Children’s Program - Mercy Steps Program

Children's program

Children's Cause

Children’s Cause

The heart of the children’s program is built on compassion shaped by experience. Mercy’s commitment to children’s welfare is both personal and deeply rooted in her life experience. She grew up in a village in Kirinyaga County, Kenya. While she had a positive childhood, not all of her friends shared the same opportunities. This is the foundation of the action, guiding the development of programs that aim not only to meet immediate needs but also to restore dignity, opportunity, and hope to children who might otherwise be left behind.

Many children grow up with limited access to basic resources. This can create a deep understanding of how well support would serve various communities. Childhood experiences shape the future because childhood truly lasts a lifetime. This realization inspired the founding of the Mercy Steps Program, and through this lens, the children’s initiative naturally became part of it.

Computers

By providing computers to rural schools, we are opening doors to the digital world. This initiative equips children with essential IT skills and exposes them to global opportunities.

Access to technology enables children to:

Develop digital literacy
Explore future careers in IT and entrepreneurship
Connect with opportunities beyond their immediate environment

We are planting seeds for future innovators who can thrive in a global and digital economy.

English Books

Books are powerful tools for transformation. By providing English books and curriculum materials, we help expand children’s knowledge, imagination, and perspective on life.

Reading:

Strengthens literacy and academic performance
Encourages creativity and critical thinking
Inspires children to dream beyond their circumstances

A single book can change a child’s outlook and their future.

School Tour

School visits to rural communities offer meaningful, life-changing experiences for both visitors and children. These interactions create opportunities for cultural exchange, mutual learning, and shared understanding.

Children benefit from:

Gaining exposure to different cultures and perspectives
Building confidence through open interaction
Developing social and interpersonal skills

Visitors also gain a deeper understanding of the realities and challenges faced by rural schools and communities in Kenya. These experiences often foster a strong sense of humility, gratitude, and reflection, as visitors witness both the children’s resilience and the everyday conditions in which they learn and grow.

Increased creativity and Interpersonal advantages, among others. The children have a chance to ask the visitors open questions and gain clarity on myths about the outside world.

If you`re looking for a tour of the countryside schools, you’ll love the MSP-led experience. This will give you an opportunity to gain unique insight into the diverse challenges facing Kenya’s rural schools. School visitors have the opportunity to see the local community’s cultural practices up close.

Stationary

We support children with essential school materials to ensure they can participate fully in their education. Instead of charging for school visits, we encourage visitors to contribute through donations.

These donations help provide:

Exercise books, pens, and pencils,creons painting brushes,paint,paper
School bags (rucksacks)
Lunch and P.E bags
Sports articles
Basic classroom supplies

Access to these essentials removes barriers to learning and allows children to focus on their education.

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School Fees

The school fees program began in the year 2000 as a family compassion initiative and was officially integrated into the Mercy Steps Program in 2014. It remains one of the most impactful and meaningful parts of our work.

This program has enabled many children to access:

Primary education
Secondary education
College and university opportunities

For many, this support makes the difference between missing out on education and achieving their full potential.

School Uniform

School uniforms play a key role in promoting equality within the Kenyan education system, which is fully celebrated. They help create a sense of belonging by ensuring that all children, regardless of background, appear equal.

Uniforms:

Reduce bullying and peer pressure
Remove the burden of expensive clothing choices
Allow children to focus on learning

However, many disadvantaged families struggle to afford complete uniforms, which typically include shirts, shorts or skirts, pullovers, socks, shoes, and school bags. Supporting this need helps children attend school with dignity and confidence.

Sanitary Pads

With deep compassion for the challenges many girls face, we recognize that menstrual health remains a significant barrier to education. Teenage girls often experience stigma in both girls-only and mixed schools during their periods, especially when they lack access to sanitary products.

For many, this becomes one of the most difficult parts of school life. The inability to afford sanitary towels can lead to embarrassment and fear of humiliation, causing some girls to miss school during their menstrual cycles.

Sanitary products are essential, yet not always accessible. Through our program, we provide support to ensure that girls can attend school with dignity, confidence, and continuity in their education.