Precious Sisters is registered as a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) under the jurisdiction of the NGO board in Kenya
Precious Sisters is registered as a Charity (1115306) under the jurisdiction of the Charities Commission in the UK
There are two boards of Trustees – One based in Kenya and the other in the UK
How we are run
There are two boards of trustees, made up entirely of volunteers who are not paid and give their time to many of the tasks associated with running the charity. The UK board focuses on fundraising and marketing while the Kenyan board focuses on operational implementation and governance.
We have been a UK registered charity since 2006 and we registered as an NGO in Kenya in 2011. Trustees bring a breadth of experience from educational, charitable and business sectors and a number of trustees sit on both Boards.
Safeguarding
As a charity that works primarily with children under the age of 18, we are guided by a Safeguarding Children & Young People Policy,
which is attached
here.
ON THE GROUND
Programme Manager – Ann Waweru
“I joined Precious Sisters in 2013 and run the charity on a day-to-day basis in Kenya.”
– Ann Waweru
I liaise with the schools’ administration on the key processes that we carry out through the year, ensure that our mission is delivered, on the ground in Kenya, the aims of the charity are met, as well as supporting the girls.
My most important work is supporting girls in school through 1-1 sessions during term time to ensure they keep to commitments made during mentoring events, ensure they keep to good study schedules and not dwelling on difficult home issues that could affect their academic performance. This kind of follow-up means I spend most of my time during term time doing school rounds.
From my session with the girls, the mentors’ notes and girls’ commitment forms, I write up information sheets for each of the girls that are updated every term. This forms part of the package I send to sponsors at the end of every school term. I update sponsors on the girls’ progress and Precious Sisters as a whole and answer questions sponsors may have on girls they are sponsoring or PS.
I delight in being part of PS, transforming the lives of girls from poor backgrounds from feeling lost in high school, suffering low self-esteem and worrying over school fees; to getting sponsorship, mentoring and support in school to girls that excel as leaders in schools, score highly in the KCSE and go on to excellent universities.
Mentoring Programme Officer – Rosemary Wambui
“My job with PS requires that I have a listening ear, a caring heart and an ability to give tough love when need be.”
– Rosemary Wambui
My role helps me prepare our sponsored girls for their future and involves my visiting them every month during school term for one-on-one sessions to encourage them, as they share how they are doing academically as well as in other areas of their lives. At the end of the month I help prepare reports for the Board, and at the end of every term reports on each of the girls I see that are sent to their respective sponsors.
Once a term, I help in the mentoring event which has the girls coming together to learn, engage, and be mentored by others. Mentorship is indeed a crucial part of my work that helps ensure that the girls maintain their focus on education and that they utilise the opportunity to the best of their ability.
I also lend support to the alumnae, working with those preparing for university, helping them as they seek scholarship opportunities, and helping where we can by linking them with internship opportunities. We also train them on non-technical life-skills. Occasionally, I also assist with local fundraising where needed.
Mentorship is us holding their hand, to guide as they take their journey, having their back where needed and where we can, and helping them make the right career choices as they progress to university and beyond. As mind-sets are continually evolving, realistic plans are set for successful futures. It is heart-warming, exciting and encouraging watching the girls gain confidence, step out of their comfort zones, overcome their hurdles and grow.
OUR TRUSTEES
Kenyan Board
Jane Karuku - Patron
I am currently Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of East African Breweries, a Diageo subsidiary in East Africa. I have held a number of senior positions in leading organizations such as the President – Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA), Deputy Chief Executive Telkom Kenya Ltd, and Managing Director Cadbury Kenya, after early career roles in marketing and manufacturing.I hold a Bachelor of Science Degree in Food Science and Technology from Nairobi University and an MBA- Marketing emphasis. I am a Trustee of the United States International University, Kenya. I am passionate about girls' education and am proud to serve as Chair of Precious Sisters in Kenya. I believe that educating women will be equal to educating whole communities. Educating women will therefore lead to improved livelihoods for families, communities, and development of the country at large.
