 |  |  |  |  |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |  |  |  |  |
What We Do
We are a drop in the ocean - but every drop counts
Donate
We empower deprived children in East Africa to escape debilitating and
persistent poverty through education, training and health awareness.
Our approach is evidence-based, ensuring that every pound spent
contributes to the UN Sustainable Development Goals, focussing on
areas that provide a high benefit-to-cost ratio.
Working together with our local long-term trusted partners, who are
deeply embedded in their communities and passionate about creating
lasting change, we seek to improve the life prospects of very poor
children. By fostering a sense of ownership, accountability and
responsibility, we strive to achieve real long-term sustained change.
As a volunteer-run organization, 95% of funding goes direct to our
projects. All project spending is fully accounted for with receipts and
photos, and we aim to visit all partners every 3-years. We are committed
to ongoing improvement, and through monitoring and long-term
evaluation, we aim to maximise the impact of our work.
Feeding minds to nurture change
​
Registered Charity in England and Wales 1136340
Our programme areas
Our projects seek to achieve balanced and sustained local development through education, training, work and health awareness. We are confident that this holistic approach produces real long-term benefits.
Education
.jpg)
Investing in primary schools and learning
We invest in (i) books and learning materials (ii) initiatives to
get kids off the streets and into school (iii) supporting girl’s
education (iv) pre-school education (v) school infrastructure.
These projects raise educational attainment and future
earnings potential, breaking the cycle of deprivation across
generations.
School meals to reduce child malnutrition and absenteeism
Providing locally grown school meals we (i) improve the diet
and health of young children (ii) raise school attendance (iii)
boost concentration and participation in class (iv) raise
children’s overall happiness (v) generate income for local
farmers and families.
Reducing malaria infection
We distribute long lasting insecticide treated bed-nets to orphaned and abandoned children living at our schools, and to vulnerable newborns in local hospital maternity units.
Solar energy and cutting indoor air pollution
We invest in (i) solar panels to power school ICT and improve
lighting for rural off-grid schools improving learning and
teaching (ii) solar lamps to replace hazardous kerosene
lamps at home (iii) clean cookstoves and improved ventilation
in school kitchens to reduce indoor air pollution and
associated chronic illness.
Post-primary education
We support able but deprived children to access secondary education to improve
their futures, while also aspiring younger students.
Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH)
Investing in clean water, sanitation and hygiene delivers
significant improvements in health, productivity, and
income. We fund rainwater harvesting systems, boreholes
and upgrade sanitation facilities to provide safe water for
communities.
Some of our partner schools
How we choose our partners:
​
Our partnerships begin in a variety of ways including through a mutual contact or an organisation approaching us directly. Before we approve a partner school we thoroughly assess their location, mission and values to ensure alignment with our goals. The due diligence process evaluates school operations, safeguarding policies, senior responsible persons, financial safeguards, project management and reporting. Partners then complete a probationary period, before becoming an approved partner
Education
Joy Children's Centre
Joy Children’s Centre, founded in 2004. began life with just a handful of children. From these humble beginnings the School now offers baby, pre-school, primary and junior secondary education to over 350 children and is home to around 90 vulnerable or orphaned children, including abandoned babies left at the school gate or who come to the school having suffered significant abuse.
​
Since 2010 EACP has supported Joy to deliver its mission of providing quality education and support to the very deprived local community and vulnerable children. Some children who came to Joy as babies have now completed their school and college education. We have supported Joy by funding 4 teachers, learning materials, dormitory and washing blocks for orphaned boys and girls, improved sanitation, and new classrooms. We have also supported academically able Joy children to progress to High School and College. Joy’s recent expansion into junior secondary education addresses a critical gap in the area as many children lack access to post-primary education. On our last visit to the school we were again highly impressed with the provision, including the care and support provided to children living there, despite very limited resources.
Faith Primary School
Faith Primary School is a rural community school in Busia which is in the Bukedi region in eastern Uganda, close to the Kenya border, and just north of Lake Victoria. The school was established in 2012 by the local community using 2 rented rooms to provide schooling for a large number of children who were unable to attend the few government aided schools in the local region. The school has since expanded and offers full nursery (N1-3) and primary education (P1-P7) to around 350 children aged 3-13.
