Educate HIV Orphans in Kenya

Reasons to be grateful

Dear Friends,

Thanks to you and your support we are now able to sponsor 43 pupils with an education, food, clothing, books and health care for free. We currently have 98 students, the majority of our pupils have parents who can afford to pay minimal school fees. Our fee is small so as not to exclude many within the community. In addition, we continue to help even more of our pupils' families become financially self-sufficient with various income generating projects.  Without you, we simply would not be able to have such a positive impact on these children's lives.  Asante Sana!  (Thank You)

Our work is not simply about educating orphans and the most disadvantaged children, it's also about enabling the family/guardians to become financially self-sufficient, with various small income generating projects, tackling the issues of empowerment and family self-sufficiency.  

Here's a sample of one of our success stories:

Martha is 90 years old.  Since the death of one of her daughters and another having a mental illness, she is struggling to raise 6 great grandchildren alone.  We sponsor four of these children.  Despite her age, Martha is still agile and works hard tending to her small piece of land harvesting maize, beans, bananas and sweet potatoes.  Last year we donated a goat to Martha as part of our Goat Project enabling her to bring in an income through the sale of milk.  In March 2016 the goat gave birth to a female kid which is soon to be returned and passed to another family in need. 

Martha is also a member of our Elderly Ladies Group.  This group consists of 40 ladies, all over the age of 70, who come to the school each month to have lunch and socialize, do some gentle exercise and sing songs.  They also weave traditional baskets, called Kiondos, which are made from sisal and wool.  We sell these baskets to visitors and volunteers and all the proceeds go directly to each lady which supplements their income. (less 10% which goes into a 'pot' which helps to pay for medical expenses or wool for those who are unable to buy it).

I wish you could all witness the huge impact your continued support makes in the lives of the families we are privileged to serve and empower. 

Thank You so much,

Jennifer Hughes Bystrom

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