“It’s not about the numbers, it’s about loving what you do and the passion behind it.” – Tina, Joska Spot.
Meet our Spot of the Month of August, The Mash Foundation Joska Spot in Kenya, a community that continues to shine through passion, teamwork, and an unwavering commitment to education and transformation.
The Joska Spot is led by Charles Macharia, a dedicated Catalyst at the Mash Foundation, who coordinates the Spot lead and Ignite Equity Strand, and Tina Njoroge, who serves as both Catalyst and Program Coordinator. Together with their small but vibrant team of three, supported by six enthusiastic teachers in local schools, they prove that impact is not about numbers but about passion and purpose.
Joska is a semi-urban, rapidly growing community located on the outskirts of Nairobi. Once without a library within a 30-kilometre radius, it now proudly hosts Joska’s first-ever community library, a beacon of knowledge and hope.
The Joska Spot’s journey began back in 2015 with just 20 storybooks and a few exam papers. A generous friend from England later donated 5,000 books, helping launch what has become a thriving centre of learning and community growth.
Over time, Joska Spot has evolved with the support of EduSpot, gaining access to local books, stronger networks, and fresh ideas that have kept the spirit of reading alive in the community.
In August, with passion and teamwork, the team worked tirelessly to organise school talks, mentorship sessions, Club Ignite activities, Spelling Bees, book reviews, and even art and skill-based classes, including liquid soap making, basic computer training, and graphic design lessons. “It gives me joy to see the impact on children and their drive to read more”, Charles shared.
Like many community initiatives, the team faced challenges, from Catalysts returning to university to teachers’ busy schedules and dwindling learner numbers as learners moved to boarding schools.
To address the drop in numbers of learners, Joska Spot adapted by adjusting lesson schedules to fit schools’ availability and continued to promote participation through the holidays.
Putting their entrepreneurial skills into practice, the team ventured into a new and exciting snail-farming project, supported by 2025 EduSpots’ Catalyse Leadership Programme, a creative sustainability idea still in its learning phase.
On challenges encountered at the beginning of this project, Charles mentioned, “Rodents and weather affected the first batch, but we’re learning and trying again.”
Tina recalled one of the unforgettable moments in August, “One of the most memorable highlights of the month was receiving new local storybooks that filled our spot shelves, a long-awaited promise fulfilled”. Then Charles added, “Seeing children revise for exams using the computers at the Spot and witnessing Spot attendance grow from 10 to 30 pupils on Saturdays was deeply rewarding.”
For Joska Spot, teamwork is everything.“It unites us and brings more energy to accomplish tasks effectively,” Charles and Tina explain. “It makes everyone feel appreciated and valued,” they added. This strong bond keeps the team motivated despite challenges and ensures that every effort counts toward their shared mission of supporting Sparks and transforming their community through education.
Charles stated that the Mash Foundation Joska Spot being named Spot of the Month has been a huge morale boost for the team. “It has motivated and helped us see that even the smallest efforts are recognised,” Charles recounted.
Looking ahead, Joska Spot is not slowing down. Their plans include expanding into more schools and satellite libraries, increasing their visibility on social media, partnering with community stakeholders to develop innovative educational games to address certain social issues, including drug abuse awareness and Christian board games to generate income for sustaining their libraries. Also, networking with other Spots in the network to share ideas and learn together.
“Never give up, stay focused, and let’s build a Collective Future together.” were the final words of the Joska team to other Spots in the network.
Congratulations once again to The Mash Foundation, Joska Spot, where passion meets purpose, and learning continues to light the path for the next generation.