The journey to a transformative WASH system for school children
Our Story
The Grace Foundation Trust was founded in 2017 with a desire to give children a safe and dignified learning environment. Our journey started at a grassroots level, drawing on our own experiences of facing unsafe, unhygienic pit latrines during childhood.
The Harsh Reality
The trauma of these conditions remains vivid—walking barefoot to latrines infested with maggots, overflowing with waste, and filled with unbearable odors. For many children, especially during illness or menstruation, the only option was to skip class to avoid the risk of infection.
The Crisis Continues
Tragically, little has changed in many schools today. Children are still expected to learn in environments that endanger their health, compromise their dignity, and rob them of the opportunity to thrive.
Our Response
Under the leadership of Grace Karanja, our mission is to break this cycle of WASH neglect and transform school environments into places where children feel safe, valued, and empowered. As a faith-based organisation, we are guided by Christian values that shape our work and inspire us to walk alongside communities as true partners and ambasadors in transformation.
Building Partnerships for Impact
Our commitment to protecting the environment and empowering communities has touched the hearts of county governments and local leaders who stand with us. Their trust and collaboration strengthen our resolve to keep making a meaningful difference because every child deserves more than just access to education. They deserve a safe place to learn, dream and flourish.
“I still remember the fear of using a broken pit latrine as a child, made worse by walking barefoot on filthy ground, surrounded by maggots and unbearable smells. Sometimes, we skipped class entirely—just to avoid going to the toilet"
Our Vision
We envision a future in which schools are safe havens for learning, in which children, regardless of their background, can pursue their education and thrive.
Our Mission
Our mission is to facilitate transformative change by engaging children as WASH ambassadors to raise societal standards and maintain a culture of health and cleanliness in the future.
Core Values
Compassion
Inspired by the love of Christ, we respond to the needs of children by serving, caring, and standing with them in their struggles to bring healing, dignity, and hope.
Empowerment
Our focus is on empowerment, equipping children and communities with the tools and resources they need to thrive in school and break free from systemic poverty.
Integrity
Integrity is the cornerstone of our organization, ensuring transparency, accountability, and ethical practices in all our initiatives and interactions.
Our Approach
Holistic Support
Rather than focusing on one aspect of WASH, we look at all the interrelated areas that affect the well-being of vulnerable children in a community. Our support includes education, safety and health resources to ensure that each child’s needs are met for their overall development.
Community Empowerment
By involving local schools and communities, government agencies and NGOs, we create sustainable solutions to ensure that our interventions are culturally sensitive, environmentally sustainable, and financially feasible.
Environmental Commitment
Solar energy helps rural schools in remote regions to access safe drinking water from boreholes and improve quality of learning. We also manage wastewater to protect groundwater, essential for maintaining safe drinking water sources in such schools.