A Rotary partnership that endures

From humble beginnings in a corrugated iron shack to a thriving school of 320 students, Tender Foot Self Help School stands as a powerful testament to sustained Rotary partnerships transforming lives through education, dignity and opportunity.

In 1996, Tender Foot Self Help School began with eight street children in a corrugated iron shack and one determined teacher, Esther Wamai, who refused to look away.

Founded in Kangemi, Kenya, the school was established to provide safety, education and hope to children living in extreme hardship. It also offers counselling in family planning, health and hygiene, strengthening families as well as students.

Today, Tender Foot educates 320 students, many from highly vulnerable backgrounds. Around 110 require sponsorship assistance to remain in school.

Rotary’s involvement was instigated by the Rotary Club of Emerald and District, Vic, which recognised the potential for long-term impact. In 2003, the Student Sponsorship Program was accepted as a Rotary Australia World Community Service (RAWCS) project (1/2003-04). More than two decades later, it remains RAWCS’ longest continuously running sponsorship project, reflecting sustained Rotary commitment and international collaboration.

Rotarians from Emerald and District, Diamond Creek, Vic, and clubs in Canada and Kenya have worked together to expand the school’s facilities and strengthen its future.

Through the support of Rotary clubs, private donations, District Designated Funds, Rotary Foundation matching grants and a global grant, Rotarians have helped provide:

• Permanent classrooms and school furniture
• Two computer labs with internet access
• An ablution block, rainwater tanks and a new kitchen
• Ongoing student sponsorship, providing education and daily meals

Transport quickly became a critical issue. Many students faced unsafe walks to school, affecting attendance and safety. Rotary support enabled the purchase of a school bus to provide reliable daily transport. As enrolments grew, additional buses were secured, improving attendance and strengthening parental and guardian confidence.

Sustainability has also been a focus. Inspired by a presentation at a Rotary District Conference, sewing machines were purchased and local community members trained to manufacture school uniforms. The initiative now supplies uniforms to other schools in the area, building skills and generating income locally.

When inadequate sanitation facilities were identified as a barrier to girls’ attendance, Rotary supported the construction of a new ablution block, opened in 2021 by Past Rotary International President Wilf Wilkinson. The project restored dignity and improved retention, particularly for older girls.

Tender Foot reflects Rotary at its best: long-term partnership, community-led solutions and service beyond borders.

“Rotary didn’t just fund a project – it walked alongside a community for more than 20 years,” said Program Administrator Greg Adams, of the Rotary Club of Emerald and District.

For $295 per year, Australian Rotarians and supporters can sponsor a child through the RAWCS-registered program. Donations are tax deductible and directly support education, meals and opportunity.

From eight children in a shack to 320 students in structured classrooms, this is what sustained Rotary commitment can achieve.

For more information or to sponsor a student, visit tenderfootrotary.org.au