About Us
Creating Brighter Futures for Children in Need
Our mission is to create brighter futures for children in need by focusing on three essential pillars: education, nutrition, and environment. Since our founding in 2018 by a former Peace Corps Senegal volunteer, we've implemented straightforward yet impactful interventions that expand opportunities for bright, curious children.
Perspective
Understanding Developing Countries
A developing country refers to a nation with a lower income level, limited infrastructure, and various socio-economic challenges — poverty, inadequate access to education and healthcare, food insecurity, and environmental degradation. Despite their potential, children there often lack the resources to break the cycle of poverty.
Moral & Economic Incentives
We believe those with the means to help have both moral and economic incentives to support children in developing countries. Morally, all children deserve access to basic rights. Economically, investing in their development yields a more educated workforce, reduced poverty, and greater stability.
Three Branches
How we help
Education
Quality education is the foundation for breaking the cycle of poverty. Many children in developing countries lack access to proper schooling, teachers, and resources.
Nutrition
Proper nutrition is vital for children's physical and cognitive development. Malnutrition and food insecurity lead to stunted growth and learning difficulties.
Environment
Environmental degradation threatens the well-being of children. Deforestation, pollution, and lack of clean water jeopardize their health and quality of life.
Development Done People-First
At the heart of our mission is the belief that prioritizing the well-being, dignity, and agency of individuals and communities is essential for meaningful change. The Jango Project has embraced the People First Impact Method (P-FIM) as a core framework — placing people at the forefront of every decision, integrating ethics, social responsibility, and human rights into our strategies.
Our History
The Jango Project was founded by Conor Byrnes, who served as a Peace Corps Senegal health volunteer starting in 2016. He arrived in a small village with the desire to make a positive impact on the lives of its people.
During his time in the village, Conor became deeply attached to the community. After leaving early to pursue higher education, he made a promise to continue working with the community once the Peace Corps closed the site.
Through discussions with the villagers, it became clear that early childhood education was crucially absent. Most children struggled to understand French when they began formal schooling, which takes place entirely in French.
In response, Conor set out to establish a preschool — locally known as "une case de tout-petits" — providing cultural education, day-care, nutritional lunches, and preparation for the public school system.
From Berlin, Jango Project began budgeting and crowd-funding. The first preschool was built by 2018, and another followed in 2022. Fully recognized by the government and locally managed, they provided daily lunches to over 70 students aged 4 to 7.
The family registered the project as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit in December 2022, expanding the mission to support children’s healthy development across developing countries — focusing on education, nutrition, and environment.
Beyond Senegal, the project built a playground in Kenya’s slums entirely from recycled materials. Today it is preparing for a relaunch with professional fundraising campaigns and new trustworthy partners.