Most Recent Updates
From Nairobi & Kagan, Kenya

September 2024: New Blog Post

Have you ever wondered what a day in the life of a child in Kenya looks like? Our latest blog post takes you on a journey with James, a bright student at Shelter of Hope School, as he navigates his way to school, overcoming challenges along the way.

At Shelter of Hope, every child not only receives an education but also a nutritious daily meal that fuels their dreams. With your support, we can continue to make a positive impact on their lives.

Read the story here and learn how you can help us complete the second floor of our school and provide essential resources for underprivileged students.

Together, we can change lives!

September 2024

Empowering Women, One Sheep at a Time! 

At Shelter of Hope, the women’s group is breaking barriers and creating opportunities through their sheep-rearing project. Traditionally, sheep farming in Luo culture is reserved for men—but thanks to this initiative, 45 women have become proud owners and managers of their own small flocks!

Each woman received a sheep in April last year, and today, many have grown their flock to at least 3 sheep per member. This project is not just about sheep—it’s about empowering women to build wealth and take charge of their futures.

As Caroline Oduor proudly shares, “In Luo culture, sheep rearing is considered a man’s enterprise. But through Shelter of Hope, I am a proud owner of 3 sheep in my name.”

Let’s celebrate these women for their strength and resilience! Join us in supporting their journey toward economic independence.

August 2024: Quarterly Updates from Shelter of Hope 

We’re excited to share the latest progress from Shelter of Hope in Kagan, Kenya! Thanks to your support, we’ve seen:

📚 Education Growth: Enrollment is up by 35 students, and new computer classes are launching soon!

🍽️ Health & Nutrition: Every student receives two nutritious meals daily, despite recent challenges from flooding.

🏗️ Infrastructure Improvements: The second floor of the school is nearly complete, and a new school van is easing student transportation.

Your support is making a real difference! Read the full report here.

June 2024: Quarterly Updates from Shelter of Hope 

We’re thrilled to share our latest report, highlighting the incredible impact we’re making together in Nairobi and Kagan, Kenya. 🌟

From educational advancements to health and nutrition programs, SOH is transforming lives every day. Your support has been crucial in providing food, clean water, healthcare, and quality education to vulnerable children and families. 

Read all about it and see how your generosity is making a difference here.

Let’s continue to bring hope and opportunities to those who need it most. Thank you for your unwavering support!

Tanisha Says Thank You!

“I am Tanisha Nyaleso, currently in grade 6. Before the school sponsored my education, I had a rough time since my parents could not pay the fees promptly. I remember there was a time I stayed home for a month. Madam Molline reached out to my guardians, and currently, I am happy to enjoy the services courtesy of Shelter of Hope. The school provides me with education and meals.”

Studies show that regular meals can improve students’ concentration, cognitive abilities, and overall academic performance, particularly in countries like Kenya where food insecurity is prevalent. Now, Tanisha excels in her studies and enjoys the stability and nourishment that Shelter of Hope offers, paving the way for a brighter future.

We hope you will join us in our mission to provide hope, one meal at a time!

May 2024

We want to share some updates from Shelter of Hope and personally appeal to you during these challenging times. Over the past three months, Shelter of Hope has faced significant hurdles. The new year brought a severe drought, leading to skyrocketing food prices. Despite this, Shelter of Hope managed to provide two daily meals to over 350 children in our two schools, thanks to your incredible support. 

Unfortunately, things have taken a turn for the worse with severe flooding, leaving many families homeless and without essentials like food, clean water, and medicine. The flooding has even affected school operations, with some roads becoming impassable. 

Shelter of Hope has done its best to help those in need, but the situation remains dire. We’re reaching out to you, our cherished supporters, to ask for your help. Your continued support means the world to us and is crucial as we work through this crisis together.

Thank you for always standing with us and making a difference in the lives of these children and families. We truly appreciate anything you can do to help SOH during this difficult time. 

Your Incredible Impact: Annual Impact Summary 2023!

Your support means the world to us, especially during these challenging economic times. Your generosity has been the lifeline that’s kept our programs running and our kids smiling. We couldn’t be more grateful for your partnership.

