Rose's Wish
Donation protected
Important Announcement: This school year has ended. We have a new campaign for this school year at: https://www.gofundme.com/RosesWish4
Thanks so much to all our supporters!
Here is the story of how 3 Kenyan boys became part of our family. It begins with a friendship…
UPDATE:
Here we are at the beginning of another school year. The semester started in September. I am quite behind with fundraising. My father-in-love became ill and went into hospice. We dropped everything to be with him. We were without computers or internet at the time. Pop rode off to greener pastures a few weeks ago. He is greatly missed. Now I am trying to get caught up and fundraise for the new school year!
Jim has been taking extra classes trying to graduate in December. Unfortunately the head of his department was out with surgery and so unable to teach two of the courses. Jim will attend again in January and then graduate in April. Though disappointed, Jim has not let this slow him down. He continues to volunteer with SOWED (Social Welfare Development Programme). He is now involved as an intern Program Assistant working with communities to stop female genital mutilation. “Am doing well here, my studies are progressing well and we are having a lot of activities at SOWED, most of which are outside town, which is quite exciting. I'm also attending meetings for the Rotary Club of Ongata Rongai, and working with them to form a club in my school.” SOWED asked him if he would be interested in a job when he graduates and he said “yes!” He continues searching for scholarships/fellowships to go for his masters and doctorate.
Kent during school break: “I got a volunteer job at Thomas Barnados Children's Home. I was placed in the procurement department. We account for donated goods, food, clothes and keep records of them, and also keep records of goods bought by the children's home. It is rather busy but I am glad that my contribution, however little will make the life of another person better.” He became very motivated to continue volunteering so he is currently looking for something he can do part time during the semester. “I am planning to join another organization on a part time basis, F.I.D.A (International Federation of Women Lawyers) Kenya, which deals with women in marginalized areas in Kenya. It's hard to get in but I will try. If I don't get it I hope to find another organization, on a part time basis.” Kent is now an upper classman and says his classes are more challenging and very interesting!
Sadly, Ron’s health is still an issue therefore we are not fundraising for him.
Let’s be sure Jim can finish his last 2 semesters and graduate! What an amazing accomplishment to have come so far! He is nearly done, and Kent is not far behind him. We are all (our family) eternally grateful to all of you for your generous support and hope you will help these two young men complete this part of their journey. You cannot know how your contributions have changed their lives. There is the obvious, that they will have bachelor degrees and some experience. Then there is the not so obvious, the feeling that there are people pulling for them, caring about their welfare, willing to make personal sacrifices to help them. This gives them the heart to persevere and to help others less fortunate.
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OUR STORY:
In 1982 I joined Peace Corps Kenya for two years. I taught at a tiny secondary school. I had no idea how that experience would shape my life. I have returned to Kenya many times to lead trips. I have taken both secondary school students and adults on 3-6 week trips that combine culture and wildlife. Leading one of the trips in 1988, we arrived in our village to begin our home stays. My home stay was with one of the Kenyan secondary school teachers, Rose. A deep friendship began.
Now, so many years later, both Rose and her husband, Walter, have passed away. In 2007, as she was dying, Rose wrote her last wishes on the back of an old envelope. She wished for Heidi and Kent to take care of her 3 boys. We arrived in Kenya to visit Rose, only to find she had died while we were traveling. We had been paying school fees for the boys to be in boarding schools because Rose’s health was so poor. We were able to visit them in person at their schools to let them know we would be their family, and their schooling would continue.
This year we have 2 of Rose’s sons in University. Jim will graduate in 2 semesters. Kent has about 2 more years for his B.A.
Rose’s middle son, Jim, is studying Peace and Conflict Resolution at African Nazarene University. With that degree, Jim could be part of a positive change in the wider Kenyan/African community. Kent, the youngest, has completed his first 2 semesters of University at African Nazarene. He has transferred to Kenyatta University where he has been offered a nearly full tuition scholarship due to his excellent grades. He is in his third semester there.
We are so proud, as Rose and Walter would be, to have 2 sons attending University. I would be happy to send the budget to anyone who requests. Our goal includes tuition and all expenses for Jim's 2 semesters and Kent's 3 semesters, as well as all expenses including the gofundme fees. I would also happily put you in touch with these young men and/or their schools so that you can verify their attendance. If you can find it in your heart to assist us in any way, we would be tremendously grateful.
