In Kenya, only 24% of youth attend secondary school, at the age they are supposed to. From its establishment in 2004 SFH has focused primarily on its Scholarship Fund as its core programming. The Scholarship Fund identifies the most disadvantaged and vulnerable youth from around Kenya and affords them access to a formal education at the secondary school level or beyond. The program gives priority
to orphans and children made vulnerable (OVC) by HIV/AIDS, young women, youth living on the street and children with caregivers who are disabled. To date over 319 children have been sponsored and graduated from the secondary school or college level programs they were enrolled in by SFH. These are 319 young people who would otherwise not have had access to continuing their education. The program supports not only tuition fees but includes peripheral costs that could also pose a barrier to uninterrupted school attendance. This includes transportation costs, housing, food, medical care, stationaries, supplemental tutoring and personal hygiene products. The model of care tailored over the years in conjunction with the Scholarship Fund provides one-on-one follow-up and mentorship in line with a student-identified career path. The mentorship empowers them to take ownership over their vision and to pursue it knowing that their future is fully within their hands, and not subject to circumstances around them. SFH provides them with access to mentors, internships and volunteer opportunities and in some cases employment opportunities directly in line with their field of interest. Through the Arts for Life Program, SFH has worked with students to promote tolerance, leadership and self-expression skills through writing, photography, music and dramatic expression; all critical life skills to help our students excel and succeed in the world around them.