operation idream

What operation idream does

Operation iDream is a US-incorporated 501(c)(3) non-profit organization headquartered in Sacramento, California, delivering education, healthcare, vocational training, and child sponsorship programs to children and families in the Masaiti District near Ndola, Zambia. Founded in 2011 by Samuel and Kasamba Sikapizye — both Zambian-born — the organization operates from a 25-39 acre campus that integrates a K-12 school serving 400+ students, a medical clinic run by three staff, a 39-acre sustainable farm, and a child sponsorship program touching 750+ children. It also runs Tech-ING Africa, a computer literacy initiative, and has announced a planned iDream Trade Schools program for vocational training in metal fabrication, woodworking, construction, and tailoring. The organization is governed by a seven-member board and supported by an on-the-ground Zambia team of approximately 30 staff spanning teaching, clinic operations, farming, and administration.

The business model is donation-driven with three revenue streams: individual donations solicited via website and Facebook, recurring child sponsorships of $25-50 per month, and one-time mission trip fees of $4,650 per participant for Experience AFRICA trips. The go-to-market approach is community-led, relying on word-of-mouth referrals, volunteer mission trips, and direct donor engagement rather than institutional fundraising or paid acquisition. There is no commercial product, no proprietary technology, and no data or AI infrastructure. The organization's infrastructure investments between 2017-2021 — including electricity installation, well drilling, and modern plumbing — have been progressive enhancements to the campus to support program scaling.

Founding story traces to the founders' prior work with Hope Ministries Zambia, which introduced them to the orphans and vulnerable children affected by the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Operation iDream was launched to expand their scope beyond the original Hope Community's pre-school through elementary program. The organization explicitly positions itself as a holistic, individualized alternative to surface-level aid, combining education, healthcare, and sustainable agriculture on a single campus while emphasizing mental, emotional, and spiritual development alongside physical needs. No revenue figures, foundation grants, or audited financials are publicly disclosed.

Name

operation idream

Legal name

Operation iDream

Website

https://operationidream.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Operation iDream is a US-based 501(c)(3) non-profit operating a 25-39 acre campus in Ndola, Zambia, that delivers integrated K-12 education, healthcare, sustainable agriculture, and child sponsorship to 750+ children and families in the Masaiti District. It is funded by individual donations, recurring sponsorships, and mission trip fees.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Non-profit Humanitarian Services

NAICS

Emergency and Other Relief Services (62423), All Other Schools and Instruction (61169), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Health Services (8000), Agricultural Services (700)

akta.pro primary industry

Emergency Shelter, Camp Management & Non-Food Items (NFI) (BPAGAAAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Education in Emergencies (EiE) & Safe Schools (BPADAKAJ), Refugee, Crisis & Humanitarian Education Partnerships (EiE) (EDADALAG)

Keywords

• Humanitarian education services
• Community healthcare programs
• Child sponsorship programs
• Vocational training services
• Sustainable agriculture programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Sacramento

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Tax-exempt donations from individuals supporting the organization's mission to provide education, healthcare, and sustainable development in Zambia.
2. Child Sponsorship: Monthly donations of $25-50 providing orphaned, impoverished, or vulnerable children with shelter, nutritious food, quality education, skills-based training, and family unit support.
3. Mission Trip Fees: Fees charged for Experience AFRICA mission trips to Zambia covering travel, accommodation, meals, safari, and program costs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Operation iDream is a tax-exempt, US-based non-profit organization that delivers K-12 education, preventive healthcare, child sponsorship support, sustainable agriculture, and volunteer mission experiences to vulnerable children, youth, and community members in the Masaiti District near Ndola, Zambia. Programs are delivered on a single 25-39 acre integrated campus that combines a community school, on-site medical clinic, and farm, with technology education provided through its Tech-ING Africa initiative.