Bless you all,
Heidi
Please visit our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/Harambee3Kenya
Thanks so much to all our supporters!
Here is the story of how 3 Kenyan boys became part of our family. It begins with a friendship…
UPDATE:
Here we are at the beginning of another school year. The semester started in September. I am quite behind with fundraising. My father-in-love became ill and went into hospice. We dropped everything to be with him. We were without computers or internet at the time. Pop rode off to greener pastures a few weeks ago. He is greatly missed. Now I am trying to get caught up and fundraise for the new school year!
Jim has been taking extra classes trying to graduate in December. Unfortunately the head of his department was out with surgery and so unable to teach two of the courses. Jim will attend again in January and then graduate in April. Though disappointed, Jim has not let this slow him down. He continues to volunteer with SOWED (Social Welfare Development Programme). He is now involved as an intern Program Assistant working with communities to stop female genital mutilation. “Am doing well here, my studies are progressing well and we are having a lot of activities at SOWED, most of which are outside town, which is quite exciting. I'm also attending meetings for the Rotary Club of Ongata Rongai, and working with them to form a club in my school.” SOWED asked him if he would be interested in a job when he graduates and he said “yes!” He continues searching for scholarships/fellowships to go for his masters and doctorate.
Kent during school break: “I got a volunteer job at Thomas Barnados Children's Home. I was placed in the procurement department. We account for donated goods, food, clothes and keep records of them, and also keep records of goods bought by the children's home. It is rather busy but I am glad that my contribution, however little will make the life of another person better.” He became very motivated to continue volunteering so he is currently looking for something he can do part time during the semester. “I am planning to join another organization on a part time basis, F.I.D.A (International Federation of Women Lawyers) Kenya, which deals with women in marginalized areas in Kenya. It's hard to get in but I will try. If I don't get it I hope to find another organization, on a part time basis.” Kent is now an upper classman and says his classes are more challenging and very interesting!
Sadly, Ron’s health is still an issue therefore we are not fundraising for him.
Let’s be sure Jim can finish his last 2 semesters and graduate! What an amazing accomplishment to have come so far! He is nearly done, and Kent is not far behind him. We are all (our family) eternally grateful to all of you for your generous support and hope you will help these two young men complete this part of their journey. You cannot know how your contributions have changed their lives. There is the obvious, that they will have bachelor degrees and some experience. Then there is the not so obvious, the feeling that there are people pulling for them, caring about their welfare, willing to make personal sacrifices to help them. This gives them the heart to persevere and to help others less fortunate.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
OUR STORY:
In 1982 I joined Peace Corps Kenya for two years. I taught at a tiny secondary school. I had no idea how that experience would shape my life. I have returned to Kenya many times to lead trips. I have taken both secondary school students and adults on 3-6 week trips that combine culture and wildlife. Leading one of the trips in 1988, we arrived in our village to begin our home stays. My home stay was with one of the Kenyan secondary school teachers, Rose. A deep friendship began.
Now, so many years later, both Rose and her husband, Walter, have passed away. In 2007, as she was dying, Rose wrote her last wishes on the back of an old envelope. She wished for Heidi and Kent to take care of her 3 boys. We arrived in Kenya to visit Rose, only to find she had died while we were traveling. We had been paying school fees for the boys to be in boarding schools because Rose’s health was so poor. We were able to visit them in person at their schools to let them know we would be their family, and their schooling would continue.
This year we have 2 of Rose’s sons in University. Jim will graduate in 2 semesters. Kent has about 2 more years for his B.A.
Rose’s middle son, Jim, is studying Peace and Conflict Resolution at African Nazarene University. With that degree, Jim could be part of a positive change in the wider Kenyan/African community. Kent, the youngest, has completed his first 2 semesters of University at African Nazarene. He has transferred to Kenyatta University where he has been offered a nearly full tuition scholarship due to his excellent grades. He is in his third semester there.
We are so proud, as Rose and Walter would be, to have 2 sons attending University. I would be happy to send the budget to anyone who requests. Our goal includes tuition and all expenses for Jim's 2 semesters and Kent's 3 semesters, as well as all expenses including the gofundme fees. I would also happily put you in touch with these young men and/or their schools so that you can verify their attendance. If you can find it in your heart to assist us in any way, we would be tremendously grateful.
Bless you all,
Heidi
Please visit our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/Harambee3Kenya
Organizer
Kent Reeves
Organizer
Sacramento, CA