Founded in 2013, the East Africa Character Development Trust (EACDT) exists to transform the lives of disadvantaged children and young people across East Africa through Character Education.
With the support of the Kenyan Ministry of Education, EACDT currently works with 13 schools in Nairobi, reaching up to 5,600 children every week. Our mission is to equip every child with the character, confidence and life skills they need to thrive in school, within their communities and in the workplace.
Many of the children we work with come from some of Kenya’s most disadvantaged communities, where poverty, limited educational opportunities and high youth unemployment continue to present significant challenges. We believe that every child deserves the opportunity to realise their full potential, regardless of their background.
At the heart of our work is a structured Character Education curriculum inspired by the pioneering work of the renowned KIPP Foundation in the United States. While academic achievement is important, we believe that lasting success is built on strong character. Our programme intentionally develops the values, attitudes and behaviours that enable children to make wise choices, build positive relationships and become responsible citizens.
Through our programme, children develop eight core character traits: curiosity, enthusiasm, gratitude, integrity, optimism, perseverance, self-control and social intelligence. These traits equip them to become resilient, responsible and compassionate young people who are prepared to overcome challenges, lead with confidence and contribute positively to their families and communities.
Character development takes place through a variety of carefully planned learning experiences, including classroom-based character education lessons, one-to-one mentoring, guidance sessions, small-group discussions and experiential outdoor activities. Sport, particularly cricket, is then used as a practical tool to reinforce these character traits by providing real-life situations in which children can practise and apply what they have learned.
Cricket offers an exceptional environment for character development. It demands honesty, discipline, teamwork, respect, courage, concentration, strategic thinking and personal responsibility. Every player has a meaningful role, creating opportunities to develop leadership, resilience and integrity while learning to work with and support others. In this way, the cricket field becomes an extension of the classroom, where character lessons are brought to life.
At EACDT, character development is intentional. Every lesson, mentoring session and sporting activity is carefully designed to help children strengthen the qualities that will enable them to flourish throughout their lives—not only as students, but also as future parents, employees, entrepreneurs and leaders.
Our dedicated team of professionally trained Kenyan Character Education Tutors delivers sessions every school day, creating safe, inspiring and enjoyable environments where children can learn, grow and flourish. For many of the children we serve, our programme provides hope, belonging and the confidence to believe in a brighter future.
We are proud to be part of a growing global movement that recognises the importance of character alongside academic achievement. Around the world, educators increasingly acknowledge that qualities such as integrity, resilience, self-control and empathy are essential for young people to succeed in life. In East Africa, where many communities face significant social and economic challenges, character education has the power to transform not only individual lives but entire communities.
Our purpose at EACDT is to develop character, thereby empowering young people to lead lives of integrity, purpose, and positive impact.
“Education is what remains after one has forgotten what one has learned in school.”- Albert Einstein
EACDT believes that, while the specific lessons taught in school may fade over time, the lasting value of education lies in the knowledge, skills, habits, and ways of thinking that remain. Real education develops critical thinking, curiosity, creativity, problem-solving abilities, resilience, and the capacity to adapt to new situations. It teaches people how to analyze information, communicate effectively, work collaboratively, and make informed decisions throughout their lives. These enduring qualities continue to shape a person’s character and actions long after classroom lessons have been forgotten.