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Still I Rise International School

Kenya, Nairobi

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The school at a glance
Instructs in English
Fees Fees not listed
Ages 10 - 18 years
Pupil numbers 200
Type Co-educational
Opened 2021
Bus Service No
Academic offering
Curriculum IB (MYP), IB (DP)
Taught languages Swahili, French
Typical class size 10
Strengths Sport, Languages, Service and Sustainability
Clubs Arts and Creative, Social and Hobbies, Community and Service
Stages Middle School, Secondary School, Sixth Form, Senior Secondary School
Introduction

Still I Rise International School Nairobi is the first international school worldwide to provide the International Baccalaureate framework to refugee and vulnerable children at no charge. Located in Mathare, the campus centers on inclusive learning where English is the language of instruction and Kiswahili and French are compulsory second languages. The school offers the IB Middle Years Programme and the Diploma Programme, with eight subject groups in the DP and a continuous eight-year IB pathway. From Ambition Assembly to Ambition Arena, Bravery Building and Care Court, facilities support rigorous study, collaboration and wellbeing. Ambition Assembly hosts learning spaces, a library, an auditorium, labs for Art, Science, Design and Music, plus common rooms for student collaboration. Care Court provides residential accommodation during emergencies; the campus operates with a 1:10 teacher–student ratio, meals, NHIF medical cover and a city-wide shuttle. Education Camps—CHANGE, INNOVATE and EXPLORE—foster community impact.

The Essentials

Still I Rise International School has 200 pupils, typical class sizes of 10, instruction in English.

Location
Mathare, Nairobi, Kenya. Located in one of Africa's most overcrowded informal settlements.

Stages
Middle school and high school.

Type
International School; IB World School for refugee and vulnerable students (recognized since 2024).

Country affiliation
Kenya
Fees
Application fees
- There is no application, registration, or admission fee charged to the students admitted under the school's charitable scholarship programme; the admissions process is selective and based on economic and legal vulnerability and aptitude.

Tuition fees by year group (per term and per academic year)
- MYP Years (Middle Years Programme): MYP Year 1 through MYP Year 5 — Tuition: KES 0 per term; KES 0 per academic year.
- IB Diploma Programme (DP) Years: DP Year 1 and DP Year 2 — Tuition: KES 0 per term; KES 0 per academic year.

Billing schedule and payment terms
- For students supported by the school's 100% scholarship programme, no tuition bills or term fee invoices are issued; there are no scheduled parental payments for tuition.

Boarding fees (if applicable)
- The school is operated as a day school (boarding facilities are not charged as a boarding option); therefore no boarding fees apply.

Other costs or fees (uniform, meals, transport, medical cover, extracurriculars)
- Uniforms: Provided as part of the school programme; families of scholarship students are not charged a uniform fee.
- Meals: Daily breakfast and lunch are provided; no meal charges for scholarship students.
- Transport: A city-wide shuttle service is provided without charge to students under the school's programme.
- Medical cover: Comprehensive NHIF medical cover is provided as part of the student support package.
- Extracurriculars and field trips: Recurring cultural events, field trips, summer camp programmes and certain international trips are included in the school's programme; there is no parental charge stated for these elements under the scholarship provision.

Refund information
- Because tuition and the listed core services are provided at no cost to students admitted under the school's scholarship programme, standard parental tuition refunds are not applicable.

Fee payment options
- No parental fee payment methods are required for tuition, uniform, meals, transport or medical cover for students covered by the school's 100% scholarship programme. (No tuition payment channels such as credit card or bank transfer apply to these students.)
Academics

Still I Rise International School teaches IB (MYP), IB (DP) for students aged 10 to 18.

Curriculum
IB framework for middle school and high school; English is the language of instruction; Kiswahili and French are obligatory second languages. IB World School since 2024.
Wellbeing

Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)
Still I Rise International School – Nairobi focuses on holistic development for refugee and vulnerable children. The school aims to raise passionate, caring and brave leaders to shape a peaceful tomorrow. Admissions emphasizes vulnerability and aptitude and includes a two-week Education Camp with Change, Innovate and Explore projects to foster community impact, entrepreneurship and storytelling. The school maintains a 1:10 teacher–student ratio and provides daily breakfast and lunch, Armani-designed uniforms, and NHIF medical cover to support student well-being. Professional psychological support is provided as part of the program.

Special Educational Needs (SEN)
A CPS and Inclusion Policy exists under IB Policies guiding inclusive practices at the school.

Mental Wellbeing
Professional psychological support is provided to support student well-being.

Safeguarding
A CPS and Inclusion Policy is published under IB Policies to guide safeguarding and inclusion.
Parent Experience

History
Still I Rise International School Nairobi is the first International School for refugee and vulnerable students worldwide. It is located in Mathare, Nairobi. It is the first in the world to offer in its middle school and high school the International Baccalaureate (IB) framework specifically to refugee and vulnerable children completely free of charge. Since 2024, the School has been officially recognized as an IB World School.

