HISTORY: In January 2006, a Malawian studying toward a PhD at Berkeley, California inspired a number to help improve educational opportunities in his native village. The Kasimu Education Fund was organized and is managed by Bob and Mary Burns, with the assistance of volunteer board members (listed below). The initial goal was to provide high school scholarships for students graduating from the Kasimu Grammar School (grades 1-8). Accomplishments have been impressive (listed below), considering the modest means of KEF. New goals have arisen along the way (see "PROJECTS").

A total of $150,000 was raised in three years (2006 to 2008) through small contributions from over 250 donors.

ZERO OVERHEAD: KEF is a unique philanthropic non-profit: it operates with zero overhead. Its all-volunteer members pay for all of their own operating expenses. There is no kittie to draw from.

Every amount you contribute ends up in Malawi !...

TAX DEDUCTIBLE: KEF is a non-profit 501(c)(3) secular NGO (non-government organization) EIN#01-0864883

THE PEOPLE OF KEF:

On site in Malawi: All Malawian KEF members have strong bonds to the village from which they originate:

• Peter Mulomole was the initial inspiration behind KEF while a PhD student in Berkeley, CA. Since his return to Malawi in December 2008 he advises KEF about projects in his original village of Manyesa and the surrounding 7 villages. While Peter is a senior Catholic priest, KEF is a secular organization serving all Malawian people independently of religion.
• Augustine Mulomole is a university-trained journalist who recently accepted a position with the National Media Institute of Southern Africa, in Lilongwe the capital of Malawi. He is KEF's on-site Project Coordinator.
• Clement Mulutha, with a Marketing Diploma after a 2-year program at a private college, is KEF's full-time Micro-Finance field administrator, after having received professional training by FINCA, a micro-financial services organization serving 725,000 clients in 21 countries. (FINCA graciously provided the training at no expense to KEF).

The KEF field organization is composed of a Project Coordinator acting as liaison between the Board of Directors in California and the KEF Committee in Manyesa, Malawi. The latter is composed of:

• the KEF Committee chairperson, secretary and treasurer,
• the KEF on-site Project Coordinator,
• the school principal,
• the School Management Committee chairperson,
• the Scholarship Committee chairperson,
• the Parents-Teachers Association chairperson,
• the Church Council chairperson,
• the Micro-Finance Administrator (non-voting),
• the Villages Chief's Representative (non-voting).

 Board of Directors in California:

• Mary & Bob Burns, President & Treasurer
• Geri Havlicek, Secretary
• Joy Bryant
• Robert & Sharon Calone
• Hedda Hope
• Daniel Hoppe
• Michael & Patrice Otten
• June Ough
  

Advisory Board:

• Richard & Soussan Warner
• Peter Mulomole
• Augustine Mulomole