The bioMérieux Endowment Fund supports the nonprofit Les Enfants de Mathare in its mission to provide children living in the Mathare slum in Kenya with lasting access to quality education.

Mathare, located on just 3.5 km², is home to over 850,000 people living in extremely precarious conditions: substandard housing, overcrowding, limited access to clean water, electricity, and sanitation. Incomes are very low, often less than €2 per day. Although public primary education is theoretically free, additional costs (uniforms, supplies, miscellaneous fees) remain unaffordable for many families, depriving thousands of children of their right to education.

In 2023, the Endowment Fund began supporting the Roots Institute Centre.
Founded by former street children from Mathare, Roots Institute Centre works to break the cycle of poverty through education. The organization runs a community school that provides the most vulnerable children with access to learning, nutritious meals, and a safe environment. Its holistic approach includes academic instruction, extracurricular activities, psychosocial support, and family assistance. Roots Institute Centre collaborates closely with parents, community leaders, and local authorities to ensure the impact and sustainability of its initiatives.

A strong partnership with Les Enfants de Mathare
The French nonprofit Les Enfants de Mathare provides financial support to Roots Institute Centre’s projects. Initially, the project supported by the bioMérieux Endowment Fund included:

• a school meal program for 400 children,
• classroom renovations,
• training for teachers and parents on child protection and violence prevention,
• improved hygiene and safety measures.

In 2024, severe flooding damaged part of the school located near the river. Funds had to be reallocated to maintain the meal program and continue urgent classroom repairs.

Objective of the new project supported in 2025

To provide vulnerable children in Mathare with access to quality early childhood and primary education in a safe, inclusive, and stimulating environment through the construction of a new school building.

Main Activities

1. Construction and Facilities

• Building a permanent structure with 12 classrooms, sanitary facilities, a functional kitchen, a space for extracurricular activities, and a rooftop playground.
• Installing age-appropriate educational furniture in each classroom.

2. Educational Strengthening

• Training teachers in play-based learning, inclusion, and child protection.
• Distributing educational materials and books to encourage interactive and creative learning.

3. Nutrition and Hygiene

• Expanding and improving the school meal program with the new kitchen.
• Raising awareness and installing infrastructure for hygiene and sanitation.

Thanks to this project, children in Mathare will benefit from a safe and nurturing learning environment, improving their daily well-being and that of their families and community.