The holidays are a time to pause and reflect on what truly matters. They provide us with an opportunity to come back to what feels like home—whether that’s family, friends, or simply a sense of belonging. Thanksgiving in particular is about gratitude. It’s about giving thanks for what we have and hope for what we can become. It’s a moment to be present, share what we have, and reflect on what it means to live a life of connection and purpose. I am especially grateful for our Restore Humanity Global Family and all of the support that makes our work in Kenya possible.
As we approach December I want to focus on our Outreach Program, #educate60, which covers the fees required to keep kids in Sirembe and the surrounding villages enrolled in high school. Public high schools in Kenya aren’t free, so these kids would be forced to drop out without these scholarships. This program started in 2008 with just one student, the one and only, Moses Vincent Agare. He was the first person in his family to attend high school. Then he became our first RH Scholar when he came to the US to attend the University of Arkansas where he was crowned the UofA’s first-ever Homecoming King before earning his bachelor’s degree and embarking on an increasingly successful career as a civil engineer. To be fair, Moses’ charm, persistence, and ability to get the most out of every opportunity make him a bit of an outlier. We don’t expect to replicate his story exactly but it remains true to say that our Outreach scholarships produce positive, life-altering effects for the students who receive them, as well as for their families. The prospects for a happy, healthy, and productive life are just better for someone with a high school diploma than they are for someone whose formal education ended in the 8th grade.
Our program has grown a lot over the years. In fact, in 2024 #educate60 helped 200 girls and boys attend high school! That is a lot of growth over the years and we are so thankful for each and every one of you who has donated to make that happen!
During my trip to Kenya this past summer, I took the time to go meet with a few of the principals of the high schools that we partner with, and I was reminded just how critical it is that we continue this support. For many of the kids in the area, our scholarship is their only hope of attaining any meaningful level of education. While a high school diploma isn't a magic wand that clears every obstacle in their path, it does ensure that at least some doors will open for them--doors that allow them and their families to achieve some social mobility and have a brighter future.
Ndegwe Secondary School is one of the smaller schools in the area for which we started providing scholarships, and I met with the Principal, Mr. Kariko, while I was there. He gave me a tour of the school, which took about 6 minutes due to its modest size, but it was full of smiling, giggling faces as I passed by the classrooms. He wanted me to convey his gratitude to every donor who has helped support these students. He told me in no uncertain terms that without it, those students would not be in school at all. He very earnestly asked that we continue to support these students and I told him that I would relay the message to all of you.
The new Principal at Sirembe Secondary School, Mr. Owiye, was a joy to meet. I heard him described as a "jolly man" by people from the area and it's a very apt description. He also thanked me profusely for all of the support that we have given the students and the school itself over the years. Sirembe is a bigger school--probably 3 times the size of Ndegwe and, while they have more resources, it is still nowhere close to providing the children with everything they need. But he was determined to elevate the school to new heights and I believe that he and the teachers can do it. His leadership and focus encourage his students on their journey and also inspire increased engagement from their families.
All of our lives have been touched, at some point, by passionate educators who lack adequate resources and God bless them for their dedication and resourcefulness. While this is an all too common story, the situation in the developing world is even more extreme. It’s not just the teachers and principals who struggle to meet basic needs for their students, but families do not have the financial stability to cover the costs of education.
This is where we, or more specifically YOU, come in. Next week we will start raising money for our #educate60 campaign and we will work to send as many Kenyan students to high school as possible. More kids able to attend high school means more graduates, which means more opportunities for them. Those opportunities benefit not only the students themselves but also their families and their communities at large. The ripple effects of their success create a continuing cycle of positive change! Some students will get a chance to attend a university, some a community college, while others will go to technical, vocational, or trade schools. Some of the students don't go further with their education, but even so, they are leaps and bounds ahead of where they would have been had they dropped out in 8th grade.
Another thing to consider is the long-term effect of educating girls. Research shows that the longer girls can stay in school, the longer that they delay getting married and having children--which might not sound like a big deal until you understand that once many rural women in Kenya start having babies, they do not stop for quite some time. At some point, this unfortunately but reliably becomes dangerous for the mother and her babies. That is just one of the many factors to consider when thinking of the importance of this program.
Something I didn’t quite fully appreciate until I witnessed it on my most recent trip is just how much this program affects the families of our scholarship recipients and their community as a whole. Of course, it does in very tangible ways–like if these students have access to more education, they can get better jobs which not only benefits them, but also those around them. However, this program also has some benefits that are not as obvious–it helps to empower the students and their families, inspire confidence, and create the space for dignity to flourish. The bottom line is that this program is a direct and cost-effective way to completely change the course of someone's life for the better. Both girls and boys being educated is pivotal for the betterment of their lives, their families, and their community.
I will be reaching out next week with an opportunity to participate in this year’s campaign, but in the meantime, I wish you all a wonderful Thanksgiving full of love, gratitude, and delicious food.