Community
Located in Mathare, Nairobi, Still I Rise International School serves refugee and vulnerable students. It raises passionate, caring and brave leaders to shape a peaceful tomorrow through the best quality education. Since 2024, it has been officially recognized as an IB World School.
Facilities

Facilities Overview
Still I Rise International School – Nairobi is located in Mathare and described as an oasis for international education. Ambition Assembly is the main learning facility, renovated in 2020–2021, with five Future Classrooms, four Homerooms, a Library, an Auditorium, and Art, Science, Design and Music labs, plus a Common Room. Ambition Arena is the beating heart of the School. Bravery Building, renovated in 2022, is an auxiliary facility that includes the Cafeteria, a Gymnasium with showers and locker rooms, Basketball and Soccer Courts, the Director's offices, and the original prototype of the Class of the Future. Care Court, built 2023–2024, has 30 beds and can accommodate up to 200 children in case of emergency.

Sports Facilities
Bravery Building houses a Gymnasium with showers and locker rooms and Basketball Courts and Soccer Courts. The Gymnasium and courts support physical education and team sports on campus. Basketball Courts are available on site. Soccer Courts are available on site.

Academic Facilities
Ambition Assembly is the main learning facility, renovated 2020–2021, with five Future Classrooms, four Homerooms, a Library, an Auditorium, and Art, Science, Design and Music labs, plus a Common Room and staff collaboration spaces. Ambition Arena is the beating heart of the School. Bravery Building complements the learning spaces with a Cafeteria, a Gymnasium, showers and locker rooms, Basketball and Soccer Courts, and the Director's offices; it also includes the original prototype of the Class of the Future. Care Court, built 2023–2024, has 30 beds and can accommodate up to 200 children in case of emergency.

Extra Curricular Facilities
The campus supports student activities with Art, Science, Design and Music labs, a Library, an Auditorium and a Common Room for collaboration; Ambition Arena hosts events and assemblies; the Gymnasium and Basketball and Soccer Courts support physical education and team sports; the on-site Cafeteria and the overall campus environment foster social interaction and extracurricular engagement.
Extra-Curricular Activities

Academic & Intellectual
Eight-year IB program culminating in the International Baccalaureate Diploma. The school offers IB-MYP and is a DP Candidate School since 2024. The DP comprises eight subject groups: Language & Literature, Language Acquisition, Individuals and Societies, Arts, Design, Mathematics, Sciences, and Physical & Health Education. A range of co-curricular activities supports the academic program, including football club, basketball club, music club, drama club, debate club, journalism club, environmental club, chess club and dance club.

Arts & Creative
Music club, drama club, and dance club are offered. These clubs provide opportunities for artistic development alongside the IB program.

Cultural & Language
Language & Literature and Language Acquisition are among the eight IB Diploma Programme subject groups. Recurring cultural events and field trips take place. Language development is embedded in the IB framework.

Social & Hobbies
Football club, basketball club, music club, drama club, debate club, journalism club, environmental club, chess club, and dance club are available. These activities support teamwork and personal interests outside the classroom.

Community & Service
An Education Camp is held for cohorts each year. During two weeks, students work on projects: CHANGE (positive change in the community), INNOVATE (entrepreneurship), EXPLORE (storytelling). These activities reflect the school's social responsibility and community engagement.

Leadership & Professional
The school has a leadership team including a Co-Head of School, Head of Operations and Head of Teaching and Learning. School Captains are part of student leadership. The program emphasizes leadership development and empowering students to positively impact their communities.

Lifestyle & Wellbeing
Scholarships are 100% free. A 1:10 teacher–student ratio, Armani uniforms, daily breakfast and lunch, and professional psychological support are provided. Care Court provides a residential facility for students in hardship; it currently has 30 beds and can accommodate up to 200 in emergencies. The campus also offers a city-wide free shuttle bus service and NHIF medical cover.
Admissions

Admissions
1. The school targets the most disadvantaged as well as the most gifted in Nairobi and beyond, offering education completely free of charge. 2. Eligibility is identified through visits by the Community Team and collaboration with local partners to locate children aged 10–11 who have been denied access to quality education. 3. After interviews with caregivers and verification measures, cohorts of children are invited to participate in a two-week Education Camp at the school. 4. During the Education Camp, children work on four projects: Change, Innovate, Explore, Learn. 5. Enrollment decisions are based on potential rather than academic performance, prioritizing ambition, courage and care. 6. The school envisions an eight-year journey to develop tomorrow's leaders through a holistic, transformative education offered at no cost.

Scholarships
The school provides education completely free of charge to refugee and vulnerable children.
School Events
The school has not added events
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