From Slums to Spheres of Influence — Raising Purpose-Driven Leaders

Urban slums have become the new faces of developing cities. While rapid urbanization creates opportunity, it has also birthed overcrowding, poverty, and lack of basic necessities for millions. Yet even in these places of struggle, the greatest untapped potential lies within the minds and hearts of children and youth.

At Genesis Joy Schools, we believe education is more than literacy or examination success — it is the most powerful driver of transformation. Education, when anchored in purpose, unlocks dignity, hope, and vision for the next generation.

To answer the urgent challenges of slum communities, we created SLUMS-ED — Student Leaders Understanding My Sphere-Education. What once represented hardship and limitation (slums) is redefined into a pathway of possibility and purpose. SLUMS-ED turns the very word slums into a vision of leadership, destiny, and influence.

This transformative education model goes beyond conventional teaching. SLUMS-ED equips learners not just with knowledge, but with leadership, identity, resilience, and purpose-driven skills that empower them to rise above their circumstances and become catalysts of change.

Central to this model is the discovery of every child’s God-given calling within the Genesis Joy 7 Spheres of Influence:

1. Government & Military

2. Arts, Media & Entertainment

3. Sports

4. Religion, Healthcare & Lifegiving Professions

5. Science, Technology & Education

6. Family

7. Business (Industry, Commerce & Finance)

By aligning education with these spheres, we transform learning into destiny-shaping. Each learner is prepared not only to succeed academically, but to step confidently into their sphere of influence — equipped with values, vision, and the courage to lead.

Global Context

Urban & Slum Statistics

• Over 70% of Africa’s urban population lives in slums.

• If unchecked, the global slum population will triple to 3 billion by 2050.

• By 2020, almost 975 million people in the developed world and 3 billion in developing regions were already living in urban areas.

• 263 million children and youth worldwide are out of school.

• The world needs 69 million new teachers to achieve the 2030 Education Goals.