Bridging the Gap: NABU, HP, and Girl Rising Bring Educational Resources to Kenya's Marginalized Communities

NABU, in collaboration with HP and Girl Rising, recently launched a book distribution initiative aimed at bridging the educational accessibility gap for children in Kenya’s peri-urban and rural regions. The primary goal of this initiative is to address the lack of quality educational resources for children in Kenya’s marginalized communities. While digital technology is becoming more widespread, many children still struggle to access educational content. By distributing books, NABU and its partners are working to ensure that these children are not left behind.

The book distributed, titled A Dance of Courage, was co-created by Girl Rising and NABU to promote gender equality. The story resonates with the experiences of young readers, reinforcing important lessons on gender responsiveness and empowerment. This contribution aligns with Girl Rising’s commitment to using education as a tool for social change. HP brought this vision to life by enabling the production and distribution of these books to communities where they are needed most, ensuring that the initiative reached its intended audience across Kenya.

The distribution initiative targeted Nairobi’s informal settlements, as well as peri-urban and rural areas in the counties of Narok, Kajiado, Laikipia, and Samburu.

A total of 2,500 books were distributed through this initiative. The distribution was conducted in partnership with local organizations such as Big Picture Learning, Teach For Kenya, and Sunflower Trust, all of which are deeply embedded within these communities. These partners leveraged their established community connections. Their involvement was key to the initiative’s success, highlighting the importance of collaboration in achieving educational goals.

“It has been inspiring to see the positive impact these books have on children who otherwise have limited access to educational resources. This distribution effort is a step toward ensuring that every child in Kenya, regardless of their background, can access quality learning materials and improve their literacy skills," said Beryl Oywer, NABU Country Manager, Kenya.

NABU and its partners have also established a follow-up plan to monitor the initiative’s progress. A short-term report will be collected from partner organizations within 1-3 months to assess the initial impact. A year-end report will provide a more comprehensive evaluation, including the number of children who accessed the books and the educational benefits observed.