Sponsor a Child and Change Their World
When you sponsor a child you are giving their entire family the opportunity to escape the bottomless pit called poverty. You will receive a card with your child's photo and will have the opportunity to write and receive letters as well as an open invitation to visit your child in Kenya. For only $40 per month your child will attend school and receive an excellent education, as well as a hot lunch and clean drinking water.
Get the facts about sponsorship Get the facts about Hope for Kenya
![Benedict Griffins Okello Benedict Griffins Okello](/assets/images/IMG_1155.jpeg)
Benedict Griffins Okello
Benedict is a total orphan and lives with his 16 year old brother who is in high school. His brother is a day student and cares for him when he goes home. They have no parents and no other guardians to care for them.
Joy School
![Clinton Ochieng Clinton Ochieng](/assets/images/IMG_1595.jpeg)
Clinton Ochieng
Both Clinton's parents are dead. He is under the care of his elderly grandmother who takes care of six other children. Due to her age, the grandmother could not keep up in providing for six children. Clinton is now being given full boarding at the Joy School. Clinton wants to be a teacher.
![Felix O Elisha Felix O Elisha](/assets/images/AR9I6590 (2).jpg)
Felix O Elisha
Felix's parents are still alive, they are not able to send Felix to school simply because of the cost of a school uniform, school books and a lunch. Sponsorship will make their dream of sending Felix to school possible.
Joy School
![Fenny Anyango Okeyo Fenny Anyango Okeyo](/assets/images/IMG_5899.png)
Fenny Anyango Okeyo
Fenny is a 13 year old student in 6th grade. She is the daughter to one of the women who is involved in the bead group in the Dago community. Fenny is determined to change her own future and make a difference in her community. Please consider sponsoring Fenny today.
Joy School
![Frank Okoth Ooko Frank Okoth Ooko](/assets/images/IMG_2006.jpg)
Frank Okoth Ooko
Frank is the second born child in his family. His father was killed in a road accident and his mother sells charcoal in the market but cannot afford to pay school fees for her children.
Joy School
![Griffins Otieno Nyamanga Griffins Otieno Nyamanga](/assets/images/AR9I6603 (2).jpg)
Griffins Otieno Nyamanga
He has a sister called Sheryl Achieng. Both his parents are dead.
Joy School
![Ishmael Sheva Otieno Ishmael Sheva Otieno](/assets/images/IMG_1178.jpeg)
Ishmael Sheva Otieno
Sheva Ishmael is in class 9. His father is a Pastor who does not get paid and while he does odd jobs on the side he is unable to pay school fees. Sheva is a sweet boy and he has seven siblings.
Odera
![John Bruno Odede John Bruno Odede](/assets/images/AR9I6622 (2).jpg)
John Bruno Odede
John's father died he went to live with his uncle as his mother could no longer care for him.
Joy School
![Kevin Omondi Kevin Omondi](/assets/images/IMG_0063.jpeg)
Kevin Omondi
Kevin lives with his grandmother in Awendo county. His father is not around and his mother struggles to find work. Kevin is currently at the Joy School and desperately needs a sponsor.
Joy School
![Lavance Levis Omondi Lavance Levis Omondi](/assets/images/IMG_0057.jpeg)
Lavance Levis Omondi
Lavance has lost his sponsorship and desperately needs a sponsor to stay in school. Can you help keep Lavance in school?
Joy School
![Lucas Muga Lucas Muga](/assets/images/Lucas Muga (3).jpg)
Lucas Muga
Lucas parents are extremely poor and both of them work at what ever jobs they can find on some of the local farms. Survival not education is their priority. Lucas has 2 siblings.
Odera
![Millicent Achieng Edesa Millicent Achieng Edesa](/assets/images/65307871_522792951592256_8790108646705987584_n (2).jpg)
Millicent Achieng Edesa
Millicent, Eunice, and Lucy are three sisters who live with their mother who sells sandals in Ndhiwa. Their father abandoned the family after he took another wife, and their son who was in Kenyatta University was forced to drop out of school due to school fees. Their mother knows education is the only way out of poverty and wants to see them succeed in life.
Joy
![Rajab Musa Rajab Musa](/assets/images/Rajab Musa (3).jpg)
Rajab Musa
Rajab is the last born and sibling of Shamim and Isa. Both of his parents have died from HIV/AIDS. The aunt, whom he lives with, has two children of her own to care for. There is no money for Rajab’s school fees. Sponsorship is requested to give Rajab an education.
Joy School
![Randy Omondi Okiki Randy Omondi Okiki](/assets/images/IMG_1175.jpeg)
Randy Omondi Okiki
Randy lives with both his parents. His father is able to work, but his mother is only able to find work sometimes. He has six siblings.
Joy School
![Rizpa Ocheing Rizpa Ocheing](/assets/images/Rizpa Ocheing.jpg)
Rizpa Ocheing
The mother of Rizpa is Vollin and her husband died in 2010. Their house was built by a well wisher when their hut was falling down on them. They are in extreme poverty and they need education to be free.
