Baba Dogo
Community Update - Term 3, 2024
Greetings from Baba Dogo!
Hello! We hope you are doing well in the Lord Jesus Christ! It's hard to believe that the 2024 academic term has concluded. We are thrilled to share the wonderful events that unfolded during this last term of the year. Thank you for your unwavering support as we work towards transforming lives through the love of Jesus Christ.
Andati Joseph,
Head Teacher, Baba Dogo
Hope Transforms: A Success Story
When Ryan was nine months old, he contracted meningitis, which affected his spine. When his parents realized something was wrong, they took him to a local hospital, and then he was referred to a specialist. After various tests, it was discovered that his backbone was severely affected and he needed urgent treatment, coupled with regular physiotherapy.
Ryan began to improve, and regular physiotherapy helped him to sit and crawl independently. However, he still had a long way to go before he could be fully independent. As time went on, it became increasingly expensive for his family to travel to the hospital for regular therapy sessions. This is when Ryan was referred to the MOHI Baba Dogo Center for weekly sessions, which is how MOHI met Ryan and his mother.
He began his sessions at the Baba Dogo Center and made significant improvements within a few months. Soon, he was able to start school and was enrolled in MOHI's kindergarten class in 2021. Although he needed a lot of assistance from his teachers and mother to attend class regularly, he was making tremendous strides both physically and in his education.
As Ryan continued to get better, his doctors realized that he was having difficulty walking properly. After some tests, they discovered that Ryan's hip joint was out of place and needed surgery to correct it. Ryan's family, however, could not afford the cost of surgery. Missions of Hope International intervened and covered the cost of the surgery and hospital expenses. On March 13, 2023, Ryan's surgery on his right hip was successful.
While Ryan was recovering, he was unable to walk and missed school for three months. When he was fully recovered, he returned to school and could now walk fairly well. He caught up with his class and made steady improvements in his education.
Now that Ryan was in school, his mother had some free time. She began to engage in other activities within the community. She decided to train as a ‘trainer of trainers’ of parents with children with special needs. She has since become a champion of children living with special needs in the community, offering support and motivation to parents and caregivers.
As she interacted with these parents and caregivers, she realized that many of them struggled to get a regular source of income to sustain themselves and their children. She decided to band together some of the parents and trained them on how they could pull resources and help each other achieve different financial goals. This became an important avenue for both her and other parents to enhance their lives.
Ryan's family had lost all hope when Ryan got sick. They were worried about his health and how they would be able to support and raise him, but with the help they received at MOHI, their hope was restored. Ryan's therapy sessions have proven to be instrumental in his progress toward independence and self-reliance. Their faith in God was also renewed as their social worker would visit them to encourage them. They rededicated their lives to Jesus and now regularly attend a local church. Ryan's mother takes every opportunity to talk about the rights of children living with special needs, sensitizing the community and breaking harmful beliefs and practices.
We are so grateful to be a part of this incredible story of transformation, resilience, and community. We thank God for Ryan and his family and the impact they are making in the Baba Dogo community.
*Name changed for privacy
Term Highlights
- Our staff and students participated in our school ball games competition, competing in football and volleyball. The Grade 4 boys, Grade 5 girls, and Grade 8 boys emerged as winners, displaying remarkable teamwork and talent. The event was a fantastic show of school spirit and camaraderie.
- Kindergarten and lower primary students enjoyed fun day activities, showcasing their impressive swimming skills and participating in creative "Olympic" games.
- We celebrated our kindergarten students advancing to Grade 1 with a graduation ceremony attended by family and friends—congratulations to our new Grade 1 students!
- This term, our Grades 6, 7, and 8 enjoyed an exciting educational trip to the Nairobi Museum, Nairobi National Park, and Mamba Village, learning about Kenyan heritage and observing the country's wildlife.
Partner Connections
- We were pleased to have Christ’s Church of the Valley's special needs team visit us this term. They held a medical camp for people with special needs, visited homes, and organized a fun day for children and their caregivers.
- We were thrilled to welcome members of Eastside Christian Church, who conducted three impactful home enhancement projects for families with children with special needs. Additionally, they organized vital medical screenings for these children, they topped off their visit with a vibrant fun day filled with laughter and joy.
- We were happy to welcome a member of Rocky Mountain Christian Church. The skilled physiotherapist visited our special needs therapy room where she assisted children with physical disabilities.
Prayer Requests
- Pray for our unsponsored students to receive sponsorship.
- Pray for our students as they take a well-deserved long break from school. We ask God to protect them from any harm during their break and bring them back to us safely.
- Pray for all our children living with special needs. May God meet them and their families at their point of need.
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