Product overview

Operation iDream is a non-profit organization operating a portfolio of interconnected programs designed to bring education, health, and sustainability to the people of Zambia. The core offerings include iDream Community School (K-12 education for 400+ students), iDream Care Clinic (medical services), Tech-ING Africa (technology/computer education), the Farm Project (sustainable agriculture on 39 acres), Child Sponsorship (supporting 750+ children), and planned iDream Trade Schools (vocational training). Mission trips provide volunteer engagement opportunities. These programs work together to provide holistic support from childhood education through adulthood skills training, creating pathways to self-sustainability for the Ndola community.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• iDream Care Clinic: Medical clinic providing preventive and urgent healthcare to iDream students and the surrounding community in Masaiti District near Ndola, Zambia.
• iDream Community School
• iDream Trade Schools
• Tech-ING Africa
• iDream Farm
• Child Sponsorship

Products and services

• iDream Community School K-12 educational institution serving over 400 students in Ndola, Zambia, providing literacy, numeracy, science education, a computer lab, library facility, and school lunch program for children in a region where the nearest schools were previously 10-20 miles away.
• iDream Care Clinic Medical clinic providing preventive healthcare, urgent medical support, treatment of common illnesses, vaccinations, routine testing, deworming, malaria treatment, referrals, childbirth support, and public health education to iDream students and the surrounding Masaiti District community.
• Tech-ING Africa Technology integration initiative that outfitted iDream Community School with computer equipment and a computer lab to prepare students for the future by integrating modern technology in the classroom and providing experiential training in computer science.
• iDream Farm Project Sustainable agriculture operation on 39 acres of fertile land providing fresh nutritious food to students, raising dairy cattle and chickens, and serving as a hub for community education on sustainable farming, environmental stewardship, and marketing practices.
• Child Sponsorship Program

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 750 children received direct support with food, clothing, shelter, medical care, and education
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Hope Ministries ZambiacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBarbara (Bobbie) Hust of Hope Ministries, Inc. introduced founders Samuel and Kasamba Sikapizye to the urgent needs of Zambian children orphaned by the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Through her generous backing, they were able to purchase a house in Ndeke which became home to 15 orphans and the founding of Hope Ministries Zambia. Hope Community provides pre-school through elementary education, nutrition, and healthcare to over 350 vulnerable children. Using lessons learned from Hope Community, Sam set up Operation iDream to further expand his vision.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves13 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Compassion International: Compassion International operates the largest child sponsorship program in the world, serving vulnerable children in dozens of countries including Zambia. It is a comparable model for Operation iDream's $25-50/month sponsorship program but at vastly greater scale and geographic breadth.
• Samaritan's Purse: Samaritan's Purse is a large faith-based humanitarian organization running child sponsorship, medical programs, and agricultural projects internationally. It shares Operation iDream's evangelical Christian identity and integrated ministry approach.
• Save the Children: Save the Children is a major international NGO operating in Zambia with programs spanning education, health, and child protection. It is a comparable peer for the education-and-healthcare dual mission serving vulnerable children in low-income settings.
• ChildFund International: ChildFund International runs child sponsorship and community development programs in multiple African countries including Zambia. It shares Operation iDream's child-centered sponsorship model and integrated community development approach.
• World Vision: World Vision is one of the largest humanitarian NGOs operating in Zambia, combining child sponsorship with education, healthcare, and economic development. It serves as a broad incumbent peer for the integrated school-clinic-community model.

Direct peers

• Pencils of Promise: Pencils of Promise is a smaller education-focused non-profit building schools and supporting students in developing countries including parts of Africa. It is a comparable peer for the school-building and student-sponsorship components of Operation iDream's model.
• Hope Ministries Zambia: Hope Ministries Zambia is the predecessor organization to Operation iDream, founded by the same families in Ndola and serving pre-K through elementary education, nutrition, and healthcare to over 350 vulnerable children. It is the closest direct peer in mission, geography, and operating model.
• Reach Teach and Empower: Reach Teach and Empower is a non-profit run by Operation iDream board member Julie Harrington focused on education in underserved communities. It overlaps directly in mission and is closely connected through board governance.

Market position

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/operationidream
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/operation-idream

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about operation idream