Agape in Action

Going to high school remains an unreachable dream for so many young people in Africa. You can help change that. Our goal is simple - build and run one of the best high schools in Kenya! We need your help to make it happen.

Seeing the potential of young people going to waste is heart breaking. Without an education or trade, the future for these young people is bleak. Most will remain trapped in the vicious cycle of poverty and become dependant on 'hand outs'. You can provide a 'hand up' and make a lasting difference, one person at a time.

This high school will foster much more than academic excellence. It will embrace the spirit of Agape in Action by providing opportunities for teachers, students and guardians to put their 'agape' into action in practical ways through volunteering and outreach activities. The teachers will lead by example and mentor these young people so they can grow to their full God given potential. The high school will also provide a centre for training programs, camps and other events.

Located in Kamakuywa, where Agape in Action already supports several programs (such as a children's home and shelter for young people), the High School will support young people that are already in our programs as well as additional young people from the community. Recent changes to the government high schools in the area have meant girls now have to travel very long distances along unsafe rural roads to get to high school. And when they get there, they find themselves in a class of over 100 students. The Agape in Action high school will focus on providing teenage girls with a safe and secure environment to learn. Plans are to have 8 classes with 35 students in each class. A complete curriculum will be offered covering 11 subjects.

You can send a donation of any amount to support the high school. General donations will be used for construction of the school and fitting out the school with desks and chairs etc. You can keep up with the progress of the building online on our high school building blog. We are also keeping our popular high school gift catalogue online to allow you to donate a specifi item to the school, click here for the gift catalogue.

Support the project on an ongoing basis through a high school sponsorship ($30 US or equivalent/month). Each school sponsor will receive regular photo updates along with corresp

ondence from students and teachers and updates from field workers. Project sponsorship will go to supporting the running costs of the school including teachers salaries, the nutrition program, school uniforms and equipment.

There are lots of great ways to raise funds (auctions, bake sales, volleyball tournaments, 40-hour famines, dinners, garage sales, etc); if you're a good organizer and are up for a challenge, we want to hear from you!

Agape in Action is partnering with Project Macfrica to install a computer lab at the Agape in Action High School in Kamukuywa. Project Macfrica will donate, ship and install 20 used Mac computers to the school, they will also provide training to the local teachers. Below is a message from Matt Scobel, Founder of Project Macfrica:

If you have an old Mac or ipad, or want to make a cash donate to help with the shipping and installation costs, click on one of the links below. To contact Project Macfrica, click here.

Nursery Schools (Kenya)

Nursery Schools are being operated in several ecclesial halls across Kenya. AinA is supporting two of these nursery schools in the coastal region of Kenya (Mwandeo and Godo). Before these schools were started, children were walking up to 10 km to get to school. At nursery school age, this was taking them 3 hours each way. Because of these long distances, many children delayed their education until they were old enough to make the trek. Those critical first years of life were wasted. The importance of these schools cannot be overstated.

The Msamaria Mwema Academy Mwandeo (Mwandeo Good Samaritan School) runs from the Mwandeo Ecclesial Hall and supports about 100 children. There are 4 teachers and classes are from JK through Form 2. The Mwangaza wa Godo Nursery School (Godo School of Light Nursery) runs from the Godo Ecclesia Hall and supports about 60 children. There are 2 teachers. These schools are supported by ongoing sponsorship ($30/month) and donations. Sponsors received regular updates, photographs and correspondence from the children and teachers at the school.

**NEW** Sustainability Models - We are working towards our nursery schools in Kenya becoming self sufficient and sustainable. Sustainability projects will be put in place in January 2010. It is our goal that in 5 years the schools will be fully sustainable. Local AinA representatives are putting together project proposals including the growing and marketing of vegetables, chicken rearing, dairy, etc... the schools will engage the children and the income generated will be used to cover the school's running costs allowing sponsorship funds to move to another AinA school

“And he said: ‘I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.’” Matthew 18:3

The India Faith Home is found in Kadiam, India where Andrew & Shuba have taken in 12 orphaned children. There are three girls and nine boys in the home. In addition, Andrew and Shuba have their own baby. They also care for Andrew’s mother who is a widow as is Andrew’s sister who has a young son. They both help Andrew and Shuba provide care for the children. Agape in Action supports this home through a combination of child and project sponsorship. The children in the home enjoy a full nutrition program, go to school and have access to necessary medical and dental care as well as clothing and other basic needs. Sponsors received regular updates, photos and letters from the home.

In addition, Andrew & Shuba run the only Christian (Christadelphian) school in the community on some land that was owned by Andrew’s late father. Ninety-six children attend daily classes and they employ 6 teachers to assist in this work. All of the children attend Sunday School in Kadiam. This is a great place to do volunteer work for a long stint. Volunteers live at the home and teach full time at the school. To learn more about the Faith Home or other projects in India, please contact us at (519) 837 9094 or agapeinaction@rogers.com.

