Security for The Shire & Guest House Prep

Whatever brought you to this fundraising page, I want to take a moment and first say, welcome! I’m so excited to get to know you and also to share with you my own story and to share with you the many incredible things happening around me in this unique moment in time.

First a bit of background.

My name is Kate and I have lived full-time in Kenya for the last 16 years, being a mom to orphans, educating women about childbirth and reproductive health distributing menstrual cups, living in a way that is respectful to the land and environment (and educating others how to do the same), being a voice for gender equality, and running a horse assisted therapy program for children with disabilities.

Everything about my life changed in August of 2018 when I came out as a lesbian to my husband and family. Last year, I also came-out to those who supported our work here in Kenya. While the experience has allowed both my family and myself to move into greater freedom, joy, and honesty with ourselves and one another, it cost us the majority of our monthly financial support. My husband and I split amicably, leaving me as the sole provider for our children.

After a short furlough in Texas visiting family, my children and I have returned to Kenya and started a new Non Profit based on the same values I have had for the last 16 years. We have great vision for our home, “The Shire” and hope that the work of “Kate Ellen Adventures” will inspire and help people not only in Kenya, but around the world!

So what is Kate Ellen Adventures doing now to make that vision a reality?

I’m glad you asked!

Currently, our home in Kenya houses my orphan daughters and my biological daughters. Our desire is to make our home a safe space for people to come and rediscover who they are and what they love. I hope to host educational retreats and experiences for people to encounter a new culture, a simple way of life, and a deeper connection to the land on which they live!

Here are our current goals:

We need to secure The Shire (our 12 acre homestead in the Great Rift Valley) so it is safe to host people who want to come and learn about Kenyan culture, off-grid living, earth building, and permaculture. Or maybe, you just need to rediscover yourself and need time to heal or time to muse and create. My passion is to see people heal, laugh, find themselves, and feel safe. I also feel passionately about the arts and that there is creativity in every soul.

When you give to this campaign, you are helping us specifically with the following:
1. fencing the lower half of the farm (200 meters by 100 meters) 1,800 feet of fencing 
2. solar motion sensors for security
3. weed eater so we can keep snakes away
3. driveway repair so folks cannot crawl under our gate
4. furnishing/finishing our guest house 
5. getting a solar battery and electricity installed in the guest house
6. setting up water systems for a sink in the guest house
7. getting a gas cooker for the guest house and a gas cylinder

So if you believe in--

*equal rights in Kenya and around the world
*the importance of the Arts and self expression
*the education of people in mindfulness, earth building, permaculture
*protecting the environment and appreciating nature
*the embracing of diversity and learning from new cultures,
*or if you just believe in helping my family stay safe and fed while I am away fundraising for this goal

-then I ask that you consider helping me here by donating or sharing this with your family and friends.

Thank you so much! Sharing is as important as giving.


A last note on what I am learning from this unique time:

I believe that Covid19 will teach us all the importance of slowing down and focusing on the things right in front of us and hopefully help us be more mindful of the the important things. Ironically, I believe that all these quarantines and social distancing is actually bringing us CLOSER together. This virus has no respect for countries, borders, boundaries, financial statuses, religions. We are, in fact, global citizens-- people-- humans-- living together on planet Earth. THAT is what we are realising through all of this. And we all feel similar things despite our different cultures and geographical locations.

Let's learn from this together!

Thank you!