“We are too poor to afford an education, but unless we have an education we will always be poor”
Those words explain why the Red Rubber Ball Foundation exists – to provide opportunities for young people across Africa, but primarily in Kenya, to get a full education.
We believe that ‘anything is possible … if you put your mind to it’.
Through these four main projects and the support of individuals, families, companies and schools in the UK and beyond, children get that chance to escape poverty once and for all.
Our sponsors have given nearly 150 bright young people the chance to complete their education and reach their full potential.
The only school in Kenya with its own cycling club, provides an opportunity for children in Kibera to have fun, learn skills and build confidence.
Our students are matched with business leaders who become their mentor and help them pursue their ambitions.
Villagers learn farming skills and are given plants and seeds to improve their own crops, and obtain clean, fresh water from our bore hole.
The Red Rubber Ball Foundation was set up by Neil Kirby – here he explains why we do what we do. Our efforts are all voluntary – Neil gives 5% of his business income to the Foundation + an even greater % of his time.
This means that all fundraising, governance and admin costs are fully covered.
So we can guarantee that every penny donated goes 100% to these projects.
The Red Rubber Ball Foundation is an independent charity, with no political, tribal or religious allegiance. We have supported boys and girls from all backgrounds in 20 of the 47 counties of Kenya. Our only criteria is that they need our help.
Latest news
What school closures mean for our scholarships
When the first reported case of COVID-19 in Kenya occurred on 13th March 2020, the government acted quickly to impose restrictions on movement with a night-time curfew and a ban on travel in or out of Nairobi and Mombasa. They immediately closed schools which meant...
Arnold’s Story
Arnold wants to be an architect. He is a lovely boy; very bright, with plenty to say for himself. Arnold comes from a single parent family and would have finished his education at primary school if we hadn’t been able to find him a sponsor. He writes, “thank you...
Living under COVID restrictions – our students’ stories
The letters we receive from children we are sponsoring through school give us an insight into their life under lockdown in some of the poorest communities in Kenya. When the first case of the Coronavirus was detected in Kenya on 13th March 2020, the government...