Light Up Hope Spotlight: Cecilia

Cecilia is 16 years old and is in her first year of high school.  She enjoys studying English at school and would like to be a family doctor when she is older.  Cecilia’s favorite thing about living at Hope Children’s Home is how spacious and open the land is there. Below is a letter that Cecilia wrote to Light Up Hope. Hi!  I hope you are fine.  I am also fine here at Kitale in the safe house.  I am writing this letter to you to let you know how I am going on here at the safe house. In the year 2005 when I lost my parents my big brothers decided to take us to our grand parents.  We stayed there but we did not go back to school.  My grand parents had no money to take us back to school. Some few weeks my brother went to Nairobi to visit my aunt.  When he was at Nairobi walking around he decided to look for a safe house where he would take my younger brother there.  Two weeks later my brother came back to my grand parents and told them that he would take my younger brother to a children’s […]

Light Up Hope Spotlight: Victor

Victor is 15 years old. Victor’s favorite subject in school is Kiswahili, the Swahili language.  When he grows up, he wants to be an electrical engineer.  He wants to give back to his community by helping his parents once he has a job.  Victor loves that there is plenty of space for planting at Hope Children’s Home. Below is a letter Victor wrote to Light Up Hope. My name is Victor.  I am 15 years old.  I am in grade seven at a school called Kapchepsir primary school.  These are the challenges that I was facing before I came to Hope Children’s Home.  First I was not able to attend the school every day.  I was going in a week just like four days.  When the time reached four examination I would not do all the exams because of school fees.  Second I was going to work for people in their shamba’s so that I can get some money for buying food.  I and my parents we all went to do the work so that we can get for buying other many things.  The third is that I did not know my talent.  I did not have time to rest or […]

Light Up Hope Spotlight: Joseph Wanjau

Joseph is 18 years old and in his third year at Kabuyefwe Friends High School. Joseph’s favorite subject in school is biology, and he hopes to be a surgeon one day. Below is a letter that Joseph wrote to Light Up Hope. The journey to Lukenya was all well although at one point the police had stopped us.  When we were released, the journey continued well and at the camp we were welcomed with open hands. I saw new faces of guys which I had never seen before.  We were then given name tags which indicated the name and tent where one belonged.  It was around 5pm and the climate changed all of a sudden.  As I walked to my tent I felt a cold wind blow past me. I opened the tent and jumped in – for the first time in my life I entered a tent.  It was very warm inside and I wished I could stay in there forever.  Later we were called for supper and the food was very delicious and in abundant.  After supper we went for evening service and later entertainment which ended at 10pm when we went to sleep.  The first day I was scared but got used to it. […]

A New Family Member

By Cheryln Morin My first trip here in 2012, I was smitten by a young boy named Hilary. His quiet demeanor, his huge grin, his inquisitive nature. I have grown more and more fond of him each visit. He has grown into a fine young man of 16. Still quiet and a bit shy but growing into a leader who cares about and takes care of those around him. In the past few days it has warmed my heart to be able to watch him and my son Eli interact. Eli follows him around and asks questions and Hilary quietly and patiently answers them one by one. They teach each other games and just enjoy each other’s company. Eli is smitten just as I am. Eli is trying to convince me that Hilary needs to become his big brother. I tell him it won’t take much to convince me. Eli was even looking at a necklace I wear with my kids birthstones on it and tells me I’ll have to add another for April because that’s when Hilary’s birthday is. It’s a crazy thing to see two worlds you love colliding and joining to become something you love even more. […]

A New Family Member

By Cheryln Morin My first trip here in 2012, I was smitten by a young boy named Hilary. His quiet demeanor, his huge grin, his inquisitive nature. I have grown more and more fond of him each visit. He has grown into a fine young man of 16. Still quiet and a bit shy but growing into a leader who cares about and takes care of those around him. In the past few days it has warmed my heart to be able to watch him and my son Eli interact. Eli follows him around and asks questions and Hilary quietly and patiently answers them one by one. They teach each other games and just enjoy each other’s company. Eli is smitten just as I am. Eli is trying to convince me that Hilary needs to become his big brother. I tell him it won’t take much to convince me. Eli was even looking at a necklace I wear with my kids birthstones on it and tells me I’ll have to add another for April because that’s when Hilary’s birthday is. It’s a crazy thing to see two worlds you love colliding and joining to become something you love even more. […]