Gerald Maithya - Founder
In 2005, Gerald founded the Precious Sisters Charity in Kenya. “My sister Caroline was the inspiration behind the creation of Precious Sisters. She passed away at the age of four and I wanted to do something appropriate to celebrate her short life. Little did I know that this humble idea would touch the hearts of so many people who have kindly joined us in sponsoring the education and mentoring of these young and ambitious girls. Progress since 2005 has made my family very proud. It is a heart-warming outcome in Caroline’s memory.”Gerald is now the Startups and SME’s Lead for Microsoft’s Africa Transformation Office. Gerald leads a team focused on empowering these organisations through digital technologies. Based in Kenya, he has held various commercial roles in multiple industry sectors in the last 20 years, most recently as the Investment Director for ARCH Cold Chain Solutions East Africa Fund, one of the ARCH Emerging Markets funds. Prior to this Gerald held various positions at Barclays Bank, where he gained experience in strategy, commercial development, consumer and corporate banking. In recognition of the charity’s impact, Gerald was awarded a Barclays Global Citizenship Award. Earlier in his career, Gerald worked at Cadbury Schweppes between 2001 and 2007 where he held positions in Sales and Marketing with responsibility covering emerging markets in Europe, Middle East and Africa. During his career, Gerald has lived and worked in Kenya, the Netherlands, United Kingdom, South Africa, Nigeria and Uganda. He holds a BSc Physics and Mathematics from the University of Nairobi as well as an MBA from London Business School, United Kingdom, and a Chartered Institute of Marketing Diploma. Gerald remains very closely involved in the development and governance of Precious Sisters.
Wallace Garland - Chairperson (Kenya)
I have lived in Africa for over twenty years and have seen how important education is. I am married to a Kenyan, and her family is able to do what it does because my father-in-law was the first in his family to go to school. I have worked with charities which support street children and orphans for many years, and despite their desperate backgrounds, you see in their eyes the talent and drive that some of the children possess.For those of us who come from privileged Western backgrounds, this is humbling and inspirational. The ones who make the transition from the cycle of poverty that they were born into to a life where they can make their own choices are driven by the creed that 'It doesn't matter where I have come from, look where I am going.' I oversee the operational side of Precious Sisters and have been doing so since 2008, and it is wonderful to see some of the girls that we sponsored back then, having graduated with university degrees, now starting on their careers. Some now come and mentor the girls who are in school. They have grown from the painfully shy girls with no idea where their lives were going into confident, independent-minded young women who I know will make a positive difference to their families and communities. Seeing the girls develop over time is what drives me. These are bright girls who deserve a chance.
Nick Macharia Kamunyu
I am a certified accountant and hold a MBA in Finance from the University of Hertfordshire in the UK. I have over 15 years of leadership experience working in finance and commercial roles in the UK, Uganda, Mozambique and Kenya.Education has always been an area of keen interest for me and I look forward to learning more about the education sector as well as contributing my knowledge and experience with regards to Precious Sisters. Being a lifelong learner, I am passionate about the transformational nature of education and hence a keen advocate for creating opportunities through participation. I wish to see education opportunities extend to even more students in the country. I enjoy travelling, am an ardent Arsenal fan, enjoy rugby and chess and am looking forward to the challenge of being a proactive and committed Precious Sisters trustee here in Kenya.
