Founder’s Note

Dear fellow changemaker,

Thank you for your interest in the work of The Kikulu Foundation. I am so happy you’re here.

The work we do is incredibly personal to me as it is a part of my journey of expanding my worldview. The students we help support are not any children, they are children who are part of my global extended family.

My deep love for the world began back in 2004 when I began venturing out beyond my borders. I became very interested in exploring and learning about parts of the world very different than my own. I traveled to Southeast Asia, and then several years later, I quit my corporate job and moved to Northern Chile near the border of Bolivia, to teach English as a Second Language. During this time, my desire and enthusiasm to soak in the world continued to unleash.  Being lost in translation, out of my comfort zone, and seeing real issues in the world didn’t scare me. It challenged me.

 It challenged me to see more, learn more, and do more.

In 2011, many years after my time in South America, I sold everything and quit my corporate job once again to follow my curiosity and enthusiasm even deeper. I spent two years volunteering around the world working and learning with numerous NGOs on the ground across 7 countries and 4 continents in the areas of education, community development, clean water & hygiene, micro-finance, and the arts.

During this time, I gained a tremendous level of understanding about the hardships, the cultures, the joy and the people in these communities. For me, it was about gaining an understanding that one cannot possibly have without actually standing on the same soil. The understanding I could not have without becoming part of lives, hearing stories, and connecting with people in the communities in which I worked.

As a result of my knowledge and time spent in developing communities, I launched the Kikulu Foundation in 2012 with a focus on ensuring women and children have access to education. To date, we’ve invested more than $140k in education initiatives in East Africa, giving hundreds of young students an opportunity to reach their potential.

The students and communities we support are gifted and often lack the opportunity and support, but possess intelligence, determination, and perseverance. We believe in removing obstacles to help others act upon their dreams and thrive and we are proud to work alongside our partners in Uganda to make this happen.

Thank you for being a part of our movement to build a world where all children, regardless of where they live, have access to quality education.

With deep gratitude,

Alisha Robertson-Stephens

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Alisha Robertson-Stephens is an advocate, global citizen, and humanitarian who is inspired by the world. Alisha has 15+ years of experience in business leadership, the nonprofit sector, and working with multilingual and multicultural communities. She believes in opportunities for children in underserved populations and is relentless in her search for solutions that create a more just and equal world.

Without the dedication of our working Board of Directors, and people like you, the work of the Kikulu Foundation would not be able to impact so many students.