"And whoever welcomes a little child like this in my name welcomes me” Matthew 18:5

The saying is that ‘water is life’. This couldn’t be truer in many areas of Kenya. Many people are facing great hardship due to a lack of clean water. There are two main problems:

Problem 1
There is not enough water! Children are often very dehydrated. There are common complaints of headaches. Women and children walk great distances carrying heavy jerry cans of water. This keeps children out of school.

Problem 2
The water is dirty! Sicknesses from dirty water are commonplace. Dirty water kills 4000 children around the world every day. Parasitic and bacterial infections among brethren and sisters and their children are very common.

Example: January 2009 – Mukundi
When the Agape in Action team visited Mukundi in Jan ‘09, the dam used by B&S to collect water had completely dried up. The ground was cracked and dry where the water used to be. The people were being forced to cross into a wildlife reserve to get water from a waterhole that was also used by the wild animals. They were risking their lives to do this. In particular, aggressive elephants were challenging them. At sunset as it was getting dark, you could see a line of fires in the distance that the locals had lit on the path to, and around, the waterhole in the reserve to try and protect themselves from the animals. All this for a bucket of dirty water.

Example: January 2009 – Godo
The area of Godo is a semi-arid area near the Tanzanian border. The main source of income in this area is the making and selling of charcoal. For some of the year they can get water from a small dam about 2 kilometres from the ecclesial hall. However, the water from the dam doesn’t last long and then they travel 20 kilometres across the border to Tanzania where they get dirty water from a river.

In early 2010, there is a team travelling to Kenya to implement a rain water tank project. Ferro cement rain water tanks will built, starting in Kamukuywa and then Godo and will continue at ecclesial halls as we have the funds available. These will be managed locally and the ecclesias will contribute their manpower etc... to the building of these. This will be for drinking water. In addition, we will be looking at putting in small dams that can be used for irrigation.

“…I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink…whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me...” Matt 25:35,40

Kamukuywa is a very special place. It is home to one very large and happy family. Over the years, Justus and Annett Mabuka have taken in over 100 orphaned and unwanted children. Although struggling to support this enormous family, and despite the children having to sleep outside, the Mabuka’s opened up their home and hearts to these needy children. Agape in Action began sponsoring these children in March 2007 allowing the Mabuka’s to provide food and clothing for the children and to ensure all were able to go to school. There are two projects nearing completion that will soon see that the children also have a roof over their heads.

Lela Children's Home has been an exciting partnership between the CBM, Christadelphian Meal-a-Day UK and Agape in Action. This children’s home currently houses 60 children and will be supported by a team of support staff to ensure these kids receive the best care possible. This home consists of a boys and girls dorm, dining room, kitchen and washroom blocks.

Kimbilio is a shelter that has been built by Agape in Action for the children remaining with Justus and Annette. This home, as Kimbilio means, will be a place of refuge. Kimbilio is currently home for 30 teenagers.

“Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.” Prov 22:6

The aim of this pilot project, which will take place in September 2010, is to support brethren and sisters to improve and diversity crops in order to feed their families and generate an income from their shambas that can be used for the basic needs of their family and to support others in need.

Crop failures are a regular occurrence due to unpredictable rains. Maize is the most common crop grown and few have attempted to diversify crops. Lack of knowledge on how to grow other crops coupled with lack of funds for seeds and fertilizer inhibit experimentation with new crops. Maize has little nutritional value and contributes to the poor diets of many in the area.

Crop diversity and better utilization of water are two priorities. Crop diversity requires training and encouragement as well as access to funds for the purchase of seed, fertilizer and pesticides. Enhanced water utilization requires the digging of water pans and adoption of drip irrigation systems to extend growing periods and enable the production of crops during the dry season. The Coastal Farming initiative will see a local coordinator trained and employed to oversee the program, the provision of training to farmers in the program, the establishment of a microloan program, support for implementing drip irrigation systems and water evaluations conducted at each farm.

Following a careful evaluation of the pilot program, we hope to expand this initiative throughout Kenya. This projects fits with Agape in Actions commitment to provide long-term support to raise individuals, families and communities out of extreme poverty.

Hygiene Kits: Children in areas supported by Agape in Action receive hygiene kits as funds are available. These consist of a washbowl, face cloth, bag, bathing soap, clothes washing soap, toothbrush and toothpaste. These simple kits go a long way to preventing infectious disease and ensuring these children stay healthy. Studies have shown that improved hygiene and sanitation can reduce diarrheal disease (the 4th biggest killer in the world) by up to 50%.

Medical needs: Agape in Action supports medical needs for families in the sponsorship program. In addition, we ensure that children have regular check-ups to identify and treat chronic and infectious conditions, catch early signs of malnutrition and ensure childhood vaccinations are up to date. Some of these children will require follow-on treatment or medication. Emergency medical care and medicines are also provided when required.

"He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, took him to an inn and took care of him." Luke 10:34

We are looking for volunteers! Doctors, nurses, dentists, community health workers – consider a stint, long or short in Kenya – there is no shortage of work.

