Ngota's Upendo

Ngota's Upendo (Swahili for Ngota's Love) Primary School is a small school located in the heart of Mathare Slum, Kenya's second biggest slum in the capital Nairobi. It's estimated that 500.000 people live there. Access to basic services like water, electricity and sanitation is very limited. The school, created by bishop Ngota, an influent figure from east Kenya who decided to help kids in the slums, has been transformed in a kind of safe-haven for a whole community inside Mathare. There, 110 kids aging from 2 to 16, are provided with basic education, materials, food and basic health assistance. The idea was to create a safe environment for children to learn as much as possible, so they can maybe change their fates in a direction out of the slums. High levels of corruption, a sad colonial history and a violent tribal sectarianism are some of the ingredients of this primordial soup that portions of Kenyan society are exposed. In these pockets of poverty, life goes on at very low standard, whereas many young lives are ruined.

3rd grade students during math class.

6th grade student stands by the door as the class ends.

Students dancing during a welcome party for new volunteers.

Portrait of a 5th grade student at the school's backyard.

Lunch being served by the school cooker. Every student gets two meal a day at the school. Ingredients are bought in the local community, to foster local economy.

Mathare District is Kenya's second largest slum. About 500.000 persons lives there. In many areas of the community, piped water and electricity are not available.

Children of Mathare running in the rain.

Ngota's Upendo Elementary School courtyard.

Students during break time.

A student fix her colleague's haircut.

Students visit the Natural History Museum at central Nairobi.

Children during geography class.

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