Achungo began with one young man who refused to look away.
What began with one child has grown into a community-led movement transforming hundreds of lives in rural Kenya.
Achungo began with one young man who refused to look away.
What began with one child has grown into a community-led movement transforming hundreds of lives in rural Kenya.
A beginning rooted in resilence
Michael O. Nyangi grew up in rural Homa Bay County, Kenya. When he was seven years old, his father died. His family survived on a small garden plot, and like many children in the region, his future depended on whether someone would invest in his education.
Through the generosity of others, including a government scholarship and mentors who believed in him, Michael completed secondary school, earned his degree in accounting, and became a CPA.
But his path was not straightforward. Before college, he worked construction in Nairobi, carrying water and bricks. A business owner noticed his work ethic and helped pay his first year of school. Later, a lecturer stepped in to help him finish. Michael never forgot what those investments made possible.
After graduating, he began working in Nairobi. Each day, walking to work, he passed women and children struggling to survive. One moment stayed with him. He gave a small amount of money to a woman in need.
Days later, he saw her again, selling roasted corn with another woman, using that small gift to start something of their own. It changed how he saw what was possible.
At age 22, Michael left his career and started a microfinance initiative supporting women in the Nairobi slums. That work grew quickly, eventually employing a team and gaining international recognition.
But his focus kept returning home.
In his village, he began taking in orphaned and vulnerable children, many of whom had no access to school. With the help of local widows as teachers, he started a small classroom in a rented shed.
Many doubted it would last. In 2005, Achungo Children’s Centre was officially registered in Kenya. What began with a handful of children has grown into a thriving, community-led school — but Michael’s conviction has remained the same: Education is the key to breaking the cycle of extreme poverty.
officially founded.
How Achungo Came to the United States
Monte saw that Achungo was deeply Kenyan-led and rooted in the community. It was not an imported model. It was sustainable because it belonged to the people it served.
After returning home, Monte committed to supporting the work. He helped establish Achungo Children’s Center – U.S. as a registered nonprofit and began serving as a volunteer Executive Director.
Today, he continues to support U.S. governance, board leadership, financial accountability, communications, and partnerships — all without compensation.
Several years later, Michael connected with Monte Fisher in the United States.
Monte had spent nearly 25 years in the software industry after earning a degree in computer science. Over time, he felt drawn toward work that created lasting human impact.
In 2010, Monte traveled to Kenya to see Achungo firsthand. What he found was not a polished institution, but it was something far more compelling:
- A local leader of integrity and humility
- Teachers who viewed their work as a calling
- Students who studied with remarkable discipline and hope
Achungo is now a partnership:
Kenya, The Heart
Vision, leadership, and daily operations. The community drives every decision.
U.S., The Support
Fundraising, governance, and accountability. Enabling growth from abroad.
Together, this partnership has allowed Achungo Children’s Centre to grow from a rented classroom into a consortium of campuses known collectively as the Achungo Educational Centre, and becoming one of the top-performing schools in the county.
Why This Model Works
Achungo Children’s Centre is built on a simple but powerful principle:
Children thrive best within their own community. Rather than institutionalizing children, Achungo supports community-based care. Most students live with relatives, grandparents, aunts, older siblings or caring neighbors. They remain rooted in their culture, language, and identity.
The school provides:
- High academic standards
- Daily meals
- Clean water
- Mentorship and emotional support
- Structured study environments for exam preparation
Teachers are trained to understand the students’ backgrounds and challenges. They are not merely instructors — they act as mentors and steady adult figures in the children’s lives.
Why This Model Works
Achungo Children’s Centre is built on a simple but powerful principle:
Children thrive best within their own community.
Rather than institutionalizing children, Achungo supports community-based care. Most students live with relatives, grandparents, aunts, older siblings or caring neighbors. They remain rooted in their culture, language, and identity.
The school provides:
- High academic standards
- Daily meals
- Clean water
- Mentorship and emotional support
- Structured study environments for exam preparation
Teachers are trained to understand the students’ backgrounds and challenges. They are not merely instructors — they act as mentors and steady adult figures in the children’s lives.
Children thrive in community
Excellence at Achungo Children’s Centre is not driven by fear — it is driven by hope.
Pass rate on national primary exams
Staff members on the ground in Kenya
Years of community transformation
Our Staff
Achungo Children’s Centre employs 62 Kenyan staff members, including 44 credentialed teachers trained at Kenyan teacher colleges.
Our teachers are known for:
- High academic standards
- Personal mentorship
- Collaboration and mutual support
- A deep belief that every child can succeed
Michael remains actively involved in teacher mentoring, hiring, and strategic growth.
Our Board
Greg Schott
Board Chair
Former MuleSoft CEO brings operational expertise and international non-profit board experience.
Gretchen Cheng
Board Vice Chair
Frequent Achungo visitor brings firsthand field perspective and a deep, personal commitment to education.
Yinan Gu
Board Strategy
Strategic leader brings global revenue expertise and a focus on sustainable, long-term resource mobilization.
Mark Pietrofesa
Board Treasurer
Wealth advisor brings decades of financial and marketing expertise and a heart for Achungo’s students.
Paul Osborn
Marketing Committee
Retired software engineer brings 35 years of technical expertise and seasoned non-profit leadership.
Lara Hoyem
Strategy Committe
Silicon Valley veteran and NGO COO brings 25 years of business operations and global education expertise.
Financial Transparency
We are committed to stewardship and accountability.
- 100% of donations received by Achungo Community Center are directed to Kenya operations.
- U.S. administrative costs (insurance, tax filings, etc.) are personally covered by board members.
- Achungo community Center is a registered 501(c) (3) nonprofit organization. Tax ID: 61-1598457
- Please see our Candid Seal of Transparency and our 4 Star Rating by Charity Navigator
Available Financial Documents:
We believe donors deserve clarity. As Achungo continues to grow, we are committed to increasing transparency through annual reports and published financial updates.
Looking Ahead
What began in a rented shed in 2005 has grown into multiple campuses serving hundreds of students — with graduates moving into secondary school, university, and professional careers.
But the mission remains the same: No child should be denied education because of poverty. No child should be abandoned to circumstance.
The story of Achungo is still being written — and we invite you to be part of it.
Looking Ahead
What began in a rented shed in 2005 has grown into multiple campuses serving hundreds of students — with graduates moving into secondary school, university, and professional careers.
But the mission remains the same: No child should be denied education because of poverty. No child should be abandoned to circumstance.
The story of Achungo is still being written — and we invite you to be part of it.