The school educates children who are some of the most deprived in a very deprived region. While the school faces significant challenges it produces excellent educational outcomes, given its very limited resources. Children achieve good final grades and a high proportion progress to secondary school compared to the regional average. The school receives good overall school inspection reports from the Uganda education authority and is currently awarded Grade II, the middle grade. We have been working with the school to further improve learning and teaching and to invest in school buildings which were considered sub-standard.
Rossholme Primary School
Located in the Kiambiu slum district of Nairobi, Rossholme’s mission is to get children off the streets and into school, and to raise educational standards of children living in the slum. Established in 2016, the school has expanded rapidly and today has around 410 students enrolled. Children attend from age 3 to around 11 years. It currently offers a Play Group, Middle Class, Pre-Unit Class, and Grades 1-6. Rossholme is a fairly recent approved partner of EACP. We are working with the school to improve its infrastructure and to develop learning and teaching to improve the life prospects of childing living in the Nairobi slums.
Important news update
EACP wish to note that our partners Bulogo Primary School and Bulogo Women’s Group, which are both located in Eastern Uganda, have not met EACP reporting criteria. The Trustees have been unable to obtain satisfactory evidence that grants made to these organisations have been properly applied, and all funding for these two organisations has ceased. Relevant third parties, including the Charity Commission, have been informed.
Our trustees and volunteers
EACP is a volunteer-driven organization, and we are proud of the
dedicated individuals who make our work possible. Founded by Pieter
Lagaay, the organization has grown with the support of volunteers who
share a commitment to improving the lives of children in need.
Trustee and Chair
Pieter Lagaay
Pieter founded EACP after years of volunteering with other charities in
Kenya and Tanzania. Through a lifelong career teaching children with
special needs, he is passionate about improving the lives of children and is a lifelong advocate for education. Pieter is based in Brighton and enjoys photography, golf, and fishing, and managing an allotment where he grows his own vegetables. He is married with four adult children.
Trustee and Secretary
Barry Harper
Barry is the charity secretary and supports day-to-day operations,
including fundraising and project management. He is an academic
economist and has held teaching, research, and management posts in
UK and US universities.
Barry has lived in Brighton since 1992 with his wife Jo, and they have two grown-up boys. Barry is a keen tennis player and hillwalker, and likes to cook for friends.
Trustee and School Project Coordinator
Rob Eyre-Brook
Rob joined the trustees in 2025. He has had a career in primary
education, including two headships. He now works part-time as a school
improvement advisor, supporting half a dozen primary schools in SW
London. Rob is deeply involved in his local community, including serving as a local councillor and chairing a Friends action group for his local park. Rob lives in Surbiton with his wife and has two step-sons, one of whom is on the autistic spectrum. His interests include international and local affairs, education and nature.
Trustee and School Project Coordinator
Tony Conibear
Tony has recently become a Trustee and manages/coordinates our
school projects in Kenya. He is an academic economist who has taught
at several universities both in the UK and abroad. Tony lives in Surbiton
and has three grown-up girls and three grandchildren. In his spare-time he plays tennis and badminton. He likes the theatre and is developing an interest in art history.
Treasurer
John Haile
John’s working life included roles in marketing, print, construction,
packaging, wholesale distribution, accounting software, and concluded with some 20 years as a Chartered Secretary with a global investment banking group. John is married with three daughters and lives at the foot of the Surrey Hills. Retirement includes cycling, bridge, gardening, helping with grandchildren, and volunteering for EACP and two other charities.
Communications and Promotion
Priya Towers
Priya is a digital marketing apprentice with a passion for creative design and online brand building. She’s worked with a variety of brands across fitness, wellness, and creative industries, helping them strengthen their branding and identities. Priya has experience volunteering as an English tutor for GCSE pupils alongside coaching dance for children from 4 to 16 years old. She has also worked as a camp counsellor at a summer sports camp and an activity leader/ English teacher at a English speaking language camp.