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Simwood Partners with ChallengeAid to Expand Education Support for “School of Hope” in Nairobi, Kenya
3 Oct, 2025
Through its partnership with ChallengeAid, Simwood is helping provide education, therapy and creative outlets for disadvantaged children in Nairobi’s Mathare community.
Nairobi, Kenya - October 1, 2025 - Simwood, the software-defined carrier powering voice innovation worldwide, has partnered with ChallengeAid, an international NGO, funding over 15% of ChallengeAid’s total annual operating costs to expand educational opportunities for young people living in disadvantaged communities across Africa. The collaboration reflects Simwood’s commitment to sustainable development and empowering children, particularly those with special needs, through inclusive and holistic education.
In recognition of Simwood’s major contribution, one of its schools is being renamed The Simwood School of Hope. The Simwood School of Hope, in Mathare, provides structured academic reinforcement and holiday tutoring for 58 teenagers while also caring for 289 children with special needs, many requiring intensive physiotherapy and daily supervision. Its outreach extends to parents through outreach programmes and workshops covering health, emotional resilience, and practical skills, helping entire families break cycles of poverty.
“I don’t think I’ve ever seen a charity which is so impactful and has touched me so viscerally. Being able to make a difference to so many children is an incredible privilege and one we hope our friends might wish to get behind, too. ,” said Simon Woodhead, CEO at Simwood. “ChallengeAid has educated over 100k pupils. It has built 53 ‘Schools of Hope’, teaching 5,000 pupils a year, providing community hubs which are safe resourced places for children to learn. They’ve also helped 1,000 Maasai girls gain basic education and life skills, protecting them from FGM, forced marriage and early motherhood. 150 volunteers on the ground in Kenya and Tanzania have all gone through the schools, seen their life changed and are now giving back. Some of the children, who otherwise would have had little hope, have gone on to ace exams and through to University to study medicine and other challenging subjects. The programme has even produced four national Chess champions! How amazing is that?“
In addition to funding and ongoing support, Simwood will donate chess sets to ChallengeAid to be distributed across its entire network of Schools of Hope. Chess is already an integral part of the curriculum in many schools and has helped students develop strategic thinking, focus, and self-esteem, with some children achieving national champion status and competing successfully in Kenyan tournaments. Simwood hopes the additional sets will allow even more children to participate, fostering a love of learning and critical thinking that extends beyond the classroom.
“At ChallengeAid, we work to deliver opportunity and education to children living in some of the toughest conditions, and partnerships like this with Simwood make this possible. The Simwood School of Hope will have a tangible and long-lasting effect on the lives of hundreds of children and their families in Mathare. Their contribution goes far beyond a donation; it’s a statement that these children matter and that their potential is worth investing in,” said Iestyn Thomas, CEO at ChallengeAid. “We are excited to expand our collaboration with Simwood and to share the progress and success stories that result from their support. Together, we can help young people not only succeed academically but also become future leaders and changemakers in their communities. ChallengeAid works in the heart of these informal slum settlements where many larger charities fear to tread and our partnership makes it more likely to do even more quality work which will directly affect the lives of these young people.”
About Simwood
Simwood is a software-defined carrier that enables partners to rapidly develop, deploy, scale, and monetise voice, messaging, and advanced communications services via a programmable platform. Independent, founder-led, and fearlessly innovative, Simwood owns and operates its own global infrastructure and gives partners full control to build differentiated, high-value services without compromise.
Simwood was founded in 1996 as the world’s first global gateway between the Internet and mobile phones. Simwood’s focus remains firmly on its customers, providing the quality and stability their businesses rely on.
About ChallengeAid
ChallengeAid is an international NGO that empowers children living in disadvantaged communities across Africa by providing access to education, mentorship, and life skills. Through its innovative network of Schools of Hope, ChallengeAid offers after-school learning centres in urban slums and remote areas, supporting over 5,000 children annually and more than 100,000 pupils since its inception.
Its programmes combine academic reinforcement, teacher training, sanitation initiatives, and youth leadership development, with a particular focus on helping vulnerable girls and children with special needs. ChallengeAid believes education is the key to breaking cycles of poverty and enabling the next generation of African leaders to thrive.
