MYTO
MATHARE YOUTH TALENT ORGANIZATION
We are a community built organization that supports education and health for children and families in the Mathare slum of Kenya.
The Mathare Youth Talent Organization is a registered nonprofit in Kenya
Volunteer or Donate!
We have accomplished so much with the help of volunteers and donors from around the world. Join our helping community and help us make a difference for the future!
Click here to learn how to help!
Our Story
MYTO is a community-based organization in Mathare, an informal settlement near Nairobi, Kenya. Our mission is to give our young people the education and resources they need to become a resource to society. MYTO’s members are Mathare residents who are dedicated to engaging youth in community development activities.
In 2004, Mathare was one of the most dangerous neighborhoods in Nairobi. Mathare resident Ben Ochieng decided to start a youth group to do development work in the community, and together with Elizabeth Otieno and Okidi Onesmus founded the Mathare Youth Talented Organization (MYTO) on May 2nd, 2004. MYTO’s first project was a school for orphans and other children who could not afford school fees. MYTO quickly gained recognition around Mathare and developed many projects along the way.
Now the school has grown and welcomes children from baby class up to class 8. MYTO started a microfinance project in order to help women in the community start their businesses. 22 women created a single mothers self-help group. Other projects include MYTO sports, music, jewelry and theatre.
What We Do
- MYTO helps provide food, personal protective equipments and other basic needs to the most needy families.
- We offer school fees for the secondary school, college and technical training for students who would otherwise not have the opportunity for even an elementary education.
- We offer community education about HIV/AIDS and sanitary towels for girls.
- We are in process of building a school / community building to serve the children and families in our Mathare Community.
The MYTO School
In 2018 a fire swept through our community, destrying or damaging many of our classrooms. Since then, we have been working to build a new and larger school that will be less vulnerable to fire and big enough to meet other needs of our community.
Learn about the school in this video made by one of our U.S. donors who helped raise money to start construction of our new school. Below are photographs of the construction. We have been working on the school for the last two years. It is now almost complete!
MYTO School Construction Team in Mathare, Kenya
MYTO School Construction Team in Mathare, Kenya
Preparing the Foundation for the MYTO School
Preparing the Foundation for the MYTO School
MYTO School 2nd Floor Construction
MYTO School 2nd Floor Construction
Pouring the roof of the MYTO School in Mathare, Kenya
Pouring the roof of the MYTO School in Mathare, Kenya
Framing the roof of the MYTO School in Mathare, Kenya
Framing the roof of the MYTO School in Mathare, Kenya
Painting the entrance to the MYTO School in Mathare, Kenya
Painting the entrance to the MYTO School in Mathare, Kenya
Pouring the floors in the MYTO School in Mathare, Kenya
Pouring the floors in the MYTO School in Mathare, Kenya
MYTO School-9
Mathare community children in their new classroom in the MYTO School in Mathare, Kenya
How You Can Get Involved
Contact Us and start making a difference!
Volunteer Program
We regularly host volunteers from the United States and Europe. Volunteers have helped teach our children and build our schools. If you’re interested in coming to Kenya and working with us, please contact us!
Sponsor Program
Are you interested in sponsoring one of our children to attend high school or college? We would love to talk to you!
Charity Fund
Everything we have accomplished has been possible because of donations from generous people around the world. Please consider donating to our fund to help us continue our work!
What Our Volunteers and Donors Say
Here are some stories from our amazing community of supporters.
Nelson Guda, U.S.A
I met Benard Ochieng on a trip to Kenya in 2011. I was so impressed with the MYTO School that I began raising money to help them when I returned to the U.S. Since then, I have been fortunate to help grow MYTO from a few corrugated iron shacks to a real building. The work being done by Benard and his community is truly inspiring.
Eva Labrujere, France
Ben, Mis Ris, and all the others at MYTO received me incredibly warmly. I got to learn about their organisation and projects, and beyond that, they opened up their world and personal lives to me. They gave me the chance to support in their project developments and design a website and logo. Also, Ben made every possible effort to help me with the field activities for my research. The experience here remains to inspire me to this day and I still consider MYTO as my family!
Melanie Pokluda
Visiting Ben Ochieng and the MYTO school was the highlight of my entire 3 week trip to Africa. The MYTO school is just incredible. It is truly a pillar in the community and source of hope for many. I toured and was amazed by how well built the school is, how sophisticated the curriculum, and how dedicated the volunteer teachers, and most of all Ben. He is a whirlwind of goodness for Mathare slum and beyond. I happened to be there when a community meeting was scheduled, and I was invited to speak about the work I do in Austin with sexual health, specifically HIV prevention. Many members of the community did not know that HIV is preventable, so I was able to give some hope.
Become a Volunteer Today
Thinking about volunteering? You can have an amazing experience and help our community. Contact us to ask how!
Get in Touch. Get Involved.
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