More than 2 million people in the Kenyan capital Nairobi live in slums. The public schools there are often of poor quality and private schools are a far dream for most Kenyans.
But American Jay Kimmelman coined in 2008 a way to offer quality education at a low price. The business model of his Bridge International Academies is based on the monthly contribution of parents. The school is relatively cheap. Research shows that 90 percent of parents in the slums can afford the monthly fee of €2.80 which Bridge requires.
Currently Bridge has seven schools in Nairobi where a total of 850 children are taught according to the Kenyan curriculum
The school is commercial because it is believed that this is more durable than the dependence on subsidies. Private investors and development agencies have put in money in the business, with the aim to provide education to 1 million children in Africa.
