, the library will nurture the future leaders of one of the fastest-growing economies in Africa.
We invite you to join our cause—whether by donating or sharing this campaign with your friends and family — so we can provide these bright children with the resources they need to realize a better future for themselves and their community.
The Nguku Library Project is a community-led initiative to transform the educational landscape of the village by building a dedicated library and e-learning space that will equip students with the tools they need to excel and prepare for their national exams, which determine their future trajectory.
With a goal to raise 2,824,187 shillings (approximately $22,000 USD), we hope to create a vibrant learning space that fosters a culture of reading and academic achievement. Your support directly contributes to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal 4: ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education for all. By providing textbooks, digital literacy courses, learning materials, and a safe study environment, the library will nurture the future leaders of one of the fastest-growing economies in Africa.
We invite you to join our cause—whether by donating or sharing this campaign with your friends and family — so we can provide these bright children with the resources they need to realize a better future for themselves and their community.
The story

Nguku village is located in Southwestern Kenya and approximately 230 miles west of Nairobi, the capital city. It is located in the sugarbelt region near the shores of Lake Victoria, the world’s second-largest freshwater lake.
Like most villages in Kenya, schoolchildren in Nguku have little to no access to learning materials to augment their studies. Despite Nguku School facing significant challenges in providing its students with the resources needed to succeed academically, the school is noted for its outstanding academic performance in the national examination within the Nyarongi Division.
There are no nearby bookstores or libraries for children to go to, with the nearest public library being more than 100 miles away in Kisumu which is a three-hour trip. Building a safe and secure place for the entire community to share learning resources is critical for knowledge to transfer across the life of the project.
There are no nearby bookstores or libraries for children to go to, with the nearest public library being more than 100 miles away in Kisumu which is a three-hour trip. Building a safe and secure place for the students to access learning resources has been a critical priority of the school’s Board of Management.
Like most villages in Kenya, schoolchildren in Nguku have little to no access to learning materials to augment their studies. Despite Nguku School facing significant challenges in providing its students with the resources needed to succeed academically, the school is noted for its outstanding academic performance in the national examination within the Nyarongi Division.
There are no nearby bookstores or libraries for children to go to, with the nearest public library being more than 100 miles away in Kisumu which is a three-hour trip. Building a safe and secure place for the entire community to share learning resources is critical for knowledge to transfer across the life of the project.
There are no nearby bookstores or libraries for children to go to, with the nearest public library being more than 100 miles away in Kisumu which is a three-hour trip. Building a safe and secure place for the students to access learning resources has been a critical priority of the school’s Board of Management.
Location of Nguku School in the context of Kenya
The classrooms
The current challenges faced by the school are lack of desks in classes, dilapidated old buildings, lack of a classroom for grade 9 students, and lack of clean water for sanitary and cooking needs.
A class session for lower primary students in the older classrooms
About half of the classrooms in the school have dusty floors, no windows or doors, and 3-4 students share a desk. The classrooms are crowded and students do not have textbooks to study class materials outside classrooms.
Close to ten years ago, the government built a few more classes which are a little better than the older ones but are still crowded, dusty, and lack access to learning materials. The newer classrooms are used by upper primary school students (grade 4-6) and junior secondary (grade 7-8). Grade 9 students currently have no classroom and are using the local church compound to take classes.
Close to ten years ago, the government built a few more classes which are a little better than the older ones but are still crowded, dusty, and lack access to learning materials. The newer classrooms are used by upper primary school students (grade 4-6) and junior secondary (grade 7-8). Grade 9 students currently have no classroom and are using the local church compound to take classes.
A class session for upper primary students in one of the newer classrooms
Current administrative building that doubles as the staffroom and storage space for books, chalk, and other learning materials.
This 300 square-feet building is the nerve center of the school’s operations - providing critical value in storing learning materials that over 400 students rely on and a place to call an office by the school’s teachers.
The new library
Image of the proposed library
After constructing and furnishing the library, a management committee will be set up to administer the operations of the library. The management committee will also create and adopt innovative approaches to keep the library financially sustainable into the future including agroforestry, providing access point for government e-services, and charging a small fee for providing digital training to community members.