This one-page snapshot from our Annual Impact Report, highlighting some of the amazing things your support has helped us achieve. It highlights the key activities and achievements at Shelter of Hope over the past year and none of it would have been possible without you!

If you’re curious to dive deeper into all the magic happening at ImpactHope, you can check out the full report here.

Dec 2023: Christmas Wishes From SOH

Amidst the joyous spirit of the season, our incredible students at Shelter of Hope in Kenya have a heartwarming message for our generous donors. Their journeys are a testament to the transformative power of education and your unwavering support.

In this special message, they share their heartfelt wishes for a Merry Christmas. Your generosity has not only made their dreams possible but has illuminated paths of possibility for many others like them.

To all our cherished donors, your kindness has lit up countless lives and created ripples of change that resonate far beyond these walls. As we celebrate this season of giving, let’s continue to spread hope, empower dreams, and nurture futures together.

To all our wonderful supporters of Shelter of Hope, Merry Christmas! 

November 2023: Celebrating Success at Shelter of Hope!

In October, 28 incredible students from Shelter of Hope sat for the Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) exams, and guess what? They not only conquered challenges but emerged victorious, securing a leading position among 210 schools in Homa Bay County! 

These extraordinary young minds have faced circumstances that would make your heart ache, yet their dedication and hard work have triumphed against all odds. In the face of adversity, they stood tall and faced their exams with resilience, and now, they’ve redefined what success means.

To our amazing donors, this achievement is a testament to the impact your support has on the lives of these children. Your generosity has opened doors, created opportunities, and made dreams a reality. 

May 2023: Relief in West Pokot

Shelter of Hope stepped up during a crisis in Kenya, providing much-needed food relief to communities in West Pokot. The severe weather, drought and food shortages had overwhelmed the communities in Pokot and Turkana, but Shelter of Hope rose to the challenge with the strength God gave them. Ishmael and his team showed the love of God through their service, distributing food supplies to those in need in West Pokot and Turkana.

By donating to Shelter of Hope, you have the power to alleviate hunger and malnutrition. If you would like to impact the most vulnerable in Kenya, consider blessing Ishmael’s initiatives with a one-time gift or a monthly donation here.

Remember, small actions lead to big changes!

May 2, 2023

Today is #TeacherAppreciationDay, and we want to take a moment to express our gratitude for all the amazing teachers out there. We were once students ourselves; we know firsthand how important teachers are in shaping our lives and helping us achieve our goals. They inspire, challenge, and support us every step of the way.

Students at Shelter of Hope have had the privilege of learning from some truly exceptional teachers over the years, and we are grateful for their dedication and hard work. They have spent countless hours preparing lessons, grading assignments, and providing feedback to help students grow and improve. They have gone above and beyond to ensure students have the resources and support they need to succeed.

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So, to all the teachers out there, thank you for all you do. Your impact on our lives is immeasurable, and we are so lucky to have you in our corner. Happy Teacher Appreciation Day!

Teachers are the backbone of our society and play an essential role in shaping our children’s future. Unfortunately, many teachers are underpaid and overworked, which can lead to burnout and other mental health issues. If you’d like to support the teachers impacting our future generations, give a gift or support us monthly here

April 21, 2023

Short-term impact trips can have far-reaching effects. We’re praying that this women’s impact trip to Shelter of Hope (SOH), Kenya, will give the participants the chance to gain valuable insight into the work and mission of our partner SOH.

During an impact trip, volunteers can learn about the partner’s history and current needs, meet the people served by the organization, and gain a deeper understanding of the community and its challenges. Additionally, volunteers can learn about the organization’s best practices, successes, and challenges, which can be useful for future projects. Participants get to share their experiences with others, which can help raise awareness and support for the organization and potentially lead to long-term involvement with the project.

April 20, 2023

This group of passionate and committed women is set to embark on a journey to Kenya, where they will serve alongside our partners at Shelter of Hope, to empower women in the community. They will participate and minister in a women’s conference, teach and possibly lead small groups. As is customary on many impact trips, they will visit people’s homes in the community. 

