Sponsored book drives
Fund printing and distribution to underserved schools.
The Sustainable Learning Initiative
Ajuma Foundation
Ensuring every child has the basic learning tools they need to stay in school, learn with confidence and build a better future.
01
The reality on the ground
Across Kenya's pastoralist and semi-pastoralist communities, many children face significant barriers to education.
For some, the challenge begins with something as simple as access to an exercise book and a pen.
The Ajuma Foundation Sustainable Learning Initiative exists to remove this barrier and help children remain engaged in learning.
02
How exclusion happens
Across many underserved communities, educational exclusion follows a predictable pattern.
- Families prioritise food, water and livelihoods over school supplies.
- Children arrive without exercise books or pens.
- Participation falls. Attendance becomes irregular. Learning falls behind.
03
The scale of need
Each figure represents 1 million children
15 million
Children aged 6–17 in Kenya
5.6–5.9 million
Children in ASAL and semi-pastoralist counties
3 million
Children in core pastoralist regions
2 million+
Children currently out of school
For many children, education breaks down not because they cannot learn, but because they lack the most basic tools required to remain in class.
04
It starts with a book
An exercise book is not symbolic. It is the minimum requirement for classroom participation.
Without an exercise book and a pen:
- A child cannot write
- A child cannot follow lessons
- A child cannot demonstrate learning
With them, participation begins immediately.
05
Delivery at scale
Delivering educational opportunity requires more than printing books.
Every distribution involves planning, logistics, transport, school coordination and community engagement.
Books are prepared, transported and distributed directly to schools across Kenya, ensuring they reach the children who need them most.
06
Impact so far
Every distribution is documented and verified at school level.
0+Exercise books delivered
0+Pupils reached
0Public primary schools
0Counties reached
This is not a pilot. It is an established delivery system.
The work, in pictures.
07
Continuity, not one-off delivery
Exercise books are consumed within a school year. Pens run out. Without replenishment, exclusion returns.
For this reason, the Initiative is designed around continuity, not one-off distribution.
The challenge is not only reaching children once. It is keeping learning going.
08
Building a sustainable model
Sell
Reinvest
Distribute
Alongside sponsored book drives, the Foundation has introduced a retail exercise-book programme.
Exercise books are produced and sold through selected retail outlets.
Profits generated from these sales are reinvested into future print runs and school distributions — supporting continuity between sponsorship cycles.
09
Printing our own future
The Ajuma Foundation is seeking funding for its own printing press.
1 press print runs
Today, our books are produced by printers who sell competing brands in the same outlets. Our own press would lower costs, improve competitiveness and build sustainable capacity year after year.
This is not an investment in one print run. It is an investment in every print run thereafter.
Donate now →
10
Why Ajuma leads this work
No child's future should be limited by the absence of basic learning materials.
Born in Turkana and raised by a single mother, Ajuma Nasanyana understands firsthand the transformative power of education.
Education opened doors that carried her from rural Kenya to international success. Today, she uses that platform to help other children access the same opportunity.
11
Partnership opportunities
Regional distribution
Support delivery within specific counties or regions.
Retail sustainability
Help grow the retail programme that funds future distributions.
Capital infrastructure
Strengthen long-term delivery capacity and sustainability.
Get involved
Tell us how you'd like to help.
