2025 Impact
This year, everything changed for Sylvia Mbinya
Growing Up With Limited Opportunity
When Sylvia Mbinya arrived at New Dawn Educational Center in 2023, she carried the quiet determination of a girl who had already learned too much about scarcity. Growing up in Githogoro - one of Nairobi’s poorest informal settlements - she longed for most was a place where her potential was seen.
At New Dawn, she found exactly that.
How Local Leadership Changed Everything
African Leadership + New Dawn: Impact From Within the Community
African Leadership partners with locally led schools like New Dawn because leaders rooted in their communities create change that lasts. In 2025, with strengthened mentorship programs and expanded co-curricular opportunities, New Dawn’s educators helped students grow in confidence, character, and skill.
For Sylvia, this shift opened new doors. Encouraged by her teachers, she joined the girls’ rugby team an uncommon choice for young women in her neighborhood. On the field, she discovered teamwork, discipline, and the joy of being part of something bigger than herself.
A Year of Growth, Confidence, and Opportunity
Through New Dawn’s partnership with Runda Youth Sports Association (RYSA), students gained access to a community library - a safe place to study, research, and grow. This holistic approach nurtured both mind and spirit, giving Sylvia the support she needed to thrive.
Her growth didn’t stop on the rugby field.
By mid-year:
She ranked in the top 25% of her class
She began leading classroom discussions
She mentored younger students
Her confidence created a ripple effect among her peers
A highlight of the year came when New Dawn played a friendly match against Kenya’s National U-18 team. Sylvia, and four teammates, were scouted for youth national squads. It was a celebratory moment for the whole school and a powerful reminder that talent, when nurtured, can transcend circumstance.
Sylvia’s journey reflects the heart of New Dawn and African Leadership’s mission:when local leaders are equipped, students find hope, purpose, and possibility.
Help More Students Flourish
Your Gift Helps Unlock More Stories Like Sylvia’s
Across Africa, hundreds of students are waiting for the chance to learn, grow, and be supported by leaders who know their communities best. When you give to African Leadership, you equip local leaders like those at New Dawn to create life-changing opportunities for students like Sylvia.
This year, your impact goes even further:
Every year-end gift is DOUBLED through a $250,000 match.
