About Us
Building Brighter Futures Through Education in Kenya
The Jua Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping children in Dandora, Nairobi, Kenya access the education they deserve. We believe every child should have the opportunity to learn, grow, and build a future beyond poverty.
Through educational scholarships, essential resources and supplies and community support, we help children transition out of landfill work and into the classroom where they can thrive.
Our goal is simple: break the cycle of poverty through education.
ABOUT DANDORA
The Dandora dump site in Nairobi, Kenya, is a 30-acre landfill that serves as the city’s primary waste disposal area.
Despite being declared full in the mid-1990s, dumping persists, supporting a local economy where families rely on scavenging for survival. Every day, over 3,000 adults and children sort through hazardous waste in search of recyclable materials they can sell. Children often miss school or never have the opportunity to attend because their families cannot afford school fees, uniforms or supplies.
The Jua Foundation believes education is one of the most powerful ways to create lasting change. By removing the barriers that prevent children from attending school, we help create opportunities that can transform generations.
Our Story
The Jua Foundation began in 2024 after our co-founder, Soleil Sabalja, traveled to Nairobi, Kenya for an environmental project.
During her visit, she met Solomon and Joyce, two dedicated community leaders working alongside families living near the Dandora landfill. After witnessing the realities children faced each day, what began as a small effort to provide protective boots for waste pickers quickly grew into a larger mission.
It became clear that while immediate support was important, education offered the greatest opportunity for long-term change.
Soleil quickly began grassroots fundraising to provide school fees and the resources children need to leave landfill work behind and begin their education.
Today, The Jua Foundation continues to work to provide the children of the Dandora community access to education and create brighter futures.
Our Initiatives
& Impact
In addition to helping children transition from landfill work into the classroom, The Jua Foundation partners with a local community-based organization to provide our scholars with access to a safe children's center in Dandora, Nairobi. There, children have access to clean drinking water, sanitation facilities, and nutritious meals. Many also participate in gardening activities, enjoying vegetables they have grown and harvested themselves. The center offers a safe place to learn outside of school, play, and build community, giving children an alternative to spending time in the landfill.
12,000+
Meals served through our partnership with the local community center
What’s in a Name?
“Jua” means “sun” in Swahili — a symbol of the bright, hopeful future we envision for the children and families of Dandora.