Our story
We believe every child deserves the tools to learn.
Rising Phoenix Fund was founded on a simple, stubborn idea: that every child, in every village, deserves the books and school supplies they need to build a future.
Our origin
Having grown up navigating two distinct worlds—Zambia and the United States—our founder, Mwelwa "Mel" Kostrick, noticed a universal thread connecting children across the globe: an undeniable, burning desire to read and learn. It deeply moved her to see that literacy, a fundamental human right capable of altering the trajectory of a life, remained a luxury for so many.
Refusing to accept this reality, Mel set out on a mission to put the transformative power of books and essential school supplies into the hands of as many children as possible.
What began as a heartfelt vision has grown rapidly. Two years later, the Rising Phoenix Fund operates proudly across four countries. The phoenix in our name does not represent pity or charity—it stands as our enduring promise to every child we meet: that your current circumstances do not define your ending, and a single story is enough to start a life over.
What we believe
Dignity first
Books and supplies that reflect the children we serve — their languages, faces, and futures.
Local stewardship
We partner with local educators and community leaders. Communities lead the work.
Permanence
Not aid drops. Consistent deliveries of books and supplies that keep classrooms equipped year after year.
Radical transparency
Every dollar tracked, every shipment logged, every delivery mapped.
Our mission
To ignite a lifetime of discovery by delivering culturally relevant books and essential school supplies to children in underserved communities.
We believe every child—regardless of geography or circumstance—deserves the tools to learn, grow, and rise above. Through local partnerships, consistent delivery, and radical transparency, we equip children to build futures of their own.
The team
A small, distributed team working alongside local partners in every region we serve.
Mel Kostrick
Founder & Executive Director
Mayufe Changwe
Director of Programs
Alan Kostrick
Operations & Logistics Lead
Kadija Razzak
Director of Partnerships
Transparency
A registered 501(c)(3)
Rising Phoenix Fund is a U.S.-registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. All donations are tax-deductible. Our annual reports, audited financials, and program impact data are public.