The story of Hope4Hope Kenya!
Last week, Project Held was in Kenya to visit two of our projects. One of them was Hope4Hope in Likoni, near Mombasa. Every time we come here, we are once again touched by the remarkable story behind this project.
It all started with Reginold, or as everyone calls him: Reg!
When Reg was just 17 years old, he saw how most of the children from his village went to the quarries early every morning with their parents. There, they broke large rocks by hand into smaller stones, which were then sold to construction companies.
It was hard, dangerous work, for which they only received a few cents a day. Children barely had the chance to be children. There was little time to play, learn, or discover their talents.
Reg knows the world all too well. Although his own family had escaped this heavy work, they were by no means well-off. Still, he decided to do something. With his last savings, he bought a soccer ball.
Every evening he gathered the village boys to play soccer together. For many children, this became the highlight of the day. No more breaking stones, but having fun, playing sports, and dreaming of a different future.
What started with one ball quickly grew into multiple soccer teams. The youngsters proved to have a lot of talent, and several players were noticed by bigger soccer clubs. For some, that literally meant a way out of the quarries.
That was the beginning of Hope4Hope.
In the years that followed, it grew into a center where young people can develop themselves and discover where their talents lie. Not only through sports, but also through education and personal guidance.
Today, Hope4Hope offers, among other things:
Soccer Training
A boxing club
A dance group
Computer Lessons
Sewing Classes
A gym
Coaching and Education
All with the same goal: to give young people perspective and keep them away from crime, violence, and hopelessness. Two years ago, a wonderful milestone was added. Hope4Hope was able to start its own school:
New Hope School.
Thanks to the large school bus, which was financed by Project Held, among others, the children are safely transported from Likoni to school every day. There they receive quality education and a daily breakfast and a hot meal.
Perhaps the most beautiful thing is that many young people who were once helped by Hope4Hope have since graduated or learned a trade. In their free time, they return to teach or mentor other young people.
That's exactly where the African concept Ubuntu ahead: I am, because we are. A beautiful attitude towards life that you see everywhere at Hope4Hope.
There are also new challenges...
As the school's reputation grows, many children from families who can afford tuition are also enrolling. While this is wonderful, the school is now outgrowing its capacity. Last year, thanks to your support, we were able to build two new classrooms, allowing children to move up to the next grade.
However, students in Grades 7 and 8 currently still have to transfer to another school because there simply isn't enough space. In addition, the school is facing another major problem. The kitchen has become much too small.
Iedere dag wordt er gekookt voor alle kinderen, maar de vrouwen die dit doen staan urenlang in de rook van houtvuren. Er is nauwelijks ventilatie en de omstandigheden zijn ongezond. Daarom willen wij ons de komende tijd inzetten voor de bouw van een nieuwe, veilige en goed geventileerde keuken. Een plek waar dagelijks met plezier en onder gezonde omstandigheden gekookt kan worden voor alle kinderen van New Hope School.
Perhaps you'd like to make a donation. Perhaps you want to organize a fundraising event with your church, school, youth group, or club. Together, we can ensure these children not only receive a good education but also a healthy meal every day.
👉 Please mention with your gift: “New Kitchen New Hope School”. Together we make a difference.
Because every stone we lay brings the children of Likoni one step closer to a hopeful future. ❤️ Do you want to help? Press the donate button below and help build a great project in Kenya. 👇🏼
