Logos are an important part of organizational identity and branding, as they visually convey meaning about the organization’s mission and values. Today we examine the meaning behind eduKenya’s acacia tree logo – what it is, why it was chosen and what it communicates about our work.

The acacia tree is synonymous with the African savanna and, more specifically, the country of Kenya. Believed to have over 1,000 different species, the acacia tree is diverse in its location, appearance and uses. Most prominently found in Australia and Africa, it also grows in Europe and North and South America.The vast diversity of the acacia represents the value we place on diversity of culture, race, ethnicity and contribution in the body of Christ. Though our work is in Kenya, we seek to be a diverse movement of people who, like acacias, have roots in locations across the globe, yet are unified in our purpose of empowering children and their families with the opportunity to break the cycle of poverty.Acacia trees are prized for their exceptional durability, density, and resistance to weather, insects and decay. It is believed that one variety of acacia was used in biblical times to build the tabernacle because of these properties.We seek to be people of strength, tenacity and commitment who don’t quit when resistance comes. There are many development efforts that have done more harm than good to the people they intended to help by leaving when challenges arose and/or not empowering people to be the authors of their own development. We are resolute in our commitment to create sustainable solutions that provide children and families with the opportunity to transform their own lives.Acacias require direct sunlight to grow. In the shade, an acacia tree quickly dies. This essential growing condition is an important reminder to daily place the people of eduKenya – staff, partners, the people we serve and the wider communities where we work – under the Son-light of Jesus, who empowers, sustains, corrects and guides us. Our mission is impossible apart from Jesus, the source of love, grace, hope, mercy and peace, and the One who enables lasting transformation.Acacias are known for growing slowly and in dry conditions. We are not interested in growing rapidly at the expense of one of our core values, sustainability. Like the acacia, our growth may be slower because we are working toward the sustainability of all programs such that opportunities to break the cycle of poverty can be offered to children and families indefinitely and independent of outside assistance.Finally, we equate education for children with the roots of acacia trees. Like roots must grow down so that trees can grow up, so children are able to grow and flourish when they have the foundational opportunity to be educated. Children born into poverty and who are uneducated, or who end their education too soon due to lack of resources or often because they are female or disabled, are highly vulnerable to remaining trapped in the insidious cycle of poverty.Psalm 1 describes “A tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither.” We will prayerfully continue to yield fruit with your help, tackling the root causes of poverty by providing the opportunity for children and families to access the root catalysts for transformation.