ChallengeAid

ChallengeAid Activating and empowering young people through exercise

ChallengeAid promotes health and fitness throughout the UK by motivating schools, universities, corporate groups and individuals to undertake physical Challenges. Through the money raised by sponsorship, ChallengeAid focuses on “Schools of Hope” in some of Africa’s most impoverished slums, such as Kibera, Nairobi.
“Schools of Hope” provide young people with safe educational and learning opportunit

ies that would normally be denied to them so that they can transform their lives and escape from a life time of poverty and disease.

♟️ Chess continues to be one of the most popular extracurricular activities across our Schools of Hope, with both boys a...
15/06/2026

♟️ Chess continues to be one of the most popular extracurricular activities across our Schools of Hope, with both boys and girls enthusiastically taking part at primary and secondary level.

These photos capture recent chess sessions around Mt. Kenya, where two Schools of Hope teams have proudly qualified to compete at County level. 🎉

With a chess board costing just £10, this is one of the most affordable ways to open up opportunities for young people. Chess helps develop concentration, problem-solving, memory and strategic thinking, and studies have shown that regular participation can have a positive impact on academic achievement.

Year after year, we see learners discovering the game for the first time, with some progressing all the way to national chess tournaments.

For 20 years, our Schools of Hope have been serving children and families in some of Nairobi’s most challenging informal...
02/06/2026

For 20 years, our Schools of Hope have been serving children and families in some of Nairobi’s most challenging informal settlements. Along the way, we’ve learned that safeguarding looks very different here than it does in many schools around the world.

While schools in the UK may commonly address issues such as bullying, online safety, and mental health concerns, our teams are often supporting young people facing challenges such as teenage pregnancy, domestic violence, substance abuse, and pressure to join gangs.

That’s why we are committed to staying connected with our learners through free, regular Girls’ Clubs and Boys’ Clubs. These sessions provide mentorship, guidance, and a safe space where young people can openly discuss topics that are often considered taboo and may not be addressed at home.

We are also committed to continually strengthening our safeguarding practices by providing our school mentors with annual safeguarding training, alongside monthly safeguarding sessions for the ChallengeAid Africa team. These ongoing opportunities help us reflect, learn, and constantly improve our safeguarding strategies to better support the children and young people in our care.

These photos are from recent sessions focused on teenage pregnancy awareness for the girls and gang pressure and violence prevention for the boys. The need for this support is significant—Kenya continues to face high rates of teenage pregnancy, with thousands of girls leaving school each year due to early pregnancy, while many young people in informal settlements are vulnerable to crime and gang recruitment.

Through education, mentorship, and open conversations, we aim to help our learners understand the value of staying in school and achieving their full potential.

BoysClub Mentorship

More from our Accelerated Learning Programme 📚✨These photos show a Strathmore University student volunteering with Grade...
02/06/2026

More from our Accelerated Learning Programme 📚✨

These photos show a Strathmore University student volunteering with Grade 9 learners at Mennonite School in one of Nairobi’s informal settlements.

Across many slum settlements in Sub-Saharan Africa, literacy remains a major challenge, with some communities reporting that fewer than half of young people achieve basic reading proficiency. Our Accelerated Learning Programme helps learners strengthen their literacy, confidence, and academic skills, creating better opportunities for the future.

A huge thank you to our university volunteers for their time, knowledge and dedication which helps to build brighter futures

We are proud to announce our new partnership with the Hushisha Initiative — a community-based organisation dedicated to ...
20/05/2026

We are proud to announce our new partnership with the Hushisha Initiative — a community-based organisation dedicated to empowering children and young people through education, mentorship, psychosocial support, life skills training, board-game learning, co-curricular activities, and talent development.

Research shows that students who receive mentorship and social-emotional support are significantly more likely to improve academically, develop confidence, and stay engaged in education. Creating safe and supportive learning environments is one of the most powerful ways to help young people thrive.

Through this partnership, we aim to:
- Improve academic performance
- Promote positive behaviour and leadership
- Support mental and social wellbeing
- Nurture creativity and talent
- Equip young people with practical life skills for a brighter future

We recently introduced the Hushisha Initiative to Valley Bridge Primary School, where the team met with the school administration and engaged with teachers through demonstrations of their educational board games. The teachers shared valuable feedback and expressed enthusiasm about the potential impact these interactive learning tools could have on learners.

This partnership marks an exciting step towards creating more inclusive, engaging, and supportive educational spaces for vulnerable children and young people in our communities.

Together, we can inspire learning, unlock potential, and shape brighter futures. 💙

Some lovely moments from last week as Michael from ChallengeAid Africa delivered a Basic Numeracy training session for a...
13/05/2026

Some lovely moments from last week as Michael from ChallengeAid Africa delivered a Basic Numeracy training session for all SOH supervisors.

The energy, engagement, and commitment shown throughout the session were incredible to see. Supervisors worked collaboratively to learn effective assessment methods, practiced numeracy activities together, and developed plans to roll out the programme across their respective schools.

Why does this matter? Because numeracy is one of the most powerful tools a child can have. Across sub-Saharan Africa, millions of children leave primary school without basic maths skills, limiting future opportunities in education, employment, and everyday life. Research shows that foundational numeracy dramatically increases a child’s chances of staying in school and improving long-term earning potential.

We are proud that more than 1,500 children living in some of the harshest slums in sub-Saharan Africa have already completed our learning programme — improving their literacy and numeracy by an entire grade level.