We’re excited for the outcome, and we pray that God’s favour and provision be upon Sherry Stahl and her team!

January 2023

Harriet wants to thank YOU for your support!

Harriet is a cheerful, hard-working high-school student at Shelter of Hope Academy.  She comes from humble beginnings – a family of eight children. Her father is a teacher, and her mother is a farmer. Over the last five years, Shelter of Hope (SOH) has provided a faithful shoulder for her to lean on.

She had always been a healthy and happy child, but she was diagnosed with sickle cell anemia when she was around seven. It was a devastating diagnosis for her family, as they were already struggling to make ends meet.

Harriet was diagnosed with Sickle Sickle Anemia as a little girl. Shelter of Hope has faithfully stood by her in her journey.

Harriet was enrolled at Shelter of Hope Academy in grade 4. A year later, she was to be transferred to a public school as her family could no longer afford the fees. Harriet’s life changed dramatically as she had to start taking daily medication and regularly visit the hospital for check-ups. She was in much pain and was often too weak to attend school. The condition drained Harriet’s family financially and emotionally.

In grade 5, Shelter of Hope stepped in as a ray of light in her life and began sponsoring her education. Harriet had to be hospitalized for two months, and SOH faithfully stood by her, upholding her in prayers and footing her medical bills. Harriet was able to complete primary school thanks to the compassion shown by SOH.

Harriet gave her grade 8 exams in 2020. Shelter of Hope continued the journey with her into high school. SOH continues supporting her high school education by paying for her fees and other needs. The annual youths and teens camps at SOH have blessed her spiritually!

Harriet is now 16 years and looks forward to a more hopeful future. She has been mentored to be a responsible leader and let Christ be the centre of her life. Harriet dreams of becoming a nurse and helping others in her community. In her words, “It’s been a privilege to testify that Shelter of Hope has transformed my life.”

SOH has helped hundreds of children like Harriet thanks to your support. We hope that you will continue transforming lives through us.

December 2022 – Top Rank in the National Exams!

Despite many challenges faced by the students at Shelter of Hope post-Covid, they did exceedingly well in the National Exams. Shelter of Hope was the leading school in the Homabay sub-county among over 50 schools.

 

Give Wings to Dreams Through Student Sponsorships 

𝘐𝘮𝘢𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘦 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘣𝘦𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘢 𝘭𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘥 𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘳 𝘢 𝘨𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬. 𝘐𝘮𝘢𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘦 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘣𝘦𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘢 𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘭𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘥. 𝐍𝐨𝐰 𝐢𝐦𝐚𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐚 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 773 𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐚𝐝𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐬, 𝐦𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐰𝐡𝐨𝐦 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧. (Source: UNESCO, 2022) That’s the reality today, and if you want the future to look any different, 𝒘𝒆 𝒊𝒏𝒗𝒊𝒕𝒆 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒕𝒐 𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒈𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒏𝒂𝒓𝒓𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒗𝒆!

We have partnered with Shelter of Hope to identify primary school students who will benefit from long-term resources to cover medical needs, daily meals at school, and tuition costs. All student profiles are uploaded on a partnering portal. Sponsors are free to peruse the profiles and choose to sponsor a child that appeals to their hearts!

You will have access to a digital platform that allows you to manage your information, view sponsorship profiles, communicate with the child, learn more about your sponsored child’s community, maybe support other children living there, and follow along with their progress. 

𝐀𝐦 𝐈 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚 𝐝𝐢𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞?
Yes, you are! Thanks to your involvement, the sponsored child will grow up healthy, happy, and empowered with the light of education. Over time, you will see the impact of your donation on your child, their family, and their entire community. You will get to celebrate milestones with them, and you will ultimately change the course of their lives!

𝐀𝐫𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐚 𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐝? Sponsor TODAY here.

December 2022

Youth matter! The whole world knows this reality but knowing that something matters that it is important is only the beginning. A significant proportion of youth is infected by HIV and other sexually transmitted infections, mainly through sexual intercourse, while the prevalence of unwanted pregnancies is rising in vulnerable communities in Kenya. Shelter of Hope recognizes the importance of proper guidance to help combat these issues.

