The Tenderfoot self help school was originally 8 street children being fed, clothed and taught in a corrugated iron shack in a slum on the outskirts of Nairobi. Through the sheer hard work and determination of Esther Wamai, now the school's head teacher, Tenderfoot gradually grew into a functioning primary school for the Kangemi slum children. 

We were first made aware of the project by an official from Sussex University who told us about Tenderfoot's desire to expand the school so that more children could have a chance of an education. We visited the school in 2005 and 2006 to investigate how Pass It On Africa could help Esther carry on the great work she  was  doing....

When we got there, the school was half built and there was only enough room and money to feed and teach 155 children.

Since being involved we have:

- Built the rest of the primary school. (6 classrooms and a working kitchen).

- Acquired the neighbouring land. This is presently being used as sports/playing fields but may be used to extend the school in the future.

- Provided various educational and sporting resources.

- Set up a number of trust funds to support primarily the third of the children at the school who are orphans.

Our plan for the future is to always stay in regular communication with the school and staff, continue to help them financially or by whatever means necessary.

To this end, we are keen to set up relationships between English schools and our projects in Africa so that an enduring support network can be established.

We are currently working with Tenderfoot on a Phase 2 Development Plan, which involves the further expansion of the school on the recently acquired plot of land.