Recently, I sat with four of my former students and celebrated an incredible accomplishment. All four of these young people had grown up in informal houses in a rough part of town. As children, each roamed the streets instead of going to school. One collected and sold waste, others learned how to beg for food, another helped mom take care of younger siblings. Miraculously, each child was chosen to participate in a sponsorship program and joined elementary school at Akiba School in Nairobi, Kenya.
Today, all four of these students: James, Eddie, Jackie, and Jane have graduated from University with honors. James was the first in his family to attend school, starting class in the fifth grade. Today he holds a Bachelor of Commerce Degree from one of Kenya’s most prestigious business schools. As a child Eddie often went hungry, raised by an unemployed single mom with five brothers and sisters. After his graduation from Nairobi University, his mom was so proud she insisted Eddie walk home and greet all his neighbors while wearing his gown. Jane struggled to read and write, learning basic skills long after most children. Today she holds a degree in Communications and is pursuing a career in journalism. At times Jackie’s family of ten earned less than $10 a month. Last year she led students from the wealthiest private schools in Kenya and held the top academic performance in Nursing School. Today she is working with a team of international doctors to set up a new hospital in a rural village.
Child sponsorship is one of the most effective ways to bring hope and transformation to a child, family, and community. These stories are just a small part of what God is doing through sponsors.
The Akiba sponsorship program provides a quality Christian education including tuition, school fees, uniform, lunch, shoes, a book bag, school supplies, mentorship, medical treatment, computer classes, and stationary. To date, hundreds of children have transition from life on the streets to dreams of a brighter future through child sponsorship at Akiba.
This year, we face a new challenge to recruit more sponsors and to help other children and youth build dreams for a brighter future. Would you consider being part of the story? For more information about Akiba or how you can sponsor a child, click here.