Nyeri

Greetings from Nyeri!

Hello and praise the Lord. We are grateful that God has seen us through the second term, and as we come to its end, here are our term highlights.

Bobby Olang Atanga
Head Teacher, Nyeri

Hope Transforms: A Success Story

Lucy*is a determined mother of four in rural Nyeri. Her story demonstrates how a little support can transform an entire generation’s future.

For years, Lucy had been struggling to meet family needs. She was always torn between providing food for her family and buying school supplies for Josiah, her Grade 2 son. Lack of resources would force the boy to stay home regularly. Her husband made things even worse, as he had little to provide and often found reasons to quarrel. The mother ended up battling depression as family conflicts and financial stress overwhelmed her. The toll was visible as Josiah grew withdrawn and disengaged at school. A regular Sunday school attendee, he started missing church. The family’s hope was fading too fast.

Upon these observations, our social worker intervened. He scheduled a home visit and discussed alternative ways for the family to earn a livelihood. The mother was also sensitized to the importance of school and church for her family. Lucy’s feedback was positive. She agreed to join one of the economic empowerment groups in the center. The group was engaging in table banking activities, where each member saved approximately $1 per week. Through the small loans she subsequently accessed, she started operating a roadside grocery stand. The business picked up very well, and she repaid the loan in full within a week before borrowing again.

Currently, there has been a real transformation in Lucy’s life. She has been able to sustain the business without incurring debt. The extra cash from table banking and the profit earned from her business are used to fund other projects at home. She has ventured into kitchen gardening, poultry keeping, and rabbit rearing. All these have helped provide extra cash for the family, which has improved the family's financial status. She serves as the treasurer of her savings group, and her regular church attendance anchors the family.

Life has changed. Her son now enjoys quality time in school with no worries of being sent home. He is very enthusiastic about school, and his mother fully supports his academic pursuits. Lucy applauds the advice on investments and her eventual inclusion in the growth group, which became a turning point in her otherwise difficult life. She is an encouragement to many families, and we are grateful to God for the transformation witnessed in the family.

*Name changed for privacy

Term Highlights

• Our school construction is progressing well. Thanks to God for this far.
• For the first time, our students participated in the Kenya Music Festival and performed well.
• Our staff participated in a training activity led by the MOHI leadership team. The training aimed to enhance our staff's leadership skills.
  
  

Partner Connections

• The Han family visited us. They toured classrooms and enjoyed meaningful interactions with both students and teachers.
• A team from Parkview Christian Church visited us. They conducted a VBS for our students, visited eight families, and spent time encouraging and praying with them. They engaged students and teachers through games and Bible stories, creating a fun and faith-filled experience. In addition, they sponsored more students.

Prayer Requests

• Pray for harmony among family members in the communities we serve, that the love of God will dwell in their midst.
• Pray for more sponsorship for our students.
• Pray for the good health of our staff and their families. 

We'd Appreciate Your Feedback

Let us know what you thought of this community update! Take our 4-question survey; it only takes about a minute. Thank you!