Debbie Ajwang’-Ogada
I am an Advocate of the High Court of Kenya and a Certified Company Secretary. My areas of specialty are Commercial and Banking law and Corporate Governance. I attended Precious Blood Secondary School, Riruta and thereafter Moi University, Eldoret where I attained a degree in Law. I am a member of the Precious Blood High School Alumni whose main mission is to exploit the old girls capacity and networks to support and lend a helping hand to the girls in our Alma mater to achieve their full potential.I have broad Legal experience having worked with private law firms (Hamilton Harrison & Mathews Advocates), Non- Governmental Organizations (The Children’s Foundation (CRADLE) & Kenya Human Rights Commission) and most recently the Corporate Sector (Barclays Bank of Kenya, Orange Telkom, Family Bank Ltd & Kenya Commercial Bank). I am a member of the Law Society of Kenya, in which I serves as a member of the In -House lawyers Committee. I live by the mantra “You have two hands so that you can use one to give and the other to lend a helping hand”. I am also a fervent believer that educating the girl child is the lifeline to development. It is for this reason that I have dedicated time in the last five years since I joined Precious Sisters to mentoring young girls, until my appointment to the Board of Trustees in March this year.
Catherine Mogambi
I am a graduate of the University of Nairobi in Sociology and Political Science. After this I joined the Private Sector where I had a career spanning 33 years both in Manufacturing and the Banking Industry. Started at Unga Limited as a management trainee and thereafter worked in Human Resources, Sales & Marketing departments. From there I had 23 years in the Banking Industry at Barclays Bank as Head of Barclaycard, Commercial Bank of Africa-Head Electronic Banking and Ecobank, Senior Regional Manager, Sub Sahara Africa for Cards Acquiring from where I retired. During this period I have gained invaluable knowledge, skills, experience and built good relationships. I am also a Rotarian for over 23 years at the Rotary club of Milimani and we focus mainly in helping needy communities in the areas of Literacy, Health, Water, Sanitation and Technical Skills.The key is to ensure all our projects are sustainable. I am passionate about Education as the medium to transform people’s life. It equalizes and opens opportunities for the privileged and less privileged in our Society. I have spent a lot of resources educating my siblings and others like most people in Africa do and understand the importance of encouraging and supporting young girls to excel beyond their imagination. It is from this understanding I have been attending the Mentoring Sessions at Precious Sisters for over 10 years now. I am proud and happy to contribute to the development of the girls, encourage and support them to come up with solutions to issues troubling them, build self- esteem, self-worth and feel good about themselves regardless of their background. I am also happy when I see the girls get clarity on what careers they should follow based on their capabilities and accept its ok to forgo careers not in their realm. Finally I have seen these girls become better students in class, in school of Life and forge new friendships on these days.
Angelar
I am a Precious Sister and an alumna of Precious Blood High School – Kilungu, C’2011. Through Precious Sisters Charity Trust’s support and mentorship, I BECAME and I stand. From a small village in southeastern rural Kenya, to working as an optical spectroscopist at the Dow Chemical Company! Mine is a Precious Story. I received my Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry from Spelman College in Atlanta GA, and a Ph.D. in analytical chemistry from the University of Michigan, in Ann Arbor Michigan.Giving my Precious Sisters a chance to shoot past the stars, in whatever way I can, is a special and exhilarating experience that I appreciate every day and that I continue looking forward to.
UK Board
Paul Sinclair - Chairperson (UK)
I have admired Precious Sisters ever since it was established, and was delighted to become a UK Trustee. Precious Sisters has been very effective in selecting talented girls from disadvantaged backgrounds and supporting them through secondary school by paying their fees and providing excellent mentoring support. The success of the organisation is shown in the very high proportion of our alumni (over 98%) who have achieved sponsored university places. It is wonderful to see how many of these girls are now in successful careers, transforming the fortunes of their families and communities. We are a very focused charity, with 2 professional Kenyan managers supporting 120 girls in our 5 partner schools. Our Trustee Boards in Kenya and the UK are made up entirely of volunteers.I joined Cadbury Schweppes in 1994 and continued with the business through the Kraft takeover in 2010 and the creation of Jacobs Douwe Egberts in 2015. I worked in senior roles in finance and manufacturing before retiring in 2021. I am a chartered accountant. My wife Tamsin was born in Kenya, where her father was a teacher for 12 years at Alliance High School. We have three grown up children, and live in Watford in the UK.
