From Sabaki to Skye: Why WOW Scotland is Supporting Future Foundations
By Kay Pearson on 6th May 2026
At WOW Scotland, our heart is in the Highlands, but our community is global. Usually, our charitable giving stays close to the paths we tread on our tours – supporting local gardening projects or Highland conservation. However, some stories are so powerful that they demand we look beyond our own backyard to help out.
That story belongs to Joseph Lewa, a man who is closely linked to both the Isle of Skye and the village of Sabaki, Kenya.
A journey fuelled by opportunity
Joseph’s path to the Isle of Skye wasn’t an easy one. Growing up in Sabaki, his future was at a crossroads when his father passed away in 2002. At just 16 years old, Joseph became the breadwinner for his mother and six younger siblings. Whilst many in his position would have been forced to leave education behind, Joseph’s uncle stepped in to sponsor his secondary schooling. Joseph did the rest—working nights, weekends, and holidays to cover his own fees and provide for his family. He eventually became the first person from his village to go to university. This feat was made possible by three UK visitors (including his future wife, Sharon), who met him whilst working at an orphanage in Kenya. They went on to sponsor his Diploma in Social Work and Community Development at Mount Kenya University.
Roots in Kenya, home in the Highlands
Today, Joseph is a familiar face on the Isle of Skye, where he lives with his wife, Sharon, and their two daughters. However, Joseph has never forgotten where he came from.
In April 2013, Joseph and Sharon founded Future Foundations to tackle a heartbreaking reality: in Kenya, while primary education is deemed to be free, secondary school is not. For many families, the cost is an impossible barrier, leading to high rates of illiteracy and a loss of hope for the future.
Why WOW Scotland is stepping in
When I (Kay from WOW Scotland) was researching potential charitable causes on the Isle of Skye, to donate to in 2026, I came across Future Foundations. After researching the charity and contacting Joseph it was clear that he had such raw passion for giving kids in Sabaki the same sort of support that he received. He is spending so much of his own time (when he is not working full time or looking after his own two kids!) raising money to help these children, and is clearly wholly dedicated to this. I knew then that we had to help.
Who are we sponsoring?
We are proud to announce that WOW Scotland is sponsoring two high school students, Shebani and Diana, for the current school year.
Shebani is 17 years old and lives with his Mother (a housewife), his Father (a farmer) and his six siblings. He informed us that his education has been disrupted, due to financial hardship at home, which meant that his family could not afford enough food, clothing or bedding, so he had to stop attending school. He said that “my dream is to be a mechanical engineer and it’s my great wish that you will give me a hand so that I can achieve my future dreams”. Shebani said he is very happy to be awarded his scholarship, as was his Mum, who could not eat all day, “ because she was very very happy”!
Diana is 16 years old and lives in a mud house in Sabaki, with her Mother (a peasant farmer), her Father (who works in a quarry), and her four brothers and two sisters. She performed well in her junior secondary exams, but her parents could not afford to pay for any further schooling for her, so she has not been at school at all this year. She wishes to go to school so that, “when I grow I could help my siblings, also our community”. When she was informed that she had been granted a scholarship, Diana wrote to inform us that, “Because of your support, I have been given an opportunity to pursue my education and work towards achieving my dreams. This scholarship has not only eased the financial burden but has also motivated me to work harder and remain focused on my studies”.
What does the sponsorship cover?
The sponsorship provided by WOW Scotland covers:
- One year of secondary school fees
- Essential learning materials
- School uniform
- The chance for two teenagers, and their families, to have a more secure future
As Future Foundations are a small charity, with low overheads and no paid staff, all of the money we have paid goes directly to the students, maximising the impact made.
A worthwhile cause
This isn’t the type of project we usually support as we normally stay local with our giving. However, Joseph is one of our own here in the Highlands, and his mission to break the cycle of poverty through education is a cause we truly believe in.
“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” — Nelson Mandela
We look forward to sharing updates on Shibani and Diana’s progress throughout the year. To Joseph and the team at Future Foundations: thank you for letting us be part of this journey!
Want to learn more?
You can find out more about the incredible work Joseph and Sharon are doing on the Future Foundations website. And if you are on our Ultimate Isle of Skye Tour or our Skye Explorer Tour our guides will look out for Joseph on the island – give him a wave if you see him!