Life in Kenya

Christmas Shopping – a gift from our child sponsors

kellyUncategorized

  We celebrated Christmas with our sponsored children a little bit differently this year. Thanks to the generosity of our child sponsors, the Colorado team who visited Hope Children’s Home in November was able to take the children shopping for their own Christmas Gifts. Here is a note from Renae Loring, Light Up Hope Board Member, about her experience taking the children shopping: Kids are kids and teens are teens no matter the language, country or culture.  We saw this so strongly the day we took the kids shopping… The kids all arrived at the same time to a Wal-Mart type store called Nakumatt- “You Need it.  We’ve Got it.”  The story building had a moving walk way to get to the 2nd floor where the clothes were.  Most of the kids had never experienced one.  You could really see the kid’s personalities come out.  The adventuresome ones jumped on with smiles while holding on tight.  The timid ones needed an older hand to grab to muster the courage to step on.  But then it was all smiles!  Funny how things we don’t even think about can become part of the fun.  The kids loved picking out their own clothes!  Most of the boys took a quick […]

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Alphonse shares about the progress at Hope Children's Home

KellyUncategorized

It is a joy to receive letters from the children! Recently we delighted in getting an update on Hope Children’s Home from Alphonse, one of the first year high school students whose high school education is paid for through empowerment programs. During the day Alphonse works hard at school and in the evenings he stays with the other children at Hope Children’s Home.   Dear Light Up Hope, How are you?  I hope you are fine.  Here in Kitale we are going on well as you left us when you were here last time.  The maize (corn) is now growing big and they have already removed the top head.  Other many things in the farm have grown big and we hope you will visit us one day and you will prove us right by seeing them with your eyes. Our animals are going on well.  At home we have the cows and they are becoming fat and fatter than they were previously, the sheep are also giving birth one after the other and that shows that they are totally healthy and receive the required amount of food. We also have some chickens which lay eggs and the eggs hatch.  Our […]

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Alphonse shares about the progress at Hope Children’s Home

kellyUncategorized

It is a joy to receive letters from the children! Recently we delighted in getting an update on Hope Children’s Home from Alphonse, one of the first year high school students whose high school education is paid for through empowerment programs. During the day Alphonse works hard at school and in the evenings he stays with the other children at Hope Children’s Home.   Dear Light Up Hope, How are you?  I hope you are fine.  Here in Kitale we are going on well as you left us when you were here last time.  The maize (corn) is now growing big and they have already removed the top head.  Other many things in the farm have grown big and we hope you will visit us one day and you will prove us right by seeing them with your eyes. Our animals are going on well.  At home we have the cows and they are becoming fat and fatter than they were previously, the sheep are also giving birth one after the other and that shows that they are totally healthy and receive the required amount of food. We also have some chickens which lay eggs and the eggs hatch.  Our […]

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A Brave Young Man – Ready to Make a Change

KellyUncategorized

Nairobi, Kenya  He was a 25 year old young man who was stuck in the cycle of poverty and ready to make a change. Rodgers is one of 25 children who we have cared for over the years and one of the first to transition into independent adulthood since Light Up Hope was founded.  Rodgers has a life story that paints a clear picture of how disenfranchisement affects a person across their lifetime. Poverty, loss and trauma deprive a person of their basic human rights: ability to work so that you will not starve, ability to take care of your children, access to education and opportunity.  Every one of the children that Light Up Hope supports have been disenfranchised by poverty before they reach adulthood. As a young boy Rodgers lived in Nairobi with his older brother, his mother and alcoholic father.  His father’s alcoholism eventually landed him in jail and left his mother no way to provide for her two young sons, Rodgers and Vincent.   In desperation she abandoned her boys on the streets of Nairobi and returned to her village.  Rodgers learned at a young age how to survive on the harsh streets of Nairobi. There was […]

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