Joy School
![Robine Pretty Odede Robine Pretty Odede](/assets/images/IMG_1172.jpeg)
Robine Pretty Odede
Robine's older sister to John Bruno. Their mother has died and she lives with her father who does not have a job. Please sponsor Robine so she can go to high school.
Joy School
![Scovia Achieng Scovia Achieng](/assets/images/PHOTO-2022-02-08-11-08-18.jpg)
Scovia Achieng
Scovia was brought to us by a principal in our local secondary school. She scored well on her exit exam from primary school and would like to be a doctor one day. Her father is a fisherman and only brings in an income when he is able to catch fish and her mother tries to earn an income by selling firewood. Please help Scovia earn an education through sponsorship!
Nyatambe
![Shamim Onyango Shamim Onyango](/assets/images/P1000799 (2).jpg)
Shamim Onyango
Shamim, the second born of three now lives with her aunt, as both of her parents have died of HIV/AIDS. Sponsorship is Shamim’s only chance to rise above the desperate poverty that entangles her.
Joy School
![Shem Otieno Odhiambo Shem Otieno Odhiambo](/assets/images/Shem.jpg)
Shem Otieno Odhiambo
Shem is a boy who lives with his brother Samson and mother. Lillian is 24-years-old and her husband died four years ago. She has now been inherited and is the third wife.
![Sheryl Mishel Achieng Sheryl Mishel Achieng](/assets/images/AR9I6604 (2).jpg)
Sheryl Mishel Achieng
Sheryl is in class one. She has a brother called Griffin Otieno Nyamanga. Both her parents are dead.
![Sheryl Pauline Atieno Achieng Sheryl Pauline Atieno Achieng](/assets/images/Sheryl Pauline (2).png)
Sheryl Pauline Atieno Achieng
Sheryl was sponsored for many years and that got her all the way to High School where she is excelling. Unfortunately her sponsor had to cancel due to some difficulties they are having. It would be great if someone could pick her back up for her final two hears in school! Her mother sells vegetables on the side of the road and her father fixes small machines on the side of the road in their village. Despite their employment, Sheryl’s parents are not able to provide for her. A chance to learn at the Joy School will change her current path toward a cycle of poverty.
![Victor Ochieng Makoba Victor Ochieng Makoba](/assets/images/2015-10-Victor-Ochieng-Makoba.jpg)
Victor Ochieng Makoba
When Victor's mother died his father abandoned him and his brother Silas. His other brother's dropped out of school and are surviving from casual jobs. Victor has just begun a degree at university and lost his sponsor. He needs a sponsor urgently to help in continue his degree!
![Victor Otieno Victor Otieno](/assets/images/IMG_1170 (1).jpeg)
Victor Otieno
Victor’s father has died and his mother is the nurse at the Joy School caring for many children.
Joy School
![Whinnie Atieno Whinnie Atieno](/assets/images/P1091759.jpeg)
Whinnie Atieno
Whinnie’s mother has seven children and Whinnie is eleven years old. Her mother washes clothes for many many people and even when work is good, she can only make $1 a day to support seven children. Whinnie is caught up in a situation where her mother cannot afford a good education. If she boards at the Joy School then she will be able to grow as a young lady in a safe environment and receive an education that will change her future. Will you partner with Whinnie today and make a lasting change? Thank you!
Joy School
![Young Timothy Young Timothy](/assets/images/IMG_1993.jpg)
Young Timothy
Young Timothy is a student who is the last born in a family of four children. His father is a small scale mechanic who does not generate enough income to support his family.
Joy School
How do I begin?
- Use Paypal (our preferred method of payment) by filling in the form below.
- Choose monthly or yearly donations from the drop down menu, entering the name of the child (by clicking "sponsor now" on the bottom tab of their picture) you would like to sponsor, and then clicking on "NEXT".
- You will then be taken to the Paypal website to complete your sponsorship. A PayPal account is required for recurring payments, but not for one time donations. Just click the link under the login button that says, "No PayPal account? Pay using your credit or debit card" and fill out the form.
- Paypal will show Hope for Kenya that this is a “child sponsor” donation and provide us with your address so we can send you pictures and letters from your child.
91% of the funds we receive go to caring for your child and go directly to Kenya. 9% is allocated to administration costs such as bank fees, supplies, and the costs related to sharing this work with others. We provide every new sponsor and donor the option to cover these administrative fees if should choose to. All your donations are tax deductible. If you have any questions please email us using the “contact” page.
Start Sponsoring Today!
Get the facts about sponsorship
Will I be the only person sponsoring the child I’m helping?
Yes. The child you’re helping has just one sponsor: you. That’s why your prayers, letters, and support mean so much to your sponsored child. Even if you choose to sponsor a child as a family or a group (for example, a youth group or a Sunday school class), the child you help will still be relating to your family or group as his or her only sponsor. No other group or individual will also sponsor the child you help.