Atashinda is a Swahili word meaning ‘he/she will succeed, he/she will overcome’. This education fund has been created to support sponsored children and their siblings pursue a high school education or a trade. Atashinda is a central part of Agape in Action’s mission to improve life, provide opportunity and instil hope amongst the neediest of our family around the world. These young people are eager to learn and be in a position where they can support not only themselves, but also others in need around them. Agape in Action is committed to seeing these children complete their education. Without a high school education or trade, these children will find it extremely difficult to support themselves. Their options will be limited and they may very well find themselves in the same tragic situation from which they were rescued.

The costs associated with a high school education or trade are more than what is available through regular sponsorship payments. Sponsors are given the opportunity to increase their sponsorship payments. The Atashinda Education Fund has been created to cover the balance between regular sponsorship and the additional education expenses AND to allow their siblings the same opportunity. For trades, Agape in Action has a structured program which includes (i) financial support from the regular sponsorship, (ii) support from Atashinda in the form of a small grant (iii) support from Atashinda in the form of a loan, and (iv) funds saved by the family themselves. The completion of high school or the pursuit of a trade is so vitally important for these young people. It is pivotal in breaking the cycle of poverty. This newly created education fund desperately needs support. We have a waiting list of young people who are ready to go to high school or pursue a trade in tailoring, mechanics and farming, just to name a few.

You can donate any amount to the Atashinda Education Fund, either as a once off donation or as an ongoing payment. Every dollar will go to supporting these young people in their further studies. Your support will go to covering the school fees and purchasing the necessary supplies. All supporters will received updates and hear stories from the young people benefitting from the fund.

“Whoever brings blessing will be enriched, and one who waters will himself be watered” Prov 11:25

This project was started when the government of Uganda made a regulation stating that any Christian organization that was operating in the country must run a charitable activity such as a school or clinic.

Working closely with the CBM, AinA supports this nursery school which runs out of the Mt. Elgon Ecclesial Hall. There are 3 teachers and 90 needy children, many of whom are orphans.

Through the school, AinA provides a full nutrition program including breakfast and lunch (which they would otherwise go without), education (which they may otherwise go without), uniforms and shoes and an opportunity to learn about God and His plan and purpose with the earth.

The school is running well and has helped the children tremendously. They are now full of energy and enthusiastic to learn. As a result of the school’s good reputation, enrolment at the school has had to be restricted.

Similar to child sponsorship, we have ongoing sponsors for the school who support the children as a group. Sponsorship is $30 per month. Sponsors received regular updates, photographs and correspondence from the children and teachers at the school.

“Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.” Prov 22:6

With no support systems provided by the government and usually few family members alive, widows in Kenya do not have an easy time. To make matters worse, it is not uncommon for in-laws to come and take anything of value following her husbands death, leaving the widow with nothing in the way of material possessions. We can scarce imagine the hardships they face on a daily basis as they struggle to provide for themselves and sometimes their children or grandchildren. Many will own a ‘jamba’ (a short handled hoe) and they will go out looking for work on someone’s land. If they are fortunate, they will bring home a few shillings or some food to feed the family for the day. Some of the widows are just too elderly to work, relying on the generosity of others in order to survive. When everyone is poor, they can easily slip through the cracks.

In January 2010, Agape in Action launched the ‘Upendo Wanjane' (love for the widows’ Program. Under the supervision of two coordinators, the older girls residing in Kimbilio were matched with needy widows from the ecclesia. They make regular visits. On their visits they do Bible readings, deliver a care package of food and other essentials (such as clothing, a blanket, water, seeds etc...) and help out with any chores around the home.

This pilot program is going well and we hope to expand the widow’s program in 2011. As a sponsor of the program you will receive updates and photos from the field to see how your gift is making a difference in the lives of these sisters in need.

“Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.” James 1:27

Children are the most visible victims of malnutrition. Children who are poorly nourished suffer are very vulnerable to disease, often being affected by disease for up to 160 days each year. They perform poorly in school and end up trapped in an endless cycle of poverty. Poor nutrition plays a role in at least half of the 10.9 million child deaths each year. Malnutrition magnifies the effect of every disease, including measles and malaria.

Starting in January 2010, Agape in Action introduced the nutrition drink program in our first area. This was at the Agape in Action sponsored – Godo School of Light nursery which is held in the ecclesial hall there. This is a very poor area and the children were obviously undernourished.

This drink is locally made and is packed with proteins and vitamins. The recipe for the nutrition drink was developed in India by Tim Galbraith. The recipe was shared with Agape in Action, the ingredients sourced locally and a pilot program introduced. The drink has had considerable effects on the overall health of the children participating in the program. Agape in Action is evaluating the impact of this nutrition drink by monitoring the general health, height and weight of children before entering the program and at regular intervals thereafter.

Because of the initial success, the drink was introduced in a second area in July 2010 in the Central Region of Kenya. The drink is given 3 times per week at a cost of approximately 21 cents per child per week!

“For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me,…” Matthew 25:35-36