ABOUT US
Our unwavering commitment to empowerment, education, and community development has brought about transformative changes that resonate far beyond the initial projects and initiatives.
About GMF
Gatan Marayu Foundation (GMF), meaning “Shield of Orphans” in Hausa, is a dedicated non-governmental organization that has been transforming lives in Kano, Nigeria, since 2008.
Officially registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) in both Kano and the capital Abuja, GMF was founded by four passionate expatriates driven by a vision for lasting change.
At its core, the Foundation is committed to empowering orphans and vulnerable children by expanding access to quality education and improving learning outcomes across the state. Every year, about 250 students are enrolled in 13 private schools across Kano, thanks to GMF’s educational scholarships.
Collaboration is key to our impact. We work closely with schools, community leaders, and grassroots organizations to ensure that the most at-risk individuals are given not just a chance to learn and earn, but also set on a path toward hope, opportunity, and success, with a real opportunity to transform their lives.
Our Motto
Give a needy person a fish, you feed them for a day.
Teach them how to fish, you feed them for life!
Our Vision
The Foundation’s vision is to bestow economic autonomy and self-determination in marginalized groups and communities of Kano and break the cycle of poverty.
Our Mission
The Foundation’s mission is to ensure access to the transformative power of education for orphaned/vulnerable students and to enable the economic and social empowerment and inclusion of poor, excluded or discriminated groups, especially widows and other disadvantaged women.
Our Goals
Empowering orphaned students through Education
The primary goal of the Foundation is to empower orphaned students through education. By offering scholarships in primary and secondary schools and colleges and universities , the Foundation seeks to provide these vulnerable individuals with opportunities to acquire knowledge, skills, and values necessary for their personal development and future success.
Economic Empowerment through Micro- finance loans
Another essential goal of the Foundation is to empower marginalized individuals, particularly widows and destitute women, through microfinancing loans. By providing financial resources and economic literacy programs, the Foundation enables them to build sustainable livelihoods, achieve financial independence, and secure better opportunities for their children. This holistic approach helps break the cycle of poverty, fostering long-term community development and reducing socio-economic disparities.
Creating impact in marginalised communities through Boreholes and Tricycles for the disabled
Providing boreholes and mobility aids addresses fundamental inequalities in impoverished communities by ensuring access to clean water and enhancing mobility for disabled individuals. Boreholes improve health, economic productivity and overall well-being, Similarly, tricycles empower disabled individuals (Victims of Polio) with independence, enabling them to access work and social participation. Together, these initiatives provide inclusion and equal opportunity, laying the foundation for long-term community empowerment and sustainable development.
Our Objectives
Our passion for empowerment, education, and community growth has sparked lasting change, reaching far beyond our first steps. Every project we touch creates ripples of hope, opportunity, and transformation.
The objectives of the Foundation providing educational scholarships to orphaned students and business start-up opportunities extend beyond simply funding their education and training. Gatan Marayu Foundation paves the way for a future where potential is not limited by circumstance, but nurtured to create a more equal, and hopeful society.
17+ years of service in the community
