Baba Dogo

Greetings from Baba Dogo!

Hello! We hope you are doing well. The second term has been a success, and we are pleased to share some significant developments during this period. We are truly grateful for your unwavering support in our mission to make a positive impact on lives through the hope of Christ.

Andati Joseph
Head Teacher, Baba Dogo

Hope Transforms: A Success Story

Faith* is a single mother of four children living in the Baba Dogo community. Her three older children all have special needs. Her eldest daughter is 14 years old and has cerebral palsy. Her second-born daughter is eight years old and suffers from hydrocephalus. Her third son also has cerebral palsy. Her last-born daughter is four years old and does not have special needs.

MOHI social workers first met Faith's four-year-old daughter while doing home visits around the area where they lived. Their attention was drawn to her as she was not in school though was of school-going age. The little girl took the social workers home, and this is when they met Faith tending to her three children with special needs. While they talked to Faith, they realized that she needed help. MOHI came to learn that she was initially married, but when she gave birth to her third child and they realized that he had cerebral palsy, his father abandoned the family as he could not cope with the many challenges the family was going through. He also carried household goods and left the family desolate.

Faith was left alone to fend for the family and also be a full-time caregiver. This left her depressed and without hope. Her children with special needs needed care round the clock while simultaneously she needed to find work to provide for them. This caused her a great deal of stress. At first, MOHI provided the family with a food basket that helped her while she got on her own two feet.

The social workers provided guidance and counseling, spiritual discipleship, and paid them regular visits to encourage them. Her children were then enrolled in our Baba Dogo special needs program. The therapy sessions provided proved to be instrumental in giving her children basic skills and tools they could use to improve their quality of life.

Faith's last-born daughter was also cared for. She was recruited into Missions of Hope Baba Dogo Center, where every child is valued, loved, and nurtured. She was given a brand new uniform and school requirements to facilitate smooth learning. Once she joined school, she quickly settled in, loving her teachers and her classmates. There was a noticeable change in her demeanor. She was able to get nutritious meals that nourished her body and a safe place to play with her new friends.

Faith was introduced to healthy home practices that taught her how to keep her home clean and safe for her children. She was also one of the parents who benefited from a home enhancement program where she received a bed with mattresses, blankets, sheets and pillows, a solar lamp, storage containers, utensils, and a food basket. These enhancements to her home were a great blessing in ensuring that her children had the very best.

Once all her children were settled in school and receiving the support and love that they needed, it was Faith's turn. She joined our MTTI (MOHI Technical Training Institute) where she studied cosmetology (hairdressing and beauty). She completed her course and graduated. She is currently working as a hairdresser and also does casual jobs every now and then for some extra money. She is also saving up to start her own salon business so she will be able to watch over her children as she works.

Faith joined one of Baba Dogo parents’ groups known as Bright Star Mums who have been walking with her and encouraging her. These groups work as support groups for moms with children living with special needs.

Through continuous evangelism, the family joined a local church near their home. Her love for Christ has grown tremendously, and she accepted Jesus Christ as her personal savior. Faith's story inspires others to believe and not give up in spite of the odds against them.

Faith thanks Missions of Hope International for restoring hope and transforming her family through the hope of Christ.

*Name changed for privacy

Term Highlights

• We are proud of our music club members who participated in the Kenya Music Festival competition. They competed in the regional competitions and emerged third.
  
  
• We are proud of our soccer team that participated in the Kenya Primary School Sports Association sub-county competitions. They won second place and qualified to compete in the regional competitions.

Partner Connections

• We were delighted to host Eastside Christian Church during this term. They organized a training session for 50 parents of children with special needs, focusing on the love of God. The parents had a wonderful time and gained valuable knowledge on how to care for their children. Eastside Christian Church also organized a special paralympic event for children with special needs and their parents. The children had an incredible time and truly enjoyed themselves.

Prayer Requests

• Pray for our students as they break for the holidays so that they stay away from negative influence in their peer groups and other vulnerable environments, which may lead them astray.
  
  
• Join us in prayer for our beloved country, Kenya, asking for God's intervention to bring back peace and understanding during these difficult political times.
  
  
• Thank God for the term, thank Him for keeping us and the community safe.
  
  

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