And this is only the beginning. By continuing to train teachers and school supervisors to deliver these programmes themselves, the impact and outreach become limitless. Sustainable education starts by empowering local educators with the tools and confidence to create lasting change within their own communities.

Thank you to everyone involved in making this possible. 💛

Some lovely moments from last week as ChallengeAid Africa successfully hosted the second edition of Arusha Got Talent! 🌟...
12/05/2026

Some lovely moments from last week as ChallengeAid Africa successfully hosted the second edition of Arusha Got Talent! 🌟

This year, 192 learners from various Schools of Hope came together to showcase their creativity, confidence, and talent across six exciting categories: Poetry, Traditional & Modern Dance, Art & Craft, Drama, and Mr. & Miss Arusha Got Talent 2026/27. 🎭🎨💃

The event was a huge success and a powerful reminder of how important creative platforms are for young people. Studies show that participation in the arts can improve confidence, communication skills, teamwork, and academic engagement — and we saw all of that on display throughout the day.

As only our second edition, we were especially proud to see such noticeable growth and improvement from last year, with learners showing even greater confidence, originality, and stage presence. Most importantly, the learners thoroughly enjoyed the experience, gaining valuable peer learning, exposure, and the opportunity to celebrate one another’s talents.

We are excited about the future of Arusha Got Talent and the even greater impact it can continue to have in the years ahead. 💛

Some moments from last week’s Girls’ Club session in Maparasha, Kajiado, with girls attending the School of Hope. 💛The s...
06/05/2026

Some moments from last week’s Girls’ Club session in Maparasha, Kajiado, with girls attending the School of Hope. 💛

The session focused on educating the girls about teenage pregnancy, HIV, and STIs, helping equip them with the knowledge and practical strategies needed to make informed and responsible decisions about their health and future.

In Kajiado County, teenage pregnancy remains a significant challenge, with around 1 in 5 girls aged 15–19 having already begun childbearing. HIV prevalence among girls and women in the county is estimated at around 6–7%, nearly twice as high as among men. Across Kenya, young women aged 15–24 account for almost 3 in every 4 new HIV infections among adolescents and young people, highlighting the importance of education, awareness, and access to support for adolescent girls.

38 girls attended the session, and each received sanitary towels to help support their health, dignity, and school attendance.

When girls are educated and empowered, they are better equipped to stay in school, protect their well-being, and pursue their dreams. ✨

Thank you as always to who’s fundraising in the UK supports the Maparasha School of Hope 👏

EndTeenagePregnancy

Some powerful moments from this weekend as ChallengeAid Africa delivered Boys Club sessions focused on drug and substanc...
29/04/2026

Some powerful moments from this weekend as ChallengeAid Africa delivered Boys Club sessions focused on drug and substance abuse—and the real impact it’s having on young lives and education.

In informal settlements across sub-Saharan Africa, the challenges facing boys are significant. Studies suggest that in some communities, up to 30–50% of adolescent boys have been exposed to drugs or substance use, while youth involvement in crime and violence can affect as many as 1 in 3 boys in high-risk areas. These realities don’t just shape behaviour—they disrupt education, limit opportunities, and impact futures.

That’s why these conversations matter.

Our sessions were honest, engaging, and incredibly well received. Creating a safe space for boys to talk, reflect, and challenge these issues is a crucial step toward change.

We’re hopeful that these discussions will lead to more positive choices and improved academic focus among our SOH learners—especially the boys, where this has been a persistent challenge.

👉 Swipe to see moments from our Bissil SOH Boys Club in Kajiado, where 23 boys came together for a team-building session focused on raising awareness about the effects of drug and substance abuse.

Some special moments from last week, when Team ChallengeAid Africa joined the community at Maparasha in Kajiado for a vi...
27/04/2026

Some special moments from last week, when Team ChallengeAid Africa joined the community at Maparasha in Kajiado for a vibrant food festival.

In Kajiado, many families face ongoing challenges with food access, and poverty remains a daily reality for a large part of the population—with over 40% of people living below the poverty line. Communities have traditionally relied on staples like milk, meat, and ugali, which are central to culture and way of life, but food availability can vary depending on conditions.

This festival was all about celebrating food while introducing a wider variety of options—bringing people together to share ideas, learn, and explore different ingredients that can be grown and prepared locally.

ChallengeAid Africa is always looking for ways to support communities in building more sustainable food sources. One example is the development of vegetable gardens, helping communities grow their own produce and create more reliable access to food throughout the year.

From informal settlements to national competition — this is what opportunity, focus, and determination can do.This year,...
20/04/2026

From informal settlements to national competition — this is what opportunity, focus, and determination can do.

This year, we proudly fielded 9 young players at the national chess championships — and every single one scored at least 5.5 out of 8.
Three players achieved 6/8, two reached an impressive 6.5/8, and the rest finished strong with 5.5/8.

Chess is more than a game for these children. It builds confidence, sharpens critical thinking, and creates pathways that might otherwise feel out of reach.

One standout is Dennis, our Under-12 representative, who delivered an exceptional 7/8 at nationals. He progressed to the playoffs at Mang’u High School, where he competed in 11 tough matches, securing 5 wins and finishing 21st out of 33 players in a highly competitive field. While he narrowly missed out on advancing — with only the top three selected for international sponsorship — his performance was a powerful reflection of his growth and potential.

Talent is everywhere — opportunity is not. And this is what happens when the two finally meet.

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