Bridging Vision and Impact

The vision and work of Freedom International Schools Africa (FISA) go far beyond what our current resources can support. We are deeply committed to reshaping education through a culturally driven (Afrocentric), globally relevant model that prepares African children to thrive anywhere in the world while remaining rooted in who they are. This is a bold and necessary mission—but it cannot be done alone.

To bridge the gap between vision and capacity, we established Children in Freedom (CIF) the non-profit arm of Freedom International Schools – Africa. Registered in the USA as a 501(c)(3) organization (EIN: 47-3697470) and in Kenya (OP.218/051/14-0133/9543)

CIF exists to expand the transformative impact of our school. Through CIF, we invite partners, friends, and champions of transformative education to walk with us, invest in this vision, and help us achieve the bold goals that lie ahead.

Background

The concept of Children in Freedom came about in 2009, when Dr Utheri Kanayo (née Susan Kiragu), working as a researcher with the The Centre for Commonwealth Education, University of Cambridge (research was funded by The Commonwealth Education Trust), was exposed to poverty in 16 primary schools in 5 Counties of Kenya. For the first time in her life she met children who lacked the basic resources of life, and whose cultures and school curriculum impeded their opportunity to exploit their talent to the fullest.

For example: – Children came to school hungry having not eaten the previous night or that morning.

Children were sent home from school because they could not afford to pay the school going costs (school and exam fees, tuition fees, uniform, books and stationary, desks, wages for subordinate staff like cooks and watchman). These costs even though ‘minimal’, were unaffordable to them. For example, exam fees where £1 per term, and cooks wages of £1.5 per month.

Children walked up to four hours one way to school because they lived so far away from the only school in the location or village. Such children would leave the house as early as 4am and walk through semi-arid terrain in the dark. These children were at risk of being harmed by wild animals and being victims of sexual abuse from men who waylaid them in the bushes. Two girls were reported to have been raped.

Girls did not have sanitary towels and would either miss school when they were on their period or use alternative absorbent materials. For example, some girls would tie their sweaters under their skirts or use old cloths that they had to wash after use.

There was gender in-balance in some schools’ infrastructure. In several schools there were fewer toilets for girls, and in one of the school, the girls’ toilets did not have doors. This made going to the toilet difficult for girls, and they would have to go in a group to create a human barrier for privacy.

Some girls were going to undergo female circumcision and eventually be married off young and then drop out of school.

Children (especially girls) repeated classes after failing their end of year exams. Their achievement and advancement in education was pegged ONLY on their academic performance

The exposure of the children’s suffering was distressing to Utheri, and she decided to intervene by raising funds that would help ameliorate the children’s suffering. Her first initiative was in 2009, when she climbed Mt Kenya (16,355 ft) and raised £600 through friends, family and work colleagues. This money went towards buying building blocks (stones) to build a dormitory that would shelter girls from one school during term time. This would stop the girls having to walk long distances to and from school and the danger of sexual abuse. Utheri further created awareness among her friends and family, and through their donations,

She was able to pay fees for one girl who was at the risk of going through Female Genital Cutting (FGC) and being married off; she has now (2025) graduated from college and working (watch the story of Irene). When Utheri got married, her husband Oku Kanayo joined her in this cause, and even encouraged her to relocate back to Kenya to be nearer the children and help more children. In 2013, Utheri and Oku quit their jobs in the UK to come back to Kenya to grow CIF. From supporting two children in 2009, CIF has grown and touched directly the lives of over 300 children and youth, and has mentored thousands of people.

Where Your Support Goes

Bursary and Scholarship Fund

More than 25% of our students are from undeserved communities and receive bursaries—many from families surviving on less than $1 a day. These students are bright, capable, and full of promise—but without financial support, access to transformative education would remain out of reach. Your support to the FISA Bursary Programme directly provides: (1) Access to quality Afrocentric education rooted in global awareness (2) Daily school essentials including meals, uniforms, books, and tuition (3) Academic and extracurricular guidance to help students thrive (4) Holistic wellness support, encompassing emotional, mental, and physical wellbeing (5) Life skills development that builds self-love, identity, and self-efficacy

Support a scholar. Change a life. Invest in Africa’s future.

Mentorship for Freedom Programme

A cornerstone of our work is the Mentorship for Freedom program—an innovative initiative that connects our students with positive African narratives, African changemakers, thought leaders, and professionals from across the continent and the diaspora. It is designed to nurture identity, leadership, and purpose by giving learners access to real-life role models who reflect their own stories and possibilities. In a world where African children are too often excluded from narratives of excellence and impact, Mentorship for Freedom is our bold response—ensuring that every student at FISA grows up knowing who they are, where they come from, and what they can become.

Supporting this program means investing in confidence, courage, and consciousness—the very qualities our young people need to lead Africa into its next chapter.

Afrocentric & Global Curriculum Innovation

We are developing a pioneering Afrocentric Curriculum Toolkit that integrates African identity, values, perspectives and worldviews with global awareness, international academic standards and best practice. Designed for use across Africa and adaptable globally, it includes culturally grounded learning guides, teacher training modules, and scalable lesson plans.

This toolkit empowers educators to deliver culturally relevant, globally competent education, supporting identity, excellence, and transformation in every classroom.

