While we know we cannot heal the entire world, some inequities in life are simply hard to ignore. We strongly believe that education should be a human right afforded to everyone, everywhere.

We had an opportunity to meet the founder and the volunteers from the Ngao Foundation in Nairobi, Kenya (https://thengaofoundation.org) and were impressed with the hard work they are doing every day to send kids to school and help them achieve their dream. They are tirelessly working with residents of the Kangemi and Kibera slums of Nairobi, mostly women and children. Kangemi and Kibera are informal makeshift settlements where thousands of people are living below poverty level. Most of the women and young girls living there lack basic skills and education for income generation. Their dependency on handouts from men through transactional sex makes them vulnerable to social abuse, sexual exploitation, unwanted pregnancies, HIV/AIDS infection and domestic violence as they attempt to get their basic needs.

We could not stand idle and decided to help. That is how the social impact project titled “Shine the Light. Empower Children through Education” was born. First and foremost, we want to raise awareness of serious barriers to education that still exist in many parts of the world. Our goal is to raise funds to support the work of the Ngao Foundation. We will travel to Nairobi in March of 2024 to volunteer at the Ngao Foundation and assist with educational projects, conduct a clean water awareness campaign and mentor young children living in the settlements. We want to show that education can and does change lives. We want to inspire the children that despite all the difficulties, education is their ticket to a better life. Life without chaos, hardship and daily struggle for survival.

We know that these kids exhibit spirit of unparalleled resilience, strength, and hope that refuses to be dimmed. It is this spirit that drives the mission at the Ngao Foundation and its volunteers. They are committed to shining a light in the darkness of the slums and empowering women and children to build a brighter future for themselves and their communities and we are proud to contribute our small part.

The impact of this project and many similar projects, goes beyond the programs and initiatives and the volunteer work. It is seen in the smiles of children attending school, in the health of families receiving medical care, and in the economic independence of women starting their own businesses. It is a testament to the resilience and strength of the human spirit.

However, we cannot do this work alone. We need your support so that the Ngao Foundation can continue this vital work in the slums of Nairobi. Your donation will help the Foundation expand the programs, reach more women and children, and create lasting change in their lives.

Together, we can shine a light in the darkness of the slums and empower women and children to build a brighter future for themselves and their communities. Together, we can make a difference – one life, one community at a time!

Please, donate directly to the organization at: https://thengaofoundation.org/?page_id=5031 ; or to our GoFundMe page at: https://gofund.me/ccf373e8

Thank you for your support.

Amelia and Oliwer