Tiffany's Mission trip to Kenya

I have the opportunity to travel to Kenya at the end of December! I will be going as part of a mission trip with some of my students and the campus ministry at Case Western Reserve University. We will be visiting several locations but our work will mostly focus on working with a group called International Peace Initiatives. International Peace Initiatives is an International Non Governmental Organization that works to support and advocate for the needs and rights of children who are orphaned or affected by HIV/AIDS and women living with HIV/AIDS in Kenya. We will be specifically be working in the Amani Children's Homes, which are child centered, family focused, and community based interventions to support and care for children infected and/or affected by HIV/AIDS and other vulnerable children. These homes are staff supervised and built in communities which allow the children to stay close to extended family and to go to local schools. Kenya has nearly 2.5 million orphans who are in need of help and support.

When I learned about this opportunity I knew this was something I wanted to be a part of. I think this is an amazing opportunity for me to be fully immersed in another culture, work directly beside the people whom I hope to help, and to engage in a great experience with my students. It was only decided at the very beginning of November that I would be able to attend this trip so I am currently scrambling to come up with the funding. The trip is scheduled for December 28, 2012 "“ January 9, 2013 with a total cost of $2600. The cost covers the airfare to Nairobi, lodging, and supplies for work while there. While in Kenya we will be working on building cottages and additional children's homes, landscaping, planting trees and other projects with many of the children involved in the Amani homes.