What A Year It Has Been: It’s A Wrap 2024!

1. Second Enabling Leadership League

Pupils from Bridge Kwa Reuben, Kingston, and Sinai had the exciting opportunity to participate in the second Enabling Leadership Play League in Kenya. Enabling Leadership (EL) is dedicated to empowering children from underserved backgrounds with crucial life and leadership skills, enabling them to break free from the cycle of poverty and evolve into productive, responsible adults.?

The EL Play curriculum leverages the power of football to teach students how to set and achieve goals, make sound decisions, collaborate effectively as team members, and ultimately, take responsibility for themselves and their communities. With a strong emphasis on gender empowerment, the program ensures an inclusive and supportive environment.

2. National music festivals

Bridge pupils from Bridge Mahoo took a momentous step onto the stage at the National Levels, held at Moi Girls High School in Uasin Gishu County. They presented their two poems with passion and skill, achieving impressive scores of 82% and 84%.?

Bridge Ugunja was also at the National Music Festivals. After securing 11th place last year, they climbed to a remarkable 6th place this year.

3. Sports Activities

The netball team from Bridge Kinoo in Kiambu County made it to the National levels in Kakamega County. They managed to secure 3rd runners- up after a heated competition and were awarded a trophy.

Bridge Checheles all the way from Isiolo County also made it to the National Scout Competitions at Rowallan Scout Headquarters in Nairobi County.

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4. 2024 National Read-Aloud Challenge

Bridge schools across every county joined The National Read-Aloud 2024 in an attempt to break the World Record for the most people reading aloud from the same text at the same time across multiple locations!

?Our young readers from all over Kenya united their voices to champion the power of reading and amplify the powerful voices of African children in the fight against climate change.

5. Second Alumni Homecoming Event?

We held the second annual Alumni Homecoming Event at Bridge Uthiru. The occasion brought together graduates, pupils, parents, and invaluable supporters for a day filled with celebration, connection, and reflection.

The homecoming was not only a reunion but a powerful reminder of how far our alumni have come. Hearing their personal stories of growth and success filled us with pride and reaffirmed the positive impact Bridge continues to have on the lives of our graduates.?

6. Kounkuey Design Initiative (KDI)

The team from Kounkuey Design Initiative visited one of our community schools - Bridge Kwa Reuben in Nairobi County for a monitoring visit.?

KDI works with underserved communities to create productive public spaces and integrate innovative solutions to address issues of inequity.?

They focus on nature-based solutions and community-led initiatives for sustainability and equity.? During the visit, the team evaluated the success, sustainability, and areas of enhancement and opportunities for expansion of the initiative. The team spent the day with the community and had the opportunity to listen to their stories and understand the impact the initiative has had on them.?

This visit was an opportunity to assess how these spaces continue to enhance the learning experience for our pupils. The safe and nurturing environments fostered by this partnership help Bridge provide not just quality education, but also a holistic approach to child development. Spaces where children can play, grow, and thrive are essential in preparing them for future success.

7. World CIO 200 Summit 2024

Bridge schools across every county joined The National Read-Aloud 2024 in an attempt to break the World Record for the most people reading aloud from the same text at the same time across multiple locations!

?Our young readers from all over Kenya united their voices to champion the power of reading and amplify the powerful voices of African children in the fight against climate change

This philosophy aligns perfectly with our mission of leveraging technology to transform education for underserved communities. We leverage innovative, tech-enabled teaching tools to enhance educational outcomes. Every teacher is equipped with a tablet that provides access to downloadable teaching guides, allowing them to plan and deliver lessons more effectively throughout the week. By streamlining classroom operations with cutting-edge technology, we're shaping a brighter and more inclusive future for education.

8. County Government of Busia

We held discussions with the County Government of Busia centres on digital learning and the development of a Digital Policy for their ECDE centers. Our technology - based learning ecosystem delivers exceptional learning gains for pupils in a short period of time.??

A report by 2019 Nobel Prize winner, Professor Michael Kremer, Bridge International Academies methods of learning produce better and more equitable academic outcomes across all grades. Shaping a better future for our children starts with a solid learning foundation.

9. Big Dream Pwani Edition

Our pupils from Bridge community schools Watamu, Kisumu Ndogo and Takaye in Kilifi County were thrilled to participate in the annual Big Dream Pwani Edition in Malindi, held at the iconic Malindi Museum Heritage Complex. This annual event, powered by The Big Dream, National Museums of Kenya, and King’s Media, brings together schools from across the coastal region to celebrate our rich cultural heritage.

10. KEPSA quarterly Gender Champions Meeting

We had the opportunity to participate in the KEPSA quarterly Gender Champions Meeting. The forum was aimed at advancing gender equality through advocacy, policy development, capacity building and collaboration.

The conversations were riveting, focusing on achievements, strengthening gender mainstreaming across sectors, gender responsive initiatives and? re-positioning gender diversity as a strategic area for organisations.

At Bridge, we have a progressive approach that maintains a strong stance towards gender equality and social inclusion - 50% of our female, women are given equal opportunities in the hiring process. The same is reflected in leadership where 50% of the positions are held by women.

11. International Day of the Girl Child

On International Day of the Girl Child, we hosted an amazing group of Grade 6 pupils from some of our Bridge Schools at our Bridge Main Office – Tulip House.? With this year’s theme, “Girls' Vision for the Future,” the day was all about mentoring these young girls to dream big. They spent time with incredible women leaders from our team, including Beatrice Waweru, People’s Director, Rebecca Ochola, Operations Director, Veronica Kimani, Academics Director, and many others.?

The girls also got to meet our Managing Director, Griffin Asigo, who shared his journey and gave them a closer look at what it means to be a strong, effective leader.?

12. Zoho Partnership

Zoho, a global leader in software development and cloud-based business tools, has partnered with us to enhance education for underserved communities in Kenya, Nigeria, and Uganda.?

The partnership was revealed at the Zoholics Lagos Press Conference, the company’s annual user conference. The collaboration with Zoho is aimed at further supporting Bridge’s mission of reaching more students and improving educational outcomes across Africa with the help of its customized solutions specifically tailored for educational institutions.

As we step into 2025, we do so with gratitude, excitement and a renewed commitment in making education more accessible and empowering for children in underserved communities. Your impact is immeasurable, and we are truly grateful for your commitment to our mission. Looking ahead, we are excited to continue collaborating with you to expand the reach and impact of our program.

Wishing you a new year filled with success and fulfillment.?