- First, Kenyan primary school is free, but secondary school (high school) is not, and many Kiberan families can't afford school fees.
- Second, because female children are married off and then considered part of another family, parents are more likely to invest in their sons' education than their daughters'.
- And most importantly, girls in Kibera are especially at risk of rape, sexual violence, early marriage, HIV infection, and forced prostitution because of the insecurity and poverty of their living environment.
The Story of KGSA 
KGSA was started by Abdul Kassim, a Kibera resident who saw the urgent need for such a school when he saw that some of the girls playing on his informal soccer team were not continuing from primary school to secondary school. So, the school was started in 2002 in one of the teachers homes and Abdul was gradually able to find funding for supplies. In 2006, Abdul found enough funding to form KGSA in its own building and the first class of eleven girls started there. Now in 2010, we have a totally new facility, complete with a laboratory, 8 teachers, 120 girls in all four forms (freshman-seniors) and our second graduating class will be finishing at the end of the year.We thank the many individuals and organizations that contributed to our growth and success, and those that continue to help us in the Secure a Future Campaign, our quest to develop income generating activities to make the school self sustaining and non-dependent on foreign donations.
KGSA was started by Abdul Kassim, a Kibera resident who saw the urgent need for such a school when he saw that some of the girls playing on his informal soccer team were not continuing from primary school to secondary school. So, the school was started in 2002 in one of the teachers homes and Abdul was gradually able to find funding for supplies. In 2006, Abdul found enough funding to form KGSA in its own building and the first class of eleven girls started there. Now in 2010, we have a totally new facility, complete with a laboratory, 8 teachers, 120 girls in all four forms (freshman-seniors) and our second graduating class will be finishing at the end of the year.We thank the many individuals and organizations that contributed to our growth and success, and those that continue to help us in the Secure a Future Campaign, our quest to develop income generating activities to make the school self sustaining and non-dependent on foreign donations. 
A Different Kind of SchoolAt KGSA our goal is to provide a well rounded education, encourage artistic expression and athleticism, create a safe environment free from the threats of the outside living environment, employ a supportive staff to help them cope with the struggles of life in Kibera and have positive role models to look up to. The beauty of KGSA is in the school culture of support and the vivid extracurricular activity that produces confident, empowered, and self-driven girls.
Our Mission Statement:
Kibera Girls Soccer Academy (KGSA) is dedicated to improving the lives of at-risk and disadvantaged young women by providing free secondary education, artistic programming, and athletic opportunities in the slums of Kibera, Kenya. We firmly believe that through active participation in education, arts, and athletics, young women will have the opportunity to develop a stronger confidence in their minds, bodies, and spirits – empowering them to become inspiring leaders in their own communities and country, as they advocate for a brighter Kibera and Kenya.
Some of our Extracurricular Activities Include:
- The Shedders Journalism Company--a Junior Achievement, student owned and operated company that produces a quarterly magazine "shedding light" on life in Kibera and the state of girl-child education in Kenya. The magazine is distributed within Kibera, in other parts of Nairobi, and also available online. Order a magazine online for yourself, your friends and family!
- The Solar Girls Company and Science Club--started this summer from a Davis Foundation Projects for Peace Grant as a second student-run, soon to be Junior Achievement, Company. The Solar Girls assemble, sell and rent a variety of solar lamps that provide clean, renewable lighting for families that have no electricity or suffer from frequent blackouts. We will soon be expanding our operation to offer solar panel sale and installation services as well.
- The Drama, Poetry and Music Club--supported by Slam Africa, Drama for Life and many other local and international organizations. The girls have performed around Nairobi, Kibera, and been featured on local radio. This club gives ladies the skills and confidence to express themselves and their stories of life in Kibera.
- The Soccer Team--Competes in both a school league and a womens' league year round. In their first year of competition in the school league, we achieved third place in the Greater Nairobi Area. The soccer program endorses teamwork, high performance in academics, and empowerment through physical exercise.
