“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.”
~ Nelson Mandela ~
Friends of Dagoretti Children (FDC) is a Kenya registered charitable society run by volunteers, assisting bright but disadvantaged young people, largely from the Dagoretti area of Nairobi, to attain secondary and tertiary education.
We are endeavouring to change the future for
these young people.
FDC has no
religious or political affiliations.
How We Help
In Kenya, secondary and tertiary education is not free. FDC's mission is to assist young people to continue their education. We currently have 54 young people on the programme aged between 15 and 24 years, both girls and boys. We take approximately 8 new students per academic year depending on funds available. The majority live in Dagoretti, a very low income area bordering Karen, a suburb of Nairobi. They mainly attend boarding schools, to which they are allocated by the Ministry of Education.
To qualify for our programme, each applicant must have achieved above average in their Kenya Certificate of Primary Education exam. In addition the applicant's family must show that they are unable to afford secondary education.
Mentoring is also a significant part of of the FDC programme, giving guidance with life skills and helping with family issues. Despite their parent(s) or guardians being needy, and many with little education themselves, the family should be willing to contribute what they can, thereby taking some ownership of their child's education. It is not only the students who benefit. The family and wider community will also gain from the ripple effect.
After completing secondary education it is expected that a student should undertake a minimum of three months' voluntary service in the community.
Each year, when we take on new children, part of our selection process involves
assessing how their families can also contribute.
Our aim is to help each beneficiary gain the tools to earn a living. We do not promise to find them employment. However, we do work hard to find them
internships or work experience.
FDC student Anthony, gives a hand in the office kitchen.
MACE Foundation Donates Grant for Student Mental Health Programmes.
Friends of Dagoretti Children is delighted to thank the MACE Foundation (https://www.macegroup.com/we-care/mace-foundation/ ) for their generous donation towards programmes for FDC students.
​
Starting with the mental health programmes, during every school holiday from August 2025 until April 2026, FDC is running group workshops with professional counsellors (from PMWC-KE https://pmwc-ke.org/), followed by one-to-one discussions between counsellors and students. Asked why these programmes are necessary , FDC Chair Louise Dickson, said, "All of our students are impacted by their backgrounds at varying levels. Most have been abandoned by at least one parent; some are overcoming bullying or other specific trauma; and all have underlying poverty issues."
​
In February 2026, still using the MACE Foundation grant, FDC will be offering financial literacy and entrepreneurship programmes for FDC 2024 and 2025 graduates. The programmes are run by Business for Life, a non-profit with an office in Kenya, and will give FDC graduates a grounding in financial management.
​
All of us at FDC thank the MACE Foundation for their generous support.
The Mental Health team introduce the Youth Mental Health Mentorship Programme.
