Every September 5, the world marks International Day of Charity, a United Nations observance that recognizes the role generosity, volunteerism and collective action can play in addressing poverty and inequality. It is also an opportunity to think about what happens when giving does more than respond to an immediate need and instead creates opportunities that can shape a person’s future.
At Moja Tu, we see this possibility through education. For children growing up in families facing financial hardship, staying in school is not always guaranteed. School fees, uniforms, books and other essential learning needs can become barriers between a capable student and the education they need to pursue their ambitions.
Sponsors, donors, mentors, volunteers and partners are helping remove those barriers, giving young people the stability and support they need to remain in school and make the most of their education.
What Generosity Makes Possible
Today, 170 students are part of the Moja Tu program, including 69 secondary school and 101 university students. This year, nine students are graduating from high school and 13 from university. Behind each milestone are years of study and determination from the students themselves, supported by people who chose to invest in their education.
The results are encouraging. Moja Tu has achieved a 100% high school graduation rate and a 96% student retention rate, with 75% of students accepted to university. To date, the program has funded 2,741 school years, allowing students to continue learning when financial circumstances might otherwise have interrupted their education.
That opportunity is also reaching children beyond the students sponsored through the program. Since 2023, Moja Tu has established eight computer labs in rural primary schools serving underserved communities. Approximately 12,000 students now have access to technology and digital learning through these labs, giving children opportunities to develop skills that are increasingly important for further education and the world of work.
The results of this investment can also be seen in what happens after students leave school. To date, 74 Moja Tu alumni have pursued higher education. As they move into employment, entrepreneurship, and other opportunities, their education begins to influence not only their own lives but also the families and communities around them.
The numbers help us measure progress, but the real story is found in what they make possible: a student who can remain in class instead of worrying about unpaid fees, a child in a rural school learning to use a computer, a university student preparing for a career, and a graduate beginning to support themselves and others.
Giving With a Lasting Purpose
International Day of Charity reminds us that generosity can address today’s needs while creating possibilities for tomorrow. When a young person’s education is consistently supported, the benefits do not necessarily end with the payment of school fees or the completion of a degree. Knowledge, skills, and opportunities can continue to shape their choices for years to come.
At Moja Tu, scholarships, mentorship, digital literacy programs, and other forms of student support are designed around that longer view. They give young people access to opportunity while leaving them to do the important work of learning, growing and building their own futures.
This International Day of Charity, we celebrate the sponsors, donors, volunteers, mentors and partners who have chosen to be part of that work. Most importantly, we celebrate the students who continue to make the most of the opportunities placed before them.
Because sometimes generosity begins with meeting one need, but its influence can reach much further.