Kupanda Academy

Kupanda Academy, located at the foothills of Mount Kilimanjaro, in the remote village of Okelnyiet, Amboseli, is a transformative educational initiative designed to provide sustainable, high-quality secondary education for girls in rural Kenya. By working with locally available materials such as concrete, stucco, and metal roofing, the design emphasizes durability and cultural relevance. Classrooms, a dining hall, a library, and open spaces for recreation and community engagement support the learning and growth for twenty students at a time. The building also includes administrative offices, sanitation facilities, and accessible pathways for an inclusive experience. In partnership with IWILGO Inc. and the Across the Globe Children’s Foundation, the school’s mission is to reduce female student dropout rates, expand enrollment, and ultimately, break the cycle of poverty—all while remaining a local-led, community-connected effort.