How Does Access to Basics Improve Education Outcomes?

In many parts of the world, education is seen as a fundamental right. But in the communities where L Squared works—whether rural villages in Kenya or underserved neighborhoods in California—education is often a privilege, not a guarantee. Children in poverty-stricken areas face barriers to learning that most of us can barely imagine: hunger, lack of clean water, no access to sanitary products, and limited school infrastructure.

At L Squared, we believe that education is the cornerstone of long-term transformation. But before a child can thrive in the classroom, they must first have their basic needs met. Access to essentials like food, water, hygiene, and safe spaces is not just a matter of comfort—it’s a prerequisite for learning.

Clean Water: The Foundation for Attendance and Health

Imagine having to walk several miles just to fetch water before school. Now imagine that water is likely to be contaminated. For many children in the regions we serve, this is a daily reality.

Without access to clean water:

• Students miss school due to water-fetching responsibilities, often assigned to girls.

• Waterborne diseases such as cholera and diarrhea cause frequent absences.

• School environments suffer from poor sanitation, making attendance dangerous or uncomfortable.

  
  

L Squared addresses this through community well projects and school-based water tanks.

When water is available on school grounds:

• Attendance rises.

• Illnesses drop.

• Girls stay in class during menstruation.

A clean, reliable water source is more than just a health measure—it’s an educational lifeline.

Nutrition: Fueling the Mind to Learn

A hungry child cannot concentrate. It’s that simple.

In many of the communities we serve, students come to school without having eaten. Malnutrition doesn't just affect physical health—it hampers cognitive development, memory retention, and focus.

That’s why our Hot Kitchen initiatives in Kenya and Nigeria have become a model of how food can fuel education. By providing daily hot meals prepared onsite:

• Students stay in school longer.

• Class participation improves.

• Academic performance increases.

  
  

These meals don’t just fill stomachs—they create stability, joy, and a reason to keep coming back to school.

Hygiene and Sanitation: Restoring Dignity and Participation

For adolescent girls, something as natural as a menstrual cycle can become a barrier to education. In many rural areas, the lack of access to sanitary products leads to embarrassment, stigma, and missed school days—sometimes resulting in girls dropping out altogether.

L Squared’s solution? Reusable sanitary pad programs like Precious Pads, created with input from local women and distributed to schoolgirls across our regions. These pads are:

• Durable and eco-friendly.

• Easy to wash and reuse.

• Culturally sensitive and stigma-reducing.

  
  

When girls have access to sanitary products, their attendance becomes consistent. Their confidence grows. And their chances of completing school rise dramatically.

School Infrastructure: Learning in Safe and Supportive Environments

Too often, schools in the communities we serve are in disrepair—without desks, electricity, or trained teachers. Classrooms might be overcrowded or entirely outdoors. This environment makes learning difficult and retention low.

L Squared supports infrastructure by:

• Building and refurbishing school facilities.

• Providing learning materials.

• Supporting teacher development in underserved areas.

When children have a safe, equipped place to learn, they show up—and they thrive.

Education as a Cycle of Transformation

Access to education creates ripple effects far beyond the classroom. Children who stay in school are:

• Less likely to marry young.

• More likely to earn higher wages as adults.

• Better equipped to raise healthy families of their own.

What’s more, educated youth often return to their communities with new skills, knowledge, and a desire to give back—helping break cycles of poverty for generations to come.

But none of that is possible without the basics.

Your Support Makes This Possible

At L Squared, we don’t just build programs—we build ecosystems. Every donation helps fund clean water projects, hot kitchens, hygiene kits, school supplies, and much more. These aren’t temporary fixes; they’re the roots of long-term change.

With your help, we can continue to provide the foundational support that every child deserves.

$30 provides a month of hot meals for one student.

$50 funds a year’s supply of reusable sanitary pads.

$250 helps install a clean water tank for a school.

$500 supports school infrastructure improvements and supplies.

The Power of Basics

When we talk about changing the world, it’s easy to think of big ideas. But often, it’s the simplest things—a cup of water, a plate of food, a clean uniform—that open the door to transformation.

By meeting basic needs, we remove barriers to learning. And when children can learn, communities can grow, thrive, and lift themselves out of poverty.

That’s the power of basics. That’s the power of education. And that’s the power of your support.

Donate today and help us build a future where every child can learn, thrive, and lead.