A Christian camp can teach children that they are treasured – a precious creation by a loving God.

The Arise Shine Camp was organized by Shelter of Hope for Youth and Teens in Kagan – Homa Bay from December 12th to 17th, 2022. The camp’s theme was ‘Inside Out’ (Matthew 15: 17 & 19). The camp aimed to transform the outlook of the youth through various sessions covering topics like Youth and Purity, Building a Relationship with Christ, Career Path and Academics, and Youth & Marriage.

Around 150 youth, including staff, were impacted! The camp ended on a celebratory note as the youth gave testimonies of their experience in the camp. It was encouraging to hear them talk about the lessons learnt and how they experienced renewed minds and spirits.

Shelter of Hope is impacting future generations thanks to your support!

November 2022

Shelter of Hope celebrated as the kindergarten class of 2022 graduated on November 24, 2022. The KPSEA candidates were commissioned and prayed for as they headed to their 2:6 assessment.

 

October 2022

Through Physical Education, Shelter of Hope tries to ensure that the students learn better, socialize more easily, and develop leadership skills and communication skills. It isn’t just good for mental and physical health while they are participating in school but also has long-lasting benefits for the future.

May 2022​

  • Your partnership has given hope to many children in Kisumu & Nandi County, Nairobi, and Homa Bay County in Kenya.
  • Over the last few months, SOH has impacted the lives of many through community relief programs, and a women’s conference and helped many children realize their potential.
  • We are praying for people to participate in our new student sponsorship programs! 
  • Read all the latest updates in our report!
SOH Report May 2022 front page

April 2022

  • GREAT NEWS! Kenya has grade 8 national exams every year. The SOH academy in Kagan goes up to grade 8 and the school in Nairobi goes up to grade 6. The grade 8 class ranked 2nd out of 210 schools in Rangwe County (which is a sub-county of Homabay Country) where SOH academy is situated. 
  • After working so hard to pass their national exams, these children are in desperate need of sponsors to ensure that they continue their education.
  • These children have so much potential and their futures are dependent on the generosity of our donors!
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March 2022

  • We have partnered with Shelter of Hope to identify primary school students who will benefit from long-term resources to cover medical needs, daily meals at school, and tuition costs.
  • Each child will be matched with a sponsor. This one-to-one connection is a powerful way for donors to demonstrate God’s love as they pray for the child, write letters and emails, and exchange photos to encourage them.
  • Over time, donors will see the impact of their donation on the child, their family, and their entire community. Donors will get to celebrate milestones with the children and will ultimately change the course of their lives!
  • Watch the video campaign here!

December 2021

  • Through ImpactHope, breakfast, lunch and clean drinking water are provided for staff and students. 180 students and 17 staff are provided with daily nutritious meals, which allows them to focus on their work.
  • The use of chalkboards in our classrooms enables
    collaborative learning. The students in grade 3 had a wall painted in black, which has made learning more effective.
  • A tap has been repaired to enable children to
    wash their hands efficiently.
  • Watch a video of students learnings the names of the parts of the body here!
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August 2021

  • We were able to provide nutritious food to the most
    vulnerable students at SOH.
  • The resumption of learning activities in both Shelter
    of Hope Academy locations (Nairobi & Kagan).
  • Proper safety regulations and equipment needed for
    all of the staff and students of both locations were
    provided. Classes were able to resume safely
    because of this!
  • Graduation ceremonies were able to take place in
    both locations. Families were able to attend safely!
  • We were able to safely hold Youth events.
  • An opportunity for a free medical camp in Kagan for
    students was available this past summer.
Grade 8 Class(4)
  • Funds were used to pay Staff salaries, provide meals for students and to service other overhead costs such as repair, electricity, water and stationary. 
  • The use of masks is a new norm. It is however very challenging norm for small children especially those in kindergarten. Subsequently, when teachers communicate through their masks in class, the content is unclear to some students.
  • Regular washing of hands has improved the level of hygiene for both the Children and teachers.
  • Our school in Kagan runs a sustainable agricultural project which supplements a feeding program for students who are in need of food.
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