So They Can

We are a charitable organisation supporting communities to end poverty. Our key focus is education and building the local economy through micro finance and social business.

 

We work with communities, not for them, so they can become self sufficient.

 

We currently work alongside a community in Nakuru, Kenya, operating a primary school, an orphanage, a medical clinic, an educational farm and a business school that provides training and micro finance to women.

 

We aim to expand our model to other areas of the world where we believe we can also make a difference.

 

So They Can is a registered charity in New Zealand, Australia and Kenya.

 

The Community

Due to a national upset caused by the 2007 Kenyan elections, particular tribes were targeted in clashes and forced from their homes, villages and businesses resulting in 180 to 250 thousand displaced people and an estimated 5000 killed with many other wounded.

 

Thousands of families journeyed to the city of Nakuru and were placed in temporary camps by the government. In 2008 each family was given a small financial compensation to assist in rebuilding their lives. A particular group of around 900 families pulled together to stretch their money to buy 16 acres of land in the nearby area known as Pipeline.

 

This resulted in what is now known as the Pipeline IDP (Internally Displaced Persons) camp, where around 6000 inhabitants live in tents and other temporary structures donated by aid organisations four years ago.