Support a curriculum that reclaims narrative, affirms identity, and meets the world.

Teacher Training & Professional Development

To bring our Afrocentric and Global curriculum to life, we will invest in the training and empowerment of educators. Through targeted workshops, mentorship, and culturally responsive teaching modules, we aim to equip teachers—both within FISA and beyond—with the tools, mindset, and methods to deliver transformative education.

Your support helps us scale this impact by preparing more educators to confidently teach content that affirms identity, fosters excellence, and resonates with learners across diverse contexts.

Infrastructure Development

To fully support our learners’ growth, we are expanding our school’s infrastructure — from labs and classrooms to creative spaces.

Our top priorities include a fully equipped science lab, a computer lab, and areas for sports, innovation, and the arts in our Nakuru campus. Our dream is also have other campuses in Nairobi and other African countries such as Nigeria and Rwanda.

Help us build world class learning environments worthy of our children’s dreams.

Library & Resource Development

We are building what may become one of the first densely Afrocentric school libraries—a space where African authors, stories, and knowledge systems take first place. In most African schools, libraries are dominated by global texts, with African voices appearing rarely and peripherally. At FISA, we are reversing that narrative. Our goal is to curate a rich, diverse collection of African literature across all genres and age groups, while still including high-quality global texts for balance.

Your support will help us create a world-class resource hub that nurtures identity, critical thinking, and a love for reading grounded in the African experience.

International Team

Wanjeri Peninnah

Trustee USA

Wanjeri Peninnah serves as a U.S. Trustee for Children in Freedom Incorporated (CIF), where she brings deep commitment and long-standing support to the mission of empowering African children through education. A passionate Regulatory Scientist in the BioPharma industry, Wanjeri is also the first-ever donor to our scholarship programme—making her first contribution in 2009. Since then, she has remained a consistent and passionate advocate, supporting not only scholarships but also school supplies and learning resources for children in need. Her unwavering belief in the vision of Freedom International Schools Africa continues to inspire our work and impact.

Todd Hoffman

Senior Advisor- USA

Todd Hoffman brings a wealth of experience in Afrocentric education and innovation to FISA. He previously served as U.S. Director of The Gambia Academy, a groundbreaking West African school founded by musician-educator Sona Jobarteh, which has been featured by BBC, The New York Times, and 60 Minutes. Professionally, Todd led Collegia Consulting in Boston, supporting over 140 U.S. colleges and universities in attracting and retaining talent through strategic regional partnerships. He is the author of the College Destination Index, and has driven city-wide education branding initiatives in Boston and Philadelphia. A visionary thinker, Todd also pivoted into interactive retail innovation, developing digital experiences for global brands like Lowe’s, TUMI, Staples, and Krispy Kreme. He holds a BA in Economics from the University of Michigan.

Kenyan Team

Engr. Oku Kanayo Egbeni

Founder/ Director, US Trustee

Eng. Oku Kanayo is the Co-Founder and Director of Freedom International Schools – Africa (FISA), the world’s first Afrocentric school offering the International Baccalaureate (IB) curriculum. Born in Asaba, Nigeria, he holds a BSc in Computer Engineering from the University of Benin and an MSc in Information Systems from Dalarna University, Sweden. Prior to his return to Africa, Oku worked as an ICT engineer and strategist with leading firms including Virgin Media and Hewlett-Packard in the UK. In 2017, not only did he co-found FISA, he personally helped build the school—carrying stones, sand, and cement alongside construction workers, learning the art of building by doing. Today, he continues to lead all construction work on campus and serves as the school’s in-house contractor. Oku is a true polymath—a gifted and multidisciplinary thinker who applies himself masterfully across fields including software and electrical engineering, ICT, construction, mechanical systems, cooking, DJing and sports. He is the visionary behind the Mentorship for Freedom curriculum and remains deeply committed to empowering African children through innovation, identity, and excellence in education

Dr. Utheri Kanayo

Co-founder/Principal, US Trustee

DR UTHERI KANAYO studied Education at Undergraduate and Master's level at Kenyatta and Nairobi universities, and an MPhil and PhD in Education at Newnham College, University of Cambridge, UK. She has worked as an academic researcher at The Faculty of Education, University of Cambridge, and Research Manager for Camfed International, UK. She is well exposed to Africa’s educational landscape, having carried out research in nine African countries i.e. Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Nigeria, Tanzania, Uganda, South Africa, and Swaziland. In 2013, Utheri and her husband Kanayo quit their well-paying jobs in the UK to return to Kenya and established an NGO called Children in Freedom. They offered scholarships and mentorship to African children, encouraging them to love their African heritage, and use their talents to innovate solutions for their communities. In 2018, Utheri co-founded the first Afrocentric school in East Africa, Children In Freedom School (CIFS). In 2023, the school was ranked among the Top 10 best learning institutions worldwide by the T4 initiatives rankings. In June 2024, CIFS became an International Baccalaureate candidate school and changed its name to Freedom International School-Africa (FISA). Utheri is a member of council for the Open University of Kenya where she chairs the Academic, Research and Linkages committee. She is also The Special Africa Advisor for The Beacon Equity Trust, and a Metis fellow.