We believe that what makes the KEF special is that we help Kenyans improve the existing educational infrastructure and enable more students to access it. Once our graduates enter adulthood and the workforce, they are better able to care for themselves, their families, and their communities. Indeed, many of our alumni now support other younger family members in their educational pursuits. Others serve as regional volunteers for the KEF. One alumnus, Francis Nga’nga, works fulltime for the KEF as our Logistics Coordinator. Another, Josephine was rescued from forced marriage at age 18 and is now getting a degree in Human Resource Management at a private university in Nairobi.
One of our standout stories is that of Anderson Odak’s:
Anderson was one of the first students sponsored by the KEF. From Loitoktok town near the base of Mt. Kilimanjaro, Anderson’s family was not unique in its poverty, with each parent unemployed and seven children to support. After excelling in secondary school, Anderson studied computer science at Kampala International University in Uganda.
Anderson started his own company, Mars Ltd., after graduating from Kampala University. Based in Juba, the capital of Southern Sudan, Mars Ltd. serviced printers and supplied toner cartridges and ink to the nonprofit industry headquartered in the area. Anderson came up with the idea to start a business venture in Sudan after meeting and traveling to Juba with one of his Sudanese classmates. He writes, “Thanks to the KEF for enabling me to study in an international university which gave me a chance to interact with different international students and cultures.”
In the past few years, Anderson’s business has seen great success and expanded exponentially–widening its geographic reach to include Kenya and its offerings to a full range of IT products and services. To reflect this expansion, Anderson renamed his company the Kasand Group, with offices in both Juba and Nairobi. Anderson serves as both founder and director the corporation.
Today, the Kasand Group’s mission statement, as described on the company’s website is “to provide integrated world class training and IT support services through use of simple office friendly training methods for corporate companies and government departments in a sustainable manner…”
Anderson’s impressive list of clients includes the World Bank, the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), World Vision, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), ARC, the Education and Development Center (EDC), and several government ministries including the Sudanese Ministry of Education. Anderson has been able to create employment opportunities for 5 permanent staff members and three interns in Juba alone.
With his business successes, Anderson has also supported several younger relatives in primary and secondary school, built a new, secure home for his parents, and subsidized his family’s income. In his spare time, he volunteers for the KEF offering tech support and servicing all donated computers for placement across Kenya.
