Our History:
A Story of Vision and Community
In 1996, Timon Bondo returned to his birthplace of Rabondo Village for what he thought would be a simple visit home. What he found instead was heartbreaking as the local primary school had collapsed, and hundreds of children had no place to learn. Families struggled to meet even their most basic needs. Having education, healthcare, and clean water felt far out of reach. Timon could not ignore what he saw.
Determined to act, he immediately contacted local educational authorities and asked to be allowed to re-open the school. Their answer was simple: the school could only reopen if the funding was secured. Carrying Rabondo with him in his heart, Timon returned to the United States. Two years later, in September 1998, he founded the Rabondo Community Project USA to unlock opportunities for his home village to have a future that would otherwise be out of reach.
What began as one man’s determination soon became a shared vision. Nurtured by donors, volunteers, and community members across continents. Generations of supporters have joined this effort, proving that when vision meets generosity, entire communities can be transformed.
Learn more about how you can get involved and make an impact!
Transforming a Community
Education has always been at the heart of RCPUSA. In the early years we built and equipped a primary school, which opened it’s doors in 2000. For the first time in years, Rabondo’s children had a safe and stable place to learn, far better than gathering under the shade of a tree. Soon after, we built a secondary school to meet the needs of students graduating from primary education. In 2003, the first students were enrolled at St. Timon’s Rabondo Secondary School. With the help of scholarships, mentorship and support from RCPUSA, the school proudly honored its first class of graduates in 2007.
The impact of education stretches far beyond individual classrooms. Graduates have gone on to pursue university studies and vocational training in fields such as teaching, nursing, engineering, and business. Many now serve in professional industries in Kenya, while others have started businesses that provide opportunities for their families and community. Each success story demonstrates how education unlocks opportunities not just for a single student, but for entire families and the broader village.
Clean water has been life-changing for the community. In 2010, we funded the drilling of Rabondo’s first borehole well, supplying safe drinking water to families, schools, and the medical clinic. This eliminated hours of daily labor previously spent hauling and boiling water, improving health and allowing children to focus on their studies. Today, we continue to work toward expanding access through distribution points that bring clean, safe water closer to more community members, ensuring everyone can rely on this essential resource.
Healthcare has also been a parallel priority. In 2006 the Rabondo Medical Clinic, built with the support of the community opened its doors, providing life-saving care to thousands of patients each year, including maternal health services, pediatric care, and general treatments. By reducing the distance families must travel for medical attention, the clinic has improved overall health outcomes and created jobs for Clinical officers and nurses. It remains a vital resource for the village and surrounding communities.
The Rabondo Guest House, formerly the personal home of our founder Timon Bondo, offers a place of refuge for visitors in Rabondo and provides shelter and stability for orphans and children from families facing extreme poverty. It is a place where children can heal, grow, and feel part of a caring family. Alumni of our programs return annually for reunions, sharing their journeys, mentoring current students, and inspiring the next generation, reinforcing the power of community and collective support.
For years, we have worked alongside the people of Rabondo to provide education, healthcare, clean water, and the support needed for families to thrive. These efforts have transformed lives, giving children and adults the tools to learn, grow, and seize new opportunities. But this is just the beginning, we remain committed to sustaining and expanding these programs, ensuring that every generation has access to the resources, guidance, and hope they need to build brighter futures.
The Legacy of Timon Bondo
(1936-2020)
Timon Bondo was more than our founder, he was the heartbeat of this mission. Born in Rabondo, he immigrated to the United States in 1962 and spent most of his life working and raising a family in the U.S. Yet his heart never left Kenya.
In 1996, his return to Rabondo lit a fire that would change thousands of lives. With courage and determination, he rallied support in both the U.S. and Kenya, proving that one person’s vision can awaken an entire community.
Timon passed away in September 2020 while on a work visit to Rabondo. He was laid to rest in the very village where his life began and where his vision continues to thrive. His passing was deeply felt on both sides of the ocean, yet his spirit lives on in every student who receives a scholarship, every child who finds shelter at the Guest House, every patient who is cared for at the clinic, and every family who drinks clean water.
Watch Timon’s Video Interview from Our 20th Anniversary Celebration in 2018
“Timon was our hero, our legend, and his spirit is going to live with us forever.”
— Kevin Oyoo, St. Timon's Rabondo Secondary School Alumni
Though much has been accomplished, the story is not finished. More classrooms still need to be built. Scholarships must be funded year after year. The clinic requires constant supplies to keep its doors open. More families wait for functional access to clean water. More children wait for support from our organization and from our donors to unlock opportunities for them to have self-determination over their future.
Our history is proof of what is possible when vision meets generosity. As we carry Timon’s work forward, we invite you to join us in writing the next chapter, one filled with education, dignity, and opportunity for Rabondo.
