Our Beneficiaries
We believe that simply being born into poverty should not dictate the end of an individual's story. Central to our mission is ensuring that women, children and young adults from impoverished communities in Kenya can embrace hope for their futures.
We provide hope for orphans, children and young adults who were born into under-resourced families and impoverished communities. At the time of selection, our beneficiaries meet the criteria for poverty as defined by the United Nations:
“Poverty entails more than the lack of income and productive resources to ensure sustainable livelihoods. Its manifestations include hunger and malnutrition, limited access to education and other basic services, social discrimination and exclusion, as well as the lack of participation in decision-making.”
We place special emphasis on empowering women and girls to strive for gender equality and boost economic growth, which allows for individuals to break out of the poverty cycle in the communities where we work.
The Problem
The nation of Kenya is populated by highly motivated, creative and intelligent people. However, with 26% of the population falling under the poverty line, opportunities for the Kenyan people are limited by barriers to education and opportunity. Additionally, historical systems and cultural practices limit the empowerment of impoverished individuals, as well as the aspirations of many girls and women in their communities. According to the World Bank Global Poverty data, the percentage of people living under the poverty line in Kenya increases without access to education.
46% percent of adults who have not received a primary school education fall below the poverty line, compared to 14% of high school educated adults and just 3% of adults who have achieved post-secondary education (university and technical training).
Our Solutions
Through culturally informed programming, we provide tools that help individuals and communities flourish and break out of the cycle of poverty through the following interventions:
Educational Opportunities: We provide academic sponsorship for primary, secondary, university and vocational education, including distribution of school supplies, books, uniforms and tutoring.
Pathways to Employment: Our pathways to employment increase access to gainful employment through mentorship, professional guidance on workplace readiness, professional networking, income generating activities and life skills training.
Emotional Well-Being: We incorporate individual, group and family mental health counseling, mental health awareness workshops and family unification efforts in our initiatives to encourage mental and emotional well-being.
Physical Well-Being: Our physical well-being interventions provide primary school lunches, access to healthcare, adult transitional support of monetary disbursements, and monthly stipends to support student’s physical needs and better their educational outcomes.
Light Up Hope is an inclusive community and we encourage people of all faiths, races, gender, sexual orientation, political views and backgrounds to join us as we break the cycle of poverty.