Our story. It began with a single question.
Blooming World International was founded in March 2019 in Nairobi, Kenya, out of years of community work and research across East Africa. From the beginning, our focus was on children and young people furthest behind — those born into poverty, living in rural and arid regions, in displaced communities, or with developmental delays and disabilities.
We started by asking why children were not learning, and what it would take for them to flourish. That question has shaped every programme, study and partnership we have built since.
The work began with a simple question: what would it take for every child to bloom? Everything we've done since has been an attempt to answer it — one classroom, one community, one piece of evidence at a time.
Elisha Caleb
Founder, Blooming World International
Since 2019. Growing in scope, depth and ambition.
Since 2019, our work has grown in scope, depth and ambition. We have partnered with governments, communities and civil society across East Africa to strengthen the foundations of learning — from a child's earliest years through to the skills and values they need for life and work.
Along the way, we have learned from what works and what doesn't, invested in rigorous evidence, and built a team of African scientists, educators and researchers committed to the same question: how do we make sure every child, wherever they are born, has the foundations to bloom?
Milestones. The moments that shaped who we are and how we work.
Founded in Nairobi
BWI is founded as an African-led, not-for-profit organisation inspired by a simple question: what would it take for every child to bloom?
Reaching 20,000+ young people
Through partnerships with over 20 TVET institutions in 20 Kenyan counties, we reached over 20,000 young people with the holistic competences demanded for work and life — deepening understanding of skills for work and informing Kenya's Competency-Based Training curricula.
Accelerating foundational learning
Adapting the Teaching at the Right Level methodology to the Kenyan context, we accelerated the learning of over 17,000 children in more than 120 primary schools across three counties. After only 30 days of learning camps, 50% of children moved up two levels in reading and numeracy.
Extending our work to birth
We began working with mothers, caregivers, daycare centres and community health workers to support children from birth to age three — with nurturing care, early stimulation, and locally adapted assessment tools. This work fills a gap many organisations leave: the youngest children, and their first thousand days.
Convening partners across sectors
Through our Birth-to-Learning Platform, we bring together governments, civil society, researchers, funders and the private sector — connecting education, health and social protection sectors that too often work in isolation, even though they serve the same child.
Where we are going
Our 2026–2030 strategy commits us to reaching at least 150,000 children and young people through studies and assessments, convening 100+ member institutions, and influencing policies and budgets that reach at least 5 million children — all while building a reputation as one of Africa's most respected civil society organisations championing children's foundations from birth.
Our mission & vision