July 2025
4 July 2025
Dear colleagues,
As we close the first half of 2025, I see real momentum across the Foundation, reflected in new partnerships, key leadership appointments and focused progress across our missions. In Somaliland, construction of the Pharo International School in Hargeisa officially commenced on 1 June, an important step toward financially self-sustaining education at country level. In Ethiopia, we are finalising the Assosa campus to the high standard we aspire to across all our schools, as we work to make each one a Pharo Lighthouse.
In Kenya we secured approval for the Creative Industries Training Centre in Nairobi, a strategic bet on young people through training in fashion, design and materials. In Rwanda, Jannek Hagen settled in as Country Director. We also celebrated a milestone for our academic pipeline: ten graduates started university abroad on full Pharo Scholarships, and five more earned places at United World Colleges and the African Leadership Academy.
A $50,000 grant from the Bayliss Charitable Foundation will support the school feeding programme in our Somaliland ECE initiative, and Francesca featured on the International Education Funders Group podcast. As half-year reviews get underway, thank you for staying focused. We are building something rare.
Onwards, Thomas Mason, CEO, Pharo Foundation
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