Empowering Houston High School Students
To Reach
Their Future
Malinieta provides mentorship, scholarships, and college-readiness programs to high schoolers across the Houston area — so every student has the tools to graduate, enroll, and thrive.
The Founder's Message
A Promise for the Future
Mali Nieta Foundation
Imagine looking into the eyes of a Houston teenager who has the heart of a leader, the mind of a scholar, and the potential to change the world — yet sees a future that feels like a dead end.
For years, the Mali Nieta Foundation has stood beside communities in need, providing the essentials needed for survival. But today, we are dreaming bigger, and we are dreaming closer to home. Instead of offering help for only a day, we are building a future that can sustain itself right here in Houston — a circle of support that continues moving forward long after we are gone.
We have learned that while food and shelter sustain life, education transforms it. We are no longer offering only a temporary handout — we are offering a promise.
We are seeking out brave, brilliant high school students across the Houston area who are ready to break through the barriers holding them back. Through our “Pay It Forward” mission, we provide financial aid, mentorship, and the tools needed for success. Our goal is simple: help a student graduate, reach college, and build a career — and then empower that student to lift the next child the same way they were lifted.
We have seen what happens when a young person in Houston is finally given a real chance: they do not just succeed — they lead.
Your support today is the first step in a lasting journey of students lifting other students. It is a beautiful, simple chain of humanity that ensures no Houston student has to face the future alone. Once that ripple of help begins, it can grow into a powerful wave of hope across our entire city.
Do not just donate—make a difference that grows.
We Refuse to Let the Story End There.
With gratitude,
Richard Jackson Mali Nieta Foundation
Programs built around real Houston students
Every program is designed alongside students, educators, and families in the communities we serve
Academic Success
Tutoring, study labs, and SAT/ACT prep aligned with HISD curriculum.
Mentorship Network
Pair students with mentors from Houston’s leading employers and universities.
College & Career
Applications, financial aid guidance, and paid summer internships.
Family Support
Wraparound resources for families navigating the path to graduation.
Opening doors for Houston's next generation of leaders
Our Mission
We partner with Houston-area schools, families, and community organizations to remove the barriers that keep talented students from finishing high school and pursuing higher education.
- 1-on-1 mentorship with local professionals.
- Scholarships for tuition, supplies, and exam fees.
- College applications & FAFSA workshops.
- Career readiness and internship pipelines
Do you Have a Dream to Share?
If you are someone with an unfulfilled dream and a commitment to “Paying It Forward,” we want to hear from you.
We select several individuals each year to join our foundation family. We cannot answer everyone, but we will let those who fit our scheme know on a specified date every year.
Our Impectfull Projects
Beyond scholarships, we build the infrastructure needed to create sustainable educational environments.
Clean Water Projects
Access to clean and safe drinking water is essential for healthy communities. Our clean water initiatives focus on installing deep borehole wells and improving water infrastructure in remote villages.
Education for All
Providing access to quality education is one of our core missions. Through building schools, offering scholarships, and supporting teachers, we ensure that children from underserved communities have the opportunity to learn, grow, and succeed.
Healthcare Initiatives
Our healthcare programs deliver essential medical services to communities that lack proper healthcare facilities. These initiatives include health assessments, medical camps, nutrition support, and preventive care.
The Pay It Forward Impact: Rescuing Dreams
Education has the power to transform a life. Through our “Pay It Forward” initiative, every student who receives support becomes part of a growing circle of change.
When a student is allowed to learn, they gain more than knowledge — they gain confidence, hope, and the ability to uplift others in their community.
We believe that every student who rises through education can help lift another student tomorrow.
Our Journey
A timeline of impact, growth, and lives changed.
Scaling Excellence & Professional Training
- PVA offers 2 Pre-school classes, Kind and Level 1 thru 5; 175 students attend.
- Donna Gunn Dorm, 10 Teacher housing units, fence and infrastructure completed.
- Feb: 9 USA volunteers (6 trained teachers) assist Tz teachers with new concepts.
- Zoom Montessori trainings continue.
- Hired local dietician to develop best meal plan to minimize malnutrition.
Building the Gateway to Knowledge
- PVA offers Level 1 thru 3; 135 students attend.
- Richard & Sandy Jackson Library (7,000 English books, 25 unit computer lab) completed and dedicated in June.
- Over 700 locals and guests attend dedication.
- 4 classrooms built plus additional toilets added.
- PVA-USA begins $545,000 capital campaign for dorm. Hired independent Tz diseases and financial controls.
- Hired independent Tz Accountant for financial controls.
Essential Life Support
- PVA offers Level 1, more students attend.
- Deep Bore Hole Water Well installed with clean water.
- Children fed 2 meals + snack (no other food at home).
A Sacred Commitment
- Maasai Tribes in 6 villages assign approx. 50 acres of land for 66 years.
- Land for non-sectarian, English primary school.
- Liberate NGO Africa Children's Foundation formed to serve the school.
- Construction begins at the school.
2024
2023
2022
2021
2020
2019
2018
National Recognition & Health Assessment
- PVA offers 2 Pre-school classes, Kind and Level 1 thru 4; 160 students attend.
- Level 4 students score in top 10% for rural Tz schools.
- BGU EWB second mission weighs/measures all children; discloses malnutrition (63 students) and wasting.
- Computer lab count increases to 25.
- Construction begins on 200 person dorm, 10 new teacher housing units, and dormsement now units we receive complete.
- USA Montessori teachers begin Zoom training.
Global Partnerships & Sustainability
- PVA offers Level 1 & 2, more students attend.
- Library with 7,000 English books and 25 unit computer lab is built.
- Partnership with BGU EWB (Israel) formed; visit to assess water/crops.
- Construction starts on 4 additional classrooms.
- 10 acres planted for crops, fruit trees added.
- PVA-USA formed and gains 501c3 status.
The Doors Open
- PVA opens with 4 classrooms, dining hall, 22 students, staff of 7.
- Pre-school, Kindergarten offered.
- Greenhouse installed + fruit trees; chickens added for meat/eggs.
Meet the Children in their own words
Your gift sends a Houston student further
Whether you want to donate, volunteer, or just say hello, we’d love to hear from you.