How long should my child sponsorship last?
Hope for Kenya’s child sponsorship offers you the opportunity to stay with a child for a number of years, usually through the school year in which the child reaches the age of 18 to 22. While we hope that you will be able to continue in your support of your sponsored child until he or she completes High School or College, we recognize that sponsors’ circumstances sometimes change. You may discontinue your sponsorship at any time. We ask that you notify us if you are unable to continue your sponsorship.
Please understand that a sponsored child’s circumstances may change, too. We will inform you as quickly as possible if any such circumstance affects the child you sponsor, and we’ll transfer your support to another child in need of your help.
Hope for Kenya focuses on the full development of the child. Because of that, our goal is to release children from poverty, not merely sustain them through it.
Will I always be sponsoring the same child?
We work in real communities, with real families in, oftentimes, difficult situations. We strive to provide a safe environment for children to learn, grow and play, but sometimes situations change and children have to leave our programs – for example, because the family has moved to a new home in another community. If your child leaves our sponsorship program, your sponsorship will be moved to a new child, so that you can continue helping children in need. Your new sponsorship signifies an important part of our ongoing work and is a sign that we’re reaching even more children, families and communities in need with our sustainable programs. You’ll also have the opportunity to send a goodbye letter to your previously sponsored child. Saying goodbye can be hard, but a letter can help bring a sense of closure to your relationship and let your child know that your care doesn’t end with the program. We’ll make every effort to deliver your letter. We sincerely hope you’ll see this move as an opportunity to say hello and be a friend and champion to your new child. If you would prefer to sponsor a child other than the one we have chosen for you, you can email us at changinglives@hopeforkenya.org. The child we had assigned will become eligible for sponsorship by someone else as generous and kind-hearted as you
How can I send letters to my child?
Developing the relationship between a sponsor and a child is of utmost importance to Hope for Kenya. We greatly encourage you to write letters to your student and send photos of you and your family. You can email letters and pictures to changinglives@hopeforkenya.org. We will print those letters and photos for your student and bring them to Kenya on our next trip. If you'd like to send something handwritten to your student, please send it to Hope for Kenya, PO Box 300, Lake Luzerne, NY, 12846.
It is important for sponsors to note that in Kenya, it is culturally acceptable to ask for gifts from other people. While that is understandable, it is contrary to our goals in Kenya to create a generation of people dependant on the charity of westerners to survive. Longterm success in Kenya can only be achieved when Kenyans have the tools needed to provide for themselves and their society. For these reasons, we have instructed the students not to ask for specific gifts from their sponsors. Be assured that all of your sponsored student's basic needs are being met, and at a standard that far exceeds expectations for that area. We will constantly work to provide MORE items and opportunities to the students as Hope for Kenya grows.
Get the facts about Hope for Kenya
In Kenya
Peter Midodo and his wife Rachel created the Joy Schools International in 2004, to which they give nearly all their time. Their mission is to provide the poorest children of Kenya all they need to get a good education, including clean water, food, clothes, protection, and shelter. Hope For Kenya has expanded to helping a variety of schools, including secondary schools, college students, and students with disabilities.
In the US
A team of volunteers created Hope for Kenya in 2006, whose mission is to support missions work in rural Kenya started by Peter and Rachel Midodo and the surrounding schools they are involved with. Read more about Hope for Kenya, and how it all started...
Hope for Kenya focus on 3 essential ways to support the children and the work in Kenya:
Bi-annual visits on the ground
In February and June/July of every year, a group of sponsors, donors, and volunteers visits the schools in Kenya for 10-14 days. The goals are multiple:
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Help current projects in person: construction, renovation, training, etc.
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Connect with the children and the staff. Nothing is as powerful as meeting the children and teachers, talking to them, and, when possible, teaching some classes.
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See the reality, on the ground, with no filter. See what has been done, what still needs to be fixed or built. Measure the impact of the mission.
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Witness that the money is being spent effectively and appropriately. See that projects are happening the way they should. Understand what needs to be done next.
Project-based fundraising
Projects like building a classroom, a water well, or a dormitory is how Hope for Kenya has been raising most of its money since 2006. It remains an essential part of what the organization does.
The student sponsorship program
Since 2014, it is possible to sponsor a child directly. The team interviews children in need and posts short videos or stories on the website, describing briefly the situation of a child needing a sponsor. Sponsors can then choose a child to support in the long run, establishing a personal relationship, exchanging mail and photos. Sponsors are strongly encouraged to join a trip, and meet the student(s) they have chosen to support.
Where is the money going?
Your donation goes to the ministry work that is happening in Kenya, 9% goes towards operations and PayPal/bank payment and transfer fees.
Still have questions?
Contact us via email: changinglives@hopeforkenya.org.