KYGN Today
KYGN is a primary and secondary school in Tanzania’s Kilimanjaro region. What began as a small community initiative is now a registered school providing education, health care, and safe house accommodation for some of the most vulnerable children in the world.
KYGN is supported by GAGA UK, a registered UK charity. GAGA UK helps fund teacher salaries, classroom materials, school meals, and the operation of the safehouse.
In the beginning
Annamaria Kanondo, Founder and Project Director, first visited Mabogini in 2006 and was deeply moved by how many children, especially girls, lived without access to education. In a country where most children attend primary school, the children of Mabogini faced barriers due to poverty, neglect, and abuse.
The first school
Determined to act, Annamaria used savings and support from friends and family to open a small primary school in Mabogini.
Enrollment quickly rose from the initial 20 pupils to 60, with overflow classrooms built from whatever materials were available.
Building the new school
Realizing the need for a proper facility, Annamaria embarked on fundraising. Over five years, she secured enough funds to construct four classrooms. In April 2014, the official KYGN school building was opened.
In 2016, KYGN established a safehouse that can accommodate up to 50 children, offering the most at-risk children a secure home while long-term solutions are found.
KYGN in 2025
Nineteen years after that first visit, KYGN now serves over 900 students in primary and secondary education. The school teaches in English from nursery and many of the students have gone onto higher education and the workforce.
The school also acts as a community social service, collaborating with village chairmen and local authorities to support at-risk families.
The school also supports graduates and assists parents in starting small businesses through microloans.
The road to sustainability
KYGN’s vision is to become fully self-sustaining. As KYGN grew, so did its reputation as a quality school in the area and now many new students pay a small annual fee. On land donated to the school, it runs a tilapia fish farm, sells maize and onions, and operates a chicken farm.
KYGN still relies on external support to fund teachers’ salaries, build new classrooms, and provide essentials like food, clothing, and materials to students in need, however each year they are getting closer to becoming a more self-sustaining organisation.
Support KYGN
KYGN has achieved so much thanks to the generosity of individuals and organisations around the world. We wouldn’t have got where we are today without their support.
You can make a difference today — whether by sponsoring a child’s education, donating toward infrastructure, or volunteering your time and skills. Every little helps.
Join us in giving the children of Mabogini a chance at a brighter future.
