Established in 2015, The Soma Leo Foundation is a manifestation of the commitment by Pound Gates to support education and community development in Kenya. We focus our efforts on Nyiera, a remote area in Western Kenya, where opportunities for quality education are scarce. Our main project, The Soma Leo Academy, is complemented by support to nearby schools in Osieko.
The Foundation was the natural progression of charity work undertaken by our staff, who in 2013 supported the Kenyan School Fund. The Fund was running a school in Mombasa and planned to build a new school in Nyiera. We organised two events to raise funds for the new school, and the building commenced in November 2014. The Soma Leo Foundation was then established, taking over the responsibility of raising the funds needed to establish the school, invest in further phases of development, and meet its ongoing running costs.
The Soma Leo Academy, founded with the spirit of community involvement, is managed with the participation of local elders who help select pupils and make key decisions. This ensures the school directly addresses the needs of Nyiera’s most deprived children. The school, receives no government funding, relies on the Foundation’s support for maintenance, teacher salaries, IT resources and student nourishment.
Despite increased government investment, Kenya’s education system faces significant challenges, particularly in rural areas. Over one million children remain uneducated, and many who attend primary school do not advance further, often leaving without basic literacy. Rural schools, when available, may charge fees, are typically overcrowded and lack basic educational resources. Classrooms such as one visited by Trustees housed 100 pupils in just 32 square metres. Additionally, many schools do not provide meals and access to clean drinking water can be arduous.
To find out more about The Soma Leo Foundation, read our news stories, or visit our dedicated Soma Leo website.
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