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Sister School in Kenya

Students hold thank you signs in fron of their school.

Students at the Spurgeon's Academy in Nairobi, Kenya thank Greenbriar School for the school supplies delivered by the Dallia family in July 2023. Spurgeon's Academy is District 28's Sister School.

two children enjoying lunch in Kenya

A District 28 family sponsored a special Christmas meal for the students at Sprugeons Academy in 2024. If you are interested in sponsoring a special meal or classroom supplies for the students, reach out to Joli Fridman at jolifridman@sbcglobal.net

Students at Spurgeons Academy wait in line for a holiday meal paid for with donations from a D28 family.  If you are interested in sponsoring a special meal or classroom supplies for the students, reach out to Joli Fridman at jolifridman@sbcglobal.net

students at Spurgeon's Academy sit in a clasroom

Spurgeon's Academy provides education through 8th grade.

students hold out cups for a ladel full of porridge.

NBJH student Luke Dallia serves lunch to students at Spurgeon's Academy during a 2023 visit to District 28's sister school. Meals are served at the school twice a day and are often the only food the students get.

students crowd around Northbrook student during school visit.

Students of Spurgeon's Academy greet Luke Dallia during a visit in 2023.

Kenyan students read letter from District 28 student.

District 28 students participated in a letter exchange with students from the Spurgeon's Academy in the Kibera slum of Nairobi. Letters were delivered by Northbrook family visiting the school.

Joli Fridman and her daughter, Maya, visit with one of two high school students in Kenya

Joli Fridman and her daughter, Maya, visit with one of two high school students who were sponsored with donations from District 28 families. Without sponsorship, girls become wives and mothers at young ages.

view of Kibera slum.

More than 400 children from the Kibera slum attend Spurgeon's Academy, which provides a K-8 education and one meal a day.

Northbrook father delivers Chromebooks to school officials in Kenya.

Ruben Fridman delivers Chromebooks donated by Glenbrook North students to the principal of Spurgeon's Academy during a trip in 2019.

The three subjects post for a selfie.

Katie Dallia, and District 28 parent, posed with son Luke and the principal of Spurgeon's Academy during a 2023 visit.

D28 Sister School in Kenya

Northbrook Donations Improve the Lives of Kenyan Children

Northbrook District 28 has sponsored a sister school in Kenya, Africa, since 2007. Spurgeon’s Academy is an elementary and middle school located in the largest slum in Africa, in the heart of Nairobi, Kenya. More than half of the school’s students are orphans and all of them live in ultra poverty (less than $2 per day). The school is free for students and in addition to offering them an education, they serve two meals per day. Often this is the only food the children will eat that day.

District 28 has a long history of fundraising for our sister school, Spurgeon's Academy. The relationship began in 2007 when Sue Vaickauski, a former Westmoor School administrative assistant and grandmother of three current D28 students, visited Kenya. She came home and started the Concert for Africa, which raised $100,000 over ten years. Her mission was continued by the Fridman family, who visited in 2019 and delivered Chromebooks and several suitcases of donations. Last year the Dallia family, who have children attending Greenbriar and Northbrook Junior High, visited the school.

In 2023, the Dallia family, who have children attending Greenbriar and Northbrook Junior High, visited the school, delivering supplies and visiting with students and staff. They plan to return this year.