Friends of Kenya
We support educational and health institutions
About us
We are a non-profit organization from Gütersloh in Germany, who support schools and health facilities in the Kwale district of southeast Kenya.
Our members come from a variety of backgrounds, including education, IT and medicine who all work for free on the projects.
All costs for advertising, travel and transport are privately funded.
100% of every donation made goes to the organisation’s projects.
Our Projects
Food Program
It is hard to learn when you’re hungry.
We fund school meals at the Muungano Primary School.
Secondary School Scholarship
We fund the school fees for 4 years of secondary school for the best Muungano school leavers
This is a school for children with disabilities in Mombasa. It is the only school of its kind within 1000 km.
We support this school by providing water tanks to collect rainwater.
Primary Schools
We support 3 primary schools in the Kwale district with non-monetary donations, especially school books and sports equipment.
Supporting Girls in School
Many girls miss school regularly because they cannot afford basic sanitary products.
We would like to provide the girls with high-quality, washable, reusable sanitary pads.
Kwale Eye Centre
The Kwale Eye Center, funded via donations, provides eye operations and prescription glasses for people who cannot afford these treatments themselves.
We collect and recycle old glasses frames.
Pictures from our Projects
Friends of Kenya – How and Why we started
The idea to found this association came about after a trip to Kenya in 2010.
Only 80km west of the famous beaches with their all-inclusive hotels, people live without electricity or running water, mostly in simple mud huts. There, in the Kwale district, people live from what they grow in their own fields. Hunger and thirst are not yet a problem in this region of Kenya, but education is.
There are state primary schools in almost all villages, but the resources provided by the state are either insufficient or never actually arrive in schools. Schools lack teachers, teaching and sports materials.
Although there is compulsory schooling up to the 8th grade, however, the children often have to work in the fields and are not allowed to go to school.
Secondary school education must be paid for by the family, and there is a state scholarship available for only a few very good students.
The aim of our association is to promote education in this region of Kenya opening up better opportunities for the young people.
We have been able to do this as a non-profit organization since 2012!
Our Team:
Frank Michaelis
Founder and Chairman
Acting Head of the University Computer Center at Bielefeld University with a passion for technology and humanitarian work. After initial private local involvement, Frank founded Sahibu Kenya – Freunde Kenias e.V. in 2012 to support schools in underdeveloped communities in Kenia.
Said Shee
Local Partner
Director of Muungano Primary School. Together with teachers, parent representatives and village leaders, Mr. Shee constantly strives to improve the educational opportunities of pupils in Kwale District.
Zaina Maryaka
Local Partner
Teacher at the Muungano Primary School. By training as a primary school teacher, Zaina Maryaka has fulfilled her childhood dream. She creates a supportive learning environment that encourages girls in particular to realize their potential and be successful.
Beate Möbius
Team Member
Public service employee. Beate is there every year when it comes to bringing the donations of money and goods in Kenya directly to our projects. The children’s beaming eyes when she puts Lego bricks together with them are the best part of these trips for Beate.
Jutta Michas
Second Chairwoman and Founding member
As a trained travel agent, Jutta is embracing an open world. From her work at parents‘ council in schools, she knows what a positive contribution voluntary work can make for children. What is particularly important to her about our projects is the knowledge that every cent, every toy and, above all, every sponsorship goes directly to the children in Kenya.
Michalis Michas
Treasurer and Founding member
Michail is Technology Innovation Principal Director at Accenture. He is passionate about giving everyone the chance to develop. For Michail, helping children in Kenya to realize their potential is a gift that represents a small contribution to a better world.
Dr. med. Ursel Elmendorf
Team Member
Passionate emergency physician at Bielefeld Hospital. In addition to her long-standing passive-supporting membership of Médecins Sans Frontières, the personal connection to the people in our projects is very important to her. Ursel uses her private and professional network to gain further donations, sponsors and supporters.