Shining Hope for Communities

Shining Hope for Communities (SHOFCO) combats extreme poverty and gender inequity by linking schools for girls to a set of high-value, holistic community services for all. In our model, a girls’ school becomes a portal for large-scale social change. This presents a truly innovative approach to bring gender equality to urban communities—inviting both men and women to participate in the solution. We are currently piloting this model in Kibera, Kenya. Our Founder & CEO Kennedy Odede, was born and raised in Kibera, where he experienced life in extreme poverty first-hand. Kennedy dreamt of finding a way to change his community. In 2004, with 20 cents, he bought a soccer ball and started SHOFCO. Driven by the innovation and entrepreneurial spirits of the people of Kibera, Shining Hope became one of the largest grassroots organizations in the slum.