Keith Sleight – Secretary (UK)
I first became aware of the work of Precious Sisters through my friendship with the founders Gerald and Connie, and realised what a simple and brilliant idea it is. Giving “Bright Girls the Chance to Shine” is a great cause.I have been very lucky to travel with work and through seeing different
Mark Tomlinson - Treasurer (UK)
I am a chartered accountant and have worked for a number of Financial Institutions in the City over the last thirty years. My wife first became aware of Precious Sisters through the founder, Gerald Maithya when they both worked at Cadburys. We have been sponsors of girls through the charity for a number of years and have taken great pride and satisfaction in seeing them achieve ambitions way beyond those which they could have hoped for or expected.My passion for the Precious Sisters charity stems from growing up in South Africa where I had first hand experience of the poverty which exists in many communities. Education is one of the key elements to improving the quality of life for those who are caught in what appears to be a hopeless situation. Precious Sisters has an excellent track record of girls achieving academic success despite their disadvantaged backgrounds. The mentoring programme which runs throughout their secondary education is a key element of support provided to help the girls achieve success. I was delighted to be asked to join the Board of Trustees as Treasurer and believe that my background in Finance and my business skills will help the charity to grow and continue to provide young Kenyan women with the opportunity to realise their full potential.
Dr. Ute Oswald
I am a Historian of Medicine and an Early Career Researcher at the University of Warwick. I first got involved with Precious Sisters in 2008, when a friend of mine, who at that time was a founding trustee, introduced me to this unique charity. Unique, as it doesn’t merely provide the funds for an education, but because it also offers the girls ongoing and long-lasting individual support through its finely tuned mentoring programme. I knew straight away that I wanted to play a part in this.Having been a teacher for over 20 years and as the mother of a daughter and a son, I am acutely aware that all children should have the same educational opportunities, irrespective of gender. Unfortunately, in countries where schooling is costly, these opportunities are all too often extended only to boys. Yet it is so very important to empower girls, to give them the confidence to critically think and speak up for themselves, and to thus ensure that they create and follow their own, independently chosen paths in life. This is what Precious Sisters stands for and facilitates, as the tributes from the girls clearly show. So far, I have been sponsoring three girls. To watch their progress, to follow their journey and to see them overcome so many obstacles has been rewarding and truly humbling. This is a personal and personable charity where connections are made across borders, and the letters and school reports as well as the regular updates, reflect this intimacy and direct impact. I am honoured to be a member of the board. Through my long-standing career in secondary and tertiary education and my passion for equal opportunities I am hoping to ensure that many more underprivileged girls will get their chance to shine.
Sandra Ferreira
I came across Precious Sisters when talking to a friend of mine, Connie, who was one of the founding trustees, about wanting to get more involved with giving back to charity somehow especially those with a focus around supporting females. When she told me about the works that Precious Sisters does I was blown away by 3 things; firstly at how focused the charity was at ensuring a tight and simple structure to enable maximum funds to go directly to supporting the girls in their education;Secondly the fact that the girls are supported emotionally beyond just the funding via mentoring and coaching and thirdly at the calibre and passion of the amazing local team on the ground led by Ann and Rosemary and supported by Jane and her inspirational Kenyan board. When I was at University I became involved with an organisation called AIESEC which opened my eyes to the idea of shared responsibility across the world and encouraging people to use their skills to have a positive impact. It imprinted into me that you as an individual can make a difference and to this day I still believe in that which is why I am lending my skills and knowledge to hopefully help support Precious Sisters as it continues to grow and evolve the amazing opportunities it offers to young Kenyan girls. My background is in marketing, innovation and brand strategy having worked across a number of household brands including Dove, Toni & Guy, Persil, Cadbury and now Costa. So together with other members of the board I hope to help drive awareness of the great work that Precious Sisters does and help the charity grow further.
Gerald Maithya and Wallace Garland also sit on the UK Board
