The Shella Primary School library is one of ours — and we couldn’t be prouder of what it’s become. We built it to be the beating heart of the school and the wider Shella community: a place for school-going children, their parents, and anyone who needs it. Books, computers, resources; all there, all accessible, for whoever walks through the door.
And it’s become exactly that.
Every day, students gather here to read, explore ideas, and learn together in a space we designed to spark curiosity and build confidence. Parents come. Community members come. Knowledge doesn’t stop at the school gate and neither do we.
But we need to be honest about something.
In communities like Shella, reliable internet is not a given and when it is available, the cost is often out of reach. That’s not just an inconvenience. It’s a barrier that quietly widens the gap between those who can access knowledge and those who can’t. While students in wealthier schools across Kenya and around the world are researching, discovering, and learning online, children here risk being left behind. Not because they are less curious, less capable, or less deserving. Simply because of where they were born.
That gap is not acceptable to us. And we’re doing something about it.
We partnered with Wikimedia Kenya to install Kiwix on the library’s ten computers: a free, open-source platform that delivers offline access to Wikipedia and a wealth of open learning materials. No internet? No problem. Our students and teachers can now explore the same knowledge that their peers in private schools and connected communities take for granted, levelling the playing field, one library at a time.
“Access to knowledge should never depend on internet connectivity. By introducing Kiwix in our libraries and partnering with Wikimedia Kenya, we are expanding the ways students and teachers can explore information, ask questions, and deepen their learning.” — Rita Field-Marsham, KEY CEO & Founder
We made sure the whole community was ready. Together with Wikimedia Kenya, we trained 40 students, 4 teachers, and 2 community members, giving them real skills to find, evaluate, and use knowledge with confidence. As our Programmes Manager Gladys Kerich put it:
“Through our partnership with Wikimedia Kenya, we are not only expanding access to information, but also building resilient, inclusive learning systems that ensure access to information is not limited by geography or infrastructure.” — Gladys Kerich, Programmes Manager, KEY Libraries
And the impact? It’s already showing.
“Kiwix has been a valuable research tool for both teachers and learners, helping students explore scientific concepts and prepare projects presented at the Junior School science fair. Learners gained the confidence and knowledge that helped them advance to regional competitions.” — Elizabeth, Teacher-Librarian, Shella Primary
This is what we believe in: that every child, regardless of postcode or privilege, deserves access to the same world of knowledge. Spaces where books, technology, and open knowledge sit side by side, accessible to every learner, every parent, every community member who needs it. No child should be shut out of the information age simply because of where they live. And when the right partners come together, we prove that they don’t have to be.
“The lack of internet access should not be seen as an impassable barrier to internet content. We at Kiwix are very happy to see that Wikimedia Kenya and KEY Libraries are on top of this.” — Stephane Coillet-Matillon, Kiwix Co-Founder