Bridge began in Kenya in 2008 when our founders, Shannon May and Jay Kimmelman, set out to solve a single, seemingly intractable problem; given that hundreds of millions of children worldwide do not have access to schools that empower and inspire them, would it be possible to create a high-performing school that would be affordable for struggling parents and that would immediately change their children’s lives and prepare them to succeed in life?
We re-engineered every part of the education system, from teacher training and support, to lesson delivery, construction and financial administration, as well as pupil and teacher feedback to monitor progress, to make it as efficient, effective – and very affordable for the communities we serve.
The global education crisis means that it’s essential our education model is sustainable and scalable, that’s why we aren’t an NGO. There are 263 million children and young people not in school, the problem is too endemic to solve any other way. At Bridge, parents are the customers, and our model holds us accountable to those families’ needs and expectations.
This model allowed Bridge to invest large sums of money in research, development, technology and lesson development before even the first pupil was admitted. We will always invest in this because we are always learning, modulating and enhancing our approach based on the data and evidence as to what works best. We are committed to continuing this rigorous development process so we can grow and expand to meet the needs of our pupils – ensuring that our millionth pupil receives the same, if not better, high-quality education as our first.