American Friends of Gatoto

Our Mission

American Friends of Gatoto (AFG) is a U.S.-based 501(c)3 established to raise funds to support the Gatoto Primary School and its community in the Mukuru kwa Reuben slum located on the outskirts of Nairobi, Kenya. Largely run by volunteers, the board covers our minimal overhead so that 100% of contributions raised can go directly to support the school.

The Gatoto Primary School is a pre-K thru 8 community school located in an "informal settlement" in an industrial area of Nairobi. As such, it receives no funding from the government and offers education to a community of kids who would otherwise not receive one. In the miles of urban sprawl consisting of wall-to-wall tin shacks, Gatoto is an oasis that gives kids space to run, play, and be safe. It provides access to food and sanitation, as well as a life-changing education.

Founded 25 years ago by community leaders, it provides a non-religiously affiliated education to more than 1,000 children equally divided between boys and girls. In addition, students receive two hot meals a day. This is often their only food and a strong reason for parents to keep their kids in school, resulting in an impressive 98% student retention rate. AFG's support helps fill the gap between the $12 annual tuition charged to parents and the $300 actual cost per student.

AFG also supports the surrounding community through Gatoto School's umbrella organization, the Gatoto Integrated Development Program (GIDP), a registered Kenyan charity. The school employs a social worker who supports families struggling with malnutrition, low wages, many health issues including HIV/AIDS, and other family problems. For high-achieving students whose test scores allow them to continue their education, GIDP offers financial grants to give access to secondary, college and even graduate-level education; a pathway otherwise almost impossible for a Mukuru child to achieve. It also offers alumni mentorship, and many alums return to the school to help teach while saving for future studies. In addition, AFG specifically supports other programs, capital projects, and emergency response funding in this high-performing, community-directed primary school.