Sometimes the most meaningful journeys begin with a simple request from an old friend. That’s exactly how The Thika Alumni Trust started – with a visit to a former school and a principal’s hopeful ask for help.
A School Reunion That Changed Everything
In 2015, during a holiday visit to Kenya, one of the founders stopped by his former High School in Thika – the same school where he and six other friends had studied back in the 1960s. The principal had a request: could they help set up a 50-desk computer learning center for the students?
There was skepticism at first. With internet speeds barely crawling at 100 kbps, would a traditional computer lab really make a difference? But after returning to the UK and discussing the idea with those same school friends, a plan began to take shape. Instead of relying on poor internet connections, why not create a self-contained digital learning environment that could work offline?
From Idea to Impact
What started as helping one school has grown into something remarkable. The Thika Alumni Trust, officially registered as a UK charity in 2018, is run by those seven former classmates who now serve as trustees. Their approach is straightforward: raise money through events like golf days and charity functions, then spend every penny directly on schools in Kenya.
And by every penny, we mean every penny. The trustees cover all their own travel, accommodation, and administrative costs out of their own pockets, ensuring that 100% of donations go straight to the schools that need them most.
Three Ways the Thika Alumni Trust is Making a Difference
Three Ways the Thika Alumni Trust is Making a DifferenceThe Trust’s work in Kenya takes three main forms, each tailored to what schools actually need:
Full Computer Centers for High Schools When schools have no computers at all, they create complete learning centers with 50 desktop computers, monitors, and keyboards – all brand new, energy-efficient equipment. Smaller staff rooms with 4 computers so teachers can prepare lessons and get comfortable with the technology are also equipped.
Supporting Primary Schools with Government Tablets Many primary schools (now called Comprehensive Schools) receive tablets from the government, but often not enough for all students. The Trusts adds more tablets or notebooks to reach the magic number of 50 devices, making sure every child gets hands-on learning time.
Special Needs Education Perhaps the most meaningful work is with children who have special educational needs. Smaller 10-computer centers with specially designed keyboards are set up with larger, color-coded keys. These spaces are carefully curated with educational content, children’s books, videos, and phonics programs.
The Numbers That Matter
Today, The Thika Alumni Trust has transformed learning in 61 schools across Kenya, from the coast all the way to the western regions. Impact reaches over 70,000 children who now have access to computers and digital learning opportunities they never had before.
164 micro servers run across these schools – quite possibly one of the largest networks of its kind in the world. Each server is packed with educational content, including textbooks, reference materials, and interactive learning tools, all accessible without needing an internet connection. Each of them using Kiwix content.
Does this make a difference? Of course it does. In all the primary schools where the Trust has worked, national exam results have improved by 8 to 12%. In special needs units where absence can be as high as 50%, attendance now exceeds 90%.
“All our children have benefited enormously from the use of Digital Libraries. We have children, some who had refused to attend classes but now attend faithfully, some who couldn’t read or write but do so much and so well on computer. Absenteeism has dropped remarkably.”
Mary Mungai – Headteacher Waguthu Primary School (Special Needs Unit)
The Human Touch
What makes the Trust’s work special isn’t just the technology – it’s the people. Working with a small but dedicated team of four volunteer teachers in Kenya who help understand what schools really need and support installations. These teachers aren’t paid; their schools simply release them to help because they believe in what they’re doing and the impact it has on their pupils.
Every year, the trustees travel to Kenya personally to implement new projects. It’s hands-on work that builds real relationships with the schools and communities.
Looking Ahead
The Thika Alumni Trust’s goal is modest but ambitious: raise £50,000 each year (boosted to £62,500 thanks to the UK’s Gift Aid scheme) and spend it all on schools the following year. In 2026, the focus will be on schools that serve children with physical disabilities and visual impairments – communities that are often overlooked but where technology can make an enormous difference.
Why It Matters
In a world where digital literacy is increasingly essential, thousands of Kenyan children were being left behind simply because they lacked access to computers and digital learning resources. The Thika Alumni Trust is changing that, one school at a time.
What started as seven friends wanting to help their old school has become a lifeline for communities across Kenya. It’s proof that sometimes the biggest changes come from the simplest acts of friendship and generosity.
To learn more about The Thika Alumni Trust or to support their work, visit www.thethikaalumnitrust.org