Orientation to Organizing: Boresha Elimu Campaign: Bringing 1,200 children back to school in Ngong’, Kenya

What happens when a community refuses to let its children fall through the cracks?

How did parents, teachers, and neighbors turn hope into action for 1,200 children in Ngong’?

Join us on March 24th to explore how people, organizing together, can create lasting change in their communities. In this 3-hour Orientation to Organizing session, we will explore the five key leadership practices of community organizing, developed by Marshall Ganz and his associates at the Harvard Kennedy School.

For this session, we will be joined by Jacob Okumu, who led the Boresha Elimu Campaign in Ngong’, Kenya, along with a team of local organizers Faced with rampant child poverty, school dropouts, and child labor, the campaign started with 16 committed community leaders and quickly grew into a network of 300 cell members, supported by over 500 engaged community members. Through their organizing efforts, these leaders mobilized families, teachers, and neighbors to take responsibility for education in their communities, ultimately bringing 1,200 children back to school across three regions, Ngong’ Town, Bulbul, and Matasia.

This session will explore how community members, when organized into collaborative teams, can transform communities from apathy to action. Participants will learn how the campaign built trust, created a clear theory of change, mobilized local resources, and strengthened leadership at every level. Beyond returning children to school, the campaign inspired a cultural shift, empowering parents, teachers, and community leaders to see education and child protection as a shared responsibility and showing how communities can take charge of their own future.

When is this taking place?

The session will take place on March 24, 2026 @ 4 – 7pm East African Time/ 9am – 12pm Eastern Time / 6 – 8am US Pacific Time (find your timezone)

Who should attend this session?

This 3-hour introductory session is ideal for anyone involved in organizing, campaigning, activism, civic engagement, leadership development, civil society, or movement building.

If you are just starting your organizing journey, this session provides an overview of the fundamentals of community organizing, illustrated with real-world examples.

For experienced organizers, it’s a great refresher on the basics of organizing and an opportunity to deepen your understanding of the practices through the Boresha Elimu Campaign, which successfully brought 1,200 children back to school in Ngong’, Kenya.

Either way, bring other members of your team, organization, volunteers, and community members to learn together!

What will you gain from this session?

This is an interactive session that offers:

– Introduction to organizing fundamentals: Learn the five leadership practices of the community organizing framework: public narrative, relationship building, team structuring, strategizing, and mobilizing people for action.

– Practical learning: See these leadership practices in action through the Boresha Elimu Campaign, a real campaign that transformed community responsibility for education in Ngong’.

– Connection with a global community: Meet organizers and leaders from around the world, exchange experiences, gain insights, ask questions, and expand your network.

– Introduction to LCN: Learn about the Leading Change Network and the various learning, coaching, and relationship-building opportunities you can access.

Paid for non-members

20 usd / person

Start Date
Mar 24, 2026
9:00 AM ET
End Date
Mar 24, 2026
12:00 PM ET
Location
Online (Zoom)

Speakers and Presenters

Jacob Okumu

Jacob Okumu is a community organizing, advocacy, and programme management specialist with over 10 years of experience advancing people-centred and survivor-led campaigns across Africa. He is an accomplished trainer, facilitator, movement builder, and court-annexed mediator, with expertise in advocacy strategy, volunteer engagement, and digital and grassroots organising. Jacob has led and coordinated campaigns and projects with organisations including Amnesty International Kenya, UNICEF Tanzania, Be the Change Kenya, Tatua Kenya, Change.org, where he has been supporting multi-stakeholders including grassroots communities, youth movements, and civil society actors to strengthen accountability and systems change. He is currently supporting efforts for the Girl Generation – Africa Led Movement to end Female Genital Mutilation in Africa.

Questions &
Answers

The session will explore how communities can use Community Organizing and Public Narrative practices to turn their resources into power and create meaningful change.

Jacob Okumu, who led the Boresha Elimu Campaign in Ngong’, Kenya, will engage in a dynamic conversation, providing space to explore the campaign’s journey and impact through the lens of community organizing practices.

The session will cover the five core practices of community organizing, developed by Marshall Ganz:

Public Narrative
Relationship Building
Team Structuring
Strategizing
Mobilizing People for Action

This session is ideal for anyone interested in community organizing, civic engagement, leadership development, civil society work, or movement building. It is valuable for both beginners and experienced organizers.

Gain an understanding of the five core leadership practices.
See real-world examples of how these practices led to successful change in Ngong’, Kenya.
Connect with other organizers facing similar challenges and share experiences.
Learn more about the Leading Change Network (LCN) and opportunities for learning, coaching, and networking.

The session is free for LCN members and $20 for non-members. A limited number of free scholarship tickets are available upon request.

We are happy to offer a free scholarship ticket to anyone who needs it. To request one, please email sawsan@leadingchangenetwork.org