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Who we are
Who we are
Pencils of Hope Africa (POHA) is a grassroots nonprofit founded out of deep empathy and a powerful dream to see no African child left behind because of poverty or loss. We support orphaned and underprivileged children across Africa, begin where need is the greatest, by providing scholastic materials, early educational support, and emotional care. The idea was born from personal loss. After experiencing how hard life becomes without a supporting hand, our founder was struck by the silence that followed, the silence of relatives who could have helped but didn’t. It’s a silence too many orphaned children know. Left alone. Forgotten. With no schoolbag, no books, no pencils, no school fees, and no hope. Many of these children desperately want to go to school, to learn, to grow but they lack even the basics: a pencil, a book, a bag, or someone who believes in them. At POHA, we believe that a simple pencil can be the start of a new story. One where children rise from hardship and begin building a brighter future for themselves, and for Africa. We start small, village by village, child by child, but we carry a big vision: to grow across Africa, bringing hope, tools, and dignity to the continent’s most vulnerable learners.
Founder’s Note
Founder’s Note
“When we lost our parent, my siblings and I were met with silence from family, from the world. That silence was loud. Deafening. It made me think about other children out there, many in even harder situations than ours. I couldn’t stop wondering: Who sees them? Who hears them? That’s when I knew something had to change.
I started Pencils of Hope Africa so no child would ever feel forgotten again. Even one pencil can carry a powerful message: I see you. I believe in you. Your future still matters.”
— Founder, Pencils of Hope Africa
Our Values
Our Values
Empowerment
Empowerment
We believe true empowerment begins when a child feels seen, supported, and capable. We equip children with scholastic materials, yes, but also with mentorship, life skills, emotional healing, and safe learning environments. These are the building blocks of confidence. We remind every child that they are not victims of their circumstances, but agents of their own future. Because a confident, educated child doesn't just survive they transform their community.
Integrity
Integrity
To us, integrity is more than a principle, it’s our promise. We act with honesty, openness, and consistency in everything we do, because the trust of the children, families, and communities we serve means everything. Every pencil delivered, every child supported, and every shilling spent reflects our deep responsibility to serve with truth and fairness. Because when children grow up seeing adults who keep their promises, they learn to believe in others, and in themselves.
Compassion
Compassion
We serve with empathy because behind every child is a story that matters. We listen with open hearts, meet children where they are, and walk beside them with love, patience, and kindness. Many of the children we serve have lost more than just school opportunities they’ve lost parents, safety, and a sense of belonging. We believe that with the right support a pencil, a safe space, a listening ear every child can rise again. Compassion helps us see the pain. Hope helps us move beyond it. Together, they guide everything we do.
Transparency
We believe trust is built through openness. That’s why we are committed to being clear, honest, and professional in everything we do, from how we spend donations to how we share our impact. Our supporters, partners, and communities deserve to see where every pencil goes, how every shilling is used, and the lives touched as a result. We don’t just work for children, we work with communities, and that means being accountable every step of the way. Because when people know the truth, they believe in the mission even more deeply.
Inclusiveness
Inclusiveness
We make space for every child to thrive no matter where they come from, what they’ve lost, or what challenges they face. We serve children from all walks of life: orphans, street-connected youth, children with disabilities, girls at risk of dropping out, and those displaced by conflict or poverty. We see each child not by their hardship, but by their potential. That means creating safe, welcoming spaces where every child is seen, heard, and valued whether they arrive in uniform or barefoot, grieving or hopeful, struggling or gifted. We do not discriminate by gender, tribe, religion, or ability Instead, we stand for equal opportunity, dignity, and access, because every child deserves the chance to learn, to heal, and to dream again.
We make space for every child to thrive no matter where they come from, what they’ve lost, or what challenges they face. We serve children from all walks of life: orphans, street-connected youth, children with disabilities, girls at risk of dropping out, and those displaced by conflict or poverty. We see each child not by their hardship, but by their potential. That means creating safe, welcoming spaces where every child is seen, heard, and valued whether they arrive in uniform or barefoot, grieving or hopeful, struggling or gifted. We do not discriminate by gender, tribe, religion, or ability Instead, we stand for equal opportunity, dignity, and access, because every child deserves the chance to learn, to heal, and to dream again.
Our Promise
Our Promise
At Pencils of Hope Africa, we don’t just hand out supplies. We build relationships, restore dignity, and create safe spaces where children feel seen, supported, and valued.
We promise to show up with pencils, with compassion, and with unwavering belief in every child’s potential.
We promise to reach the forgotten corners, where grief and poverty often silence hope.
We promise to serve with integrity, to listen deeply, and to make every resource count.
Because one pencil today can unlock a lifetime of possibility, and we won’t stop until every child holds that chance.
At Pencils of Hope Africa, we believe that education is more than a right, it’s a path to dignity, hope, and a better future. With every pencil, every kind word, and every shared dream, we’re building something powerful, a generation of children who know they matter.
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