.
ABOUT US
.
We have a rich history of purpose
Our History
A Story of Hope in Mathare
In the heart of Nairobi, inside the Mathare slums and just opposite the police station on Thika Road, stands Genesis Joy School—a light of hope for hundreds of vulnerable children.
When Genesis Joy was founded in the year 2000 by Christopher W. Barassa and Beatrice Barassa, Mathare was a place of despair. The slum was marked by extreme poverty, insecurity, and hopelessness. For women and children, life was unbearable.
Children as young as three years old could be seen roaming towards the City Park hawkers’ market, carrying heavy loads, working as family breadwinners, and losing their childhood to child labour. Most of them never had the chance to step into a classroom, despite Kenya’s promise of Free Primary Education.
It was this heartbreaking reality—the faces of distressed children without hope—that inspired the birth of Genesis Joy School. The founders believed that every child deserves a chance, no matter where they are born. With just a handful of pupils in makeshift classrooms, they began a journey of restoring dignity, hope, and opportunity to children in Mathare.
Today, Genesis Joy School stands as more than just a school. It is a safe haven where children receive not only quality education but also food, mentorship, and the love of a caring community. Over the years, hundreds of children who would otherwise have been trapped in child labour, crime, or early marriages have found a different path through Genesis Joy.
But the need is still overwhelming. Thousands of children in Mathare are still out of school. Many go to bed hungry. Many lack the basic resources—books, uniforms, and safe classrooms—that could unlock their potential.
This is why we need partners like you. Your support can help us expand our facilities, provide daily meals, sponsor children’s education, and ensure that every child in Mathare has a fair chance at life.
Together, we can turn despair into opportunity. Together, we can build a brighter future for the slum children of Mathare.
Join us. Be part of this story of hope!
Genesis Joy School – A Story of Hope Rising from Mathare
In the crowded streets of Mathare slums, where poverty, child labour, and hopelessness once defined the lives of children, a movement of hope was born.
In the year 2000, Genesis Joy School started humbly inside the home of its founder, Mr. Christopher W. Barassa—a single 10 by 10 feet room. Having grown up in Mathare himself, Christopher knew the struggles of children who had no access to education. Fresh from completing his KCSE exams, he felt compelled to help his neighbours’ children who were loitering in the slums with no chance of going to school.
What began with 24 children in one tiny room quickly grew. Parents and children alike noticed the difference—children were learning, smiling again, and discovering new hope. Soon, the numbers kept rising. Determined, Christopher rented more rooms within the settlement to serve as makeshift classrooms while waiting to join university. Through consultative meetings with parents and the community, the school gained trust, and enrollment flourished. For the first time, children who would have ended up in child labour or on the streets were not only attending school but also completing it.
Today, Genesis Joy School is no longer just a small room in Mathare—it is a thriving centre of learning and transformation with:
-
An Early Childhood Centre, Primary School, Junior and Senior School, and a Secondary Section (Form 2–4) serving over 500 children.
-
A dedicated team of 21 teachers and 5 support staff, working under the guidance of the Director and a School Management Committee.
-
A strong reputation as a safe haven where children learn, eat, play, and grow in dignity.
For many of our children, Genesis Joy is more than a school—it is a second home. Here, children from vulnerable families receive meals they would otherwise miss, mentorship to guide them away from drugs and crime, and a safe space to simply be children again.
Yet the need continues to grow. Every day, new children from distressed families knock on our doors seeking a chance at education. During school holidays, many return to homes where food is scarce, and families struggle to survive. Without consistent support, these gains risk being lost.
This is where you come in. With your partnership, we can:
-
Sustain and expand feeding programs, ensuring no child learns on an empty stomach.
-
Strengthen parental engagement and empowerment, helping families to support their children’s education.
-
Develop income-generating activities so families are not forced to send children into child labour during school breaks.
-
Provide scholarships, learning materials, and safe classrooms for hundreds more children in need.
From a 10×10 room to a vibrant school serving 500 children, Genesis Joy’s journey is a living testimony that hope can rise from the slums. But we cannot do it alone.
Together, we can break the cycle of poverty and transform Mathare—one child at a time.
👉 Will you join us in this mission of hope?
Achievements
Our Remarkable Journey of Growth and Impact
From humble beginnings with only 24 learners in a 10×10 room, Genesis Joy Schools has grown into a vibrant community of over 500 students, a testimony to the trust, resilience, and transformative power of our educational model.
Academic Excellence and National Recognition
We are proud to be officially recognized as a KCPE and KCSE Examination Centre, giving our learners the dignity of sitting for their national exams within their own school. This accreditation affirms the quality of education we provide and strengthens our learners’ confidence as they prepare to compete nationally and globally.
Get Involved
At Genesis Joy Schools, we believe transformation is a collective effort. You can partner with us through:
-
Sponsorships & Scholarships – support a child’s education journey.
-
Volunteering – share your time, skills, or mentorship.
-
Donations – contribute toward infrastructure, learning materials, or feeding programs.
-
Partnerships – collaborate with us to scale education and empowerment programs.
Together, we can raise a generation that learns, leads, and transforms society.
Transforming Learners into Leaders
Our vision, “The Future is Me,” comes alive in the success of our alumni. One inspiring example is Samuel Asati, who rose from the heart of Mathare through Genesis Joy to become a celebrated player for the Kenya Rugby National Team. Today, Samuel travels the world representing our nation—a living symbol of hope and proof that children from the slums can rise to global influence when given opportunity. Many others have gone on to pursue higher education, professional careers, and community leadership, standing as role models for the next generation.
Institutional Identity and Seamless Progression
We have earned formal recognition as Genesis Joy Junior School, affirming our long-standing commitment to quality education. Building on this foundation, we successfully launched and registered Genesis Joy Senior School, ensuring seamless academic progression for our learners from early childhood through secondary education.
Strengthening Partnerships and Expanding Horizons
Through a transformative CSR partnership with the TRIAD Foundation, we have established a modern school and unlocked vital resources that are amplifying our impact and widening opportunities for learners. Building on this momentum, we have also secured new land for expansion—opening the door to state-of-the-art STEM laboratories, libraries, and innovation hubs.
Now, we call upon new partners to build on the foundation laid by TRIAD and join us in creating world-class facilities that will shape the next generation of innovators, leaders, and changemakers. Together, we can transform potential into lasting impact.
Our Team
Christopher Barassa
