The Gift of Opportunity

A message from one of our student sponsors:

Roughly a year ago, my kids and I signed on to be sponsors of a student at Little Giants School in Ruiru, Kenya, East Africa. What a great decision! When I told my kids that we were going to “adopt” a boy from Kenya so he could attend school, my little eight-year-old son could not be more excited. His response went something like this, “Really, Mom?! We get to have a BROTHER?! I’ve always wanted a BROTHER!” Needless to say, we had a little expectation reset and education that our “adopted” student wasn’t actually going to come live with us, but that we were going to be his key to the future—the reason he would be given the gift of opportunity. And, really, in life the gift of opportunity is literally life-changing.

We now sponsor a 9-year-old boy named Lewis. Lewis’ mother works 2 jobs to pay for her Lewis’ basic needs. Once she was released from her second job, she would go to Little Giants and mop all the floors by hand in trade for Lewis’ tuition. Hearing this, I just knew we needed to help her and Lewis. I believe that any mother who is willing to work that hard to pay for their child’s education deserves a helping hand. So, we happily sponsored Lewis.

Sponsoring a student with Little Giants is very easy. It is an investment of $155 per year. This pays for the student’s tuition for a year, a uniform (In Africa all children who attend school are required to wear a uniform. For many kids, this inhibits their ability to attend and, therefore, restricts them from getting an education at all.), a medical screening, and a meal each day. The meal is very important too—the poverty in Kenya is unlike anything you could imagine. While I haven’t actually been to Kenya, I have a very amazing mother who has and I’m telling you that seeing photos of children atop garbage piles scrounging for food is an image I won’t ever forget.

In return for your sponsorship, you will receive a letter from Little Giants (affiliated with Tabibu Africa, a US-based humanitarian organization) and a photo of your child. Our little Lewis’ photo hangs on our fridge and my kids ask about him daily. You will receive communication from your child two times a year. For us, the Christmas card was a real highlight!
It gives me a great sense of pride knowing that we are helping someone else in need; and, it gives my kids a perspective about how much they have and the opportunities they have been given. There are many Little Giants Students who need sponsorships. As if everything I’ve told you isn’t enough, a Little Giants sponsorship is also a tax deduction—good for you and good for your sponsored kiddo! I would love to see each student have a sponsorship. Imagine the difference we could make!

Little Hands Making Big Differences. The Power of ONE

Little Hands Making Big Differences. The Power of ONE

Today I would like for us to discuss the challenging question of, “I’m just one small person. What can I do?”.  I would like to answer that question with a story of one person who didn’t let her age, size, gender, or number stop her from making change happen around her. She is my daughter but she did not allow herself to be in my shadow. She stood tall and has turned tragedy of her own into hope for others. 

 At the age of eleven, Kay traveled to Kenya with me for her first humanitarian aid experience. She has always wanted to help and I felt it would be good for her to experience firsthand what I had been trying to convey to my entire circle of friends and family for a few years. Plus it would be a huge lesson for any pre-teen growing up in the land of abundance. 

She seemed to be unscathed by the culture shock most volunteers experience within their first week of work in East Africa. It seemed to be normal for her; as well as the cold showers, no electricity, unusual meals, and being witness to conditions that cannot be described. She jumped at the chance to help in the medical clinic, dental clinic (only fainting once), and in class rooms.  She even helped comfort children who were waiting to go into the clinic, during procedures, and would watch the little ones while their families were getting checked. She simply dove into the work and didn’t see any limitations while making best friends for life in one of the secondary schools we served.

Kay continued to travel with me several times and witnessed the birth of Tabibu Africa, Inc to what it is now. She also served as Education Coordinator for the first year, helping to create our most successful hygiene class for students as well as villagers. I would see her tear up at the some of the tragedy we witnessed but it was short-lived and followed by, “what are we going to do to make this better?” sort of statement.

 

At the young age of 14 Kay was the victim of rape. It was by someone she knew and someone she trusted in a place she was supposed to feel safe while at home in Utah. She didn’t tell anyone at first and tried to work through it the way she worked through the suffering she would witness while working in developing countries. She suffered terribly in silence. Kay soon started showing odd and self-destructive behavior which finally lead to her telling me what had happened. Fortunately, because of where we live we were able to get Kay the help and support groups she needed. I can’t describe the pain, anger, and helpless feeling a mother feels when she holds her child who wants to end her life because of what one person thought he could take from her. 

Today, I’m happy to say that Kay has healed, continues to heal, and will not allow this tragedy to define who she is. She is not rape and she is not the feeling it leaves behind. It’s something that happened to her and will not define the soul or heart of who she is. She is now 18 years old and will be leaving for college this year. She’s back to making plans on how she can make the world a better and safer place.

Kay has now turned this tragedy around to hope and has developed a workshop for young girls and young women who are at risk as well as a support group plan ready for those who come forward as victims of sexual violence. Our upcoming spring 2015 humanitarian expedition will be the first time Kay will teach her empowerment workshop at a school and health center in the Maasai Mara to young Maasai women. Rape and sexual assault is not spoken about in most third world cultures in fact there are no statistics to report on the percentage of rape in Kenya.  

Kay’s empowerment workshop focuses first on goal setting for your future, basic anatomy and physiology so the girls know their own bodies, then a discussion on what is appropriate and what is not. The class ends with the empowerment to say, “NO!”. She hopes to give back the power to these young girls that their bodies are theirs, they can keep their goals in sight, they are worthy, and they have the right to say “NO”.  If any of the young women come forward, Kay then has a support group plan in place to help them through the process of healing. She’s a living example to them. This will be a challenge but one we know that Kay can meet head on. 

 

 Here Kay is being adopted into a Maasai tribe in the Rift Valley as a warrior and given the name "Naserian" which means "bringer of light".








Kay’s message to you, yes you: You don’t need to go to another country to give back, no matter where you are there’s always a need for aid. Volunteer at your local soup kitchen or shelter, make hygiene kits or head a food drive, start a workshop, or help your neighbor. Check with your church, schools, or local groups in your area because there’s always something that can be done. The power of ONE is in everyone, it is inside of you and YOU can do SOMETHING! 

For more information on how you can help Kay’s program please contact: TabibuAfrica@aol.com

To donate to Kay’sProgram, please click here and note “Kay’s program” in the notes. We’ll make sure that your donation goes to educational aids she will need for her program.

To send encouraging words that Kay can take and share with the Maasai girls we will be working with please email TabibuAfrica@aol.com  

or mail to our Tennessee office 

PO BOX 597

Westmoreland, TN 37186

Don’t forget tofollow our blog for updates on Kay’s program as well as the rest of our programs.

 Asante Sana

www.TabibuAfrica.org