We’re breaking barriers in STEM education, ensuring girls and youth in rural communities have the tools to succeed in an AI-driven world.
We believe every child deserves access to STEM education and AI tools to unlock their potential and shape the future.
Riley Orton Foundation (ROF) provides holistic education and promotes gender equality in STEM education to ensure girls and a community with the agency to realize their full potential.
About usVision
We envision a future where all children, especially girls, have equal access to education, technology, and opportunities to become skilled innovators and leaders, gaining the agency to achieve their full potential and drive sustainable change.
Mission
Our mission is to alleviate poverty among marginalized girls and women in Kenya. We achieve this by providing holistic education to rural girls and boys, reducing the gender and skills gap in STEM & AI Education, and empowering the youth through digital literacy, entrepreneurship training and mentorship.
Impact
We empower rural students, especially girls and young women, by breaking barriers to education through scholarships, school supplies and menstrual hygiene support, while fostering STEM and AI interest via hands-on learning activities, training teachers in STEM and AI integration, and equipping youth with skills for economic resilience, creating a brighter, more equitable future for underserved communities.
Three programs, one goal
Latest news from the Riley Orton Foundation
Innovating for a water secure future: STEM Camp showcase at Akili STEMarts Academy
What an incredible end to our August 2025 holiday STEM Camp! Over the past 2 weeks, 180 students from Grade 1–12 at our Akili STEMarts Academy have been learning, creating, and building innovations for a water secure future during this August school break.
Students showcased their projects before parents, judges from Future Infinities, and teachers, a powerful reminder of what happens when rural students are given the opportunity to explore technology. From Arduino-powered water kiosks and smart irrigation systems, to robotics for flood safety and Scratch games on water security, their creativity and problem-solving skills were nothing short of remarkable!
This camp not only nurtured innovation but also equipped both students and teachers with the confidence, creativity, and hands-on STEM skills needed to tackle real-world challenges.
Experience AI: teachers training
The transformation of rural education through technology is gaining momentum. In our second capacity-building session, educators explored tools like generative AI for lesson planning, text-to-speech for accessibility, and smart exam analysis for data-driven instruction, all through hands-on practicals; reimagining teaching to make it more efficient, inclusive, and impactful. Every session brings us closer to bridging the digital divide and unlocking new possibilities for students in rural communities.
Uniform distribution
The “Dignity & Access” School Uniform Initiative is a targeted intervention designed to support underprivileged students who mostly attend rural secondary day schools in Western Kenya, specifically in counties such as Siaya, Kisumu, Kakamega, Busia, and Homa Bay. The program addresses a fundamental barrier to education by distributing durable, high-quality uniforms, including shoes and undergarments, to children from extremely low-income households who are mostly in day schools.
Learning by doing
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