Reducing Out-of-School Children Through Localized Funding
Every child deserves a chance to learn, dream, and thrive.
Goal: To reduce the number of out-of-school children in Northern Nigeria by providing a sustainable funding solution that connects donors with schools offering scholarships for orphaned and vulnerable children.
Objectives:
- Facilitate education access by linking orphans in Kano with donors and partner schools offering discounted scholarships.
- Enable donor participation through a transparent, flexible platform where individuals and organizations can select beneficiaries.
- Partner with Quality Education Development Associates (QEDA) to implement a comprehensive monitoring and evaluation framework.
Nigeria faces a critical education crisis, with over 10.5 million children out of school, particularly in Northern Nigeria. In Kano State, an estimated 32% of primary school-aged children lack access to education due to poverty, cultural barriers, and limited financial support.
Since 2018, ZAYT Foundation has been providing scholarships and free education to orphaned and vulnerable children in Kano State. However, financial constraints have limited the Foundation’s ability to scale its impact.
To address this challenge, ZAYT Foundation developed MarayuConnect, a tech-enabled platform that connects local and diaspora donors with schools offering discounted scholarships for orphaned and vulnerable children. The platform leverages digital solutions to enhance transparency, accountability, and scalability in education financing.
The MarayuConnect concept was informed by early discussions with education stakeholders, including Quality Education Development Associates (QEDA).
Sponsor a Child: Change a Life with MarayuConnect
Every child deserves a chance to learn, dream, and thrive. Yet, millions of orphans and vulnerable children in Northern Nigeria remain out of school—not because they lack potential, but because they lack support.
Through MarayuConnect, you can be the difference. MarayuConnect is a locally-driven platform that connects compassionate sponsors like you with children in need of educational support. Our partner schools offer discounted scholarships, and with your contribution, we can cover costs like tuition, uniforms, and learning materials—often at 30–50% less than standard rates, making your impact go even further.
Why Sponsor Through MarayuConnect?
Direct & Transparent: Browse anonymised profiles by age, gender, and needs. Choose a child or school to support, and track your impact in real time.
Flexible & Trusted: Whether you’re an individual, business, or religious group, you choose how much to give and when. Every donation goes directly to the school, verified by our local community leaders.
Culturally Rooted: Inspired by Sadaka Fissabilillah, your sponsorship aligns with the Islamic values of charity, community, and care for orphans.
Scalable Impact: By sponsoring even one child, you’re helping to break the cycle of poverty and build a brighter future—for a child, their family, and their entire community.