The Swedish Teacher Who Spent $15 a Year to Change Thousands of Lives

In 1970s Sweden, a kindergarten teacher named Hilde Back saw a flyer for a child sponsorship program.

She figured, why not? She picked a name from a list — Chris Mburu, a bright kid in Kenya whose family couldn't afford school.

She sent $15 per term.

That's it.

Chris Mburu went on to become a lawyer. Then a human rights attorney. Then he thought: Someone believed in me when I was nothing. I have to pass this forward.

In 2006, he founded the Hilde Back Education Fund — named after the teacher who changed his life with pocket change.

Today? The fund has supported thousands of Kenyan children through secondary school.

Hilde Back died in 2021 at 98. She never asked for a legacy.

She just kept sending $15.