AIC Grace Academy

The GRACE Project is a nonprofit organization focused on empowering Kenyan families to achieve financial independence through three core areas: education, healthcare, and climate-smart agricultural training. Founded in 2006 by Joseph Matara, the organization originated from his personal journey of community support. After his Kenyan community pooled resources to fund his flight to the United States in 1987 with only $20, Joseph pursued higher education, earning undergraduate and master's degrees, and built a career in accounting. Inspired by a 2006 trip to Kisii, Kenya with mentor Nick Cirignano, who emphasized the need to help local children, Joseph established the GRACE Project as a way to give back. The organization is structured as a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) in the U.S. and is registered as a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) in Kenya. Its mission leverages the Kenyan tradition of 'harambee,' which involves communities collaborating and sharing resources to foster development. By providing educational opportunities, healthcare support, and agricultural vocational training, the GRACE Project aims to enable sustainable livelihoods within local communities, reducing dependency and promoting self-sufficiency. The initiative reflects Joseph's commitment to repaying the investment his community made in him, extending similar chances for success to others.