The East Africa Character Development Trust(EACDT) was created in 2013.
The East Africa Character Development Trust (EACDT) was founded in 2013 by a group of individuals with deep personal and professional connections to East Africa, having been born, educated or worked in the region. All were members of the Kenya Kongonis Cricket Club (KKCC), a club based at the Nairobi Club with a long and distinguished history of developing young people through cricket.
The founders were inspired by KKCC’s remarkable youth development programmes. Beginning with its Colts Section in 1930 and later its Development Programme in the 1980s, the club produced hundreds of talented young cricketers, including an England international, a Kenyan national team captain and many other international players. More importantly, these programmes demonstrated that sport could be a powerful platform for developing discipline, resilience, leadership and other qualities that shape successful lives.
The founders were equally inspired by the achievements of the Chance to Shine programme in the United Kingdom, which highlighted the educational value of cricket in schools. However, they believed that sport alone was not enough. They recognised an opportunity to use sport as a practical tool for developing character and preparing young people for life beyond the classroom.
At the time, Kenya’s 8-4-4 education system placed overwhelming emphasis on academic examination performance. Subjects that promoted physical education, personal development and life skills received limited attention because they were not examinable. As a result, many learners progressed through school with little structured support in developing the values, attitudes and life skills needed to succeed in life, work and citizenship.
This gap inspired the creation of EACDT. The founders envisioned a programme in which Character Education would be the central focus, with sport serving as a practical environment in which children could practise and reinforce positive character traits. In June 2014, EACDT launched its pioneering Character Through Sport Programme, designed to intentionally develop character while using cricket to bring those lessons to life.
Today, Kenya’s transition to the Competency-Based Education (CBE) has created an exciting opportunity to strengthen this work even further. Unlike the former 8-4-4 system, CBC places significant emphasis on values, competencies and life skills alongside academic achievement. The introduction of Physical and Health Education (PHE) as an examinable learning area recognises sport and physical activity as important contributors to learners’ holistic development.
EACDT is proud to support schools in implementing the Physical and Health Education curriculum. Our professionally trained Character Education Tutors work alongside teachers to deliver practical outdoor PHE lessons that intentionally integrate the development of character traits, values and life skills. Through carefully structured activities, learners not only develop physical competence but also practise qualities such as curiosity, enthusiasm, gratitude, integrity, optimism, perseverance, self-control and social intelligence in authentic, real-life situations.
By aligning our Character Education Programme with the Competency-Based Education system, we are helping schools deliver the Government of Kenya’s vision of nurturing learners who are not only academically competent but also ethical, resilient, responsible and socially conscious citizens.
Education in Kenya
Kenya continues to face significant social and economic challenges that affect children’s access to quality education and opportunities. Despite considerable progress in expanding access to schooling, many children—particularly those living in informal settlements and rural communities—continue to experience poverty, overcrowded classrooms and limited educational resources.
Large numbers of young people leave school without the character strengths, life skills and confidence needed to overcome the challenges they face. Girls and young women remain disproportionately affected by poverty, gender inequality and limited opportunities, while many children grow up in vulnerable environments shaped by unemployment, family instability and social disadvantage.
These realities reinforce the importance of Character Education. While academic knowledge opens doors, it is qualities such as integrity, perseverance, resilience, self-control, empathy and social intelligence that enable young people to navigate life’s challenges, make responsible decisions and become positive contributors to their communities.
Through the support of the Ministry of Education and other education stakeholders, EACDT complements the Competency-Based Curriculum by helping learners develop these essential character traits in meaningful and practical ways. Our goal is not only to improve educational outcomes but also to empower young people to break the cycle of poverty, realise their full potential and become leaders who positively transform their families, communities and the nation.