departures from normality

Since last fall, I’ve been working as a research assistant on a study evaluating the impact of a program to improve health services at cross-border sites in East Africa. In preparation for baseline data collection, I traveled to Uganda in mid-May to help to finalize study tools, adapt protocols, and train a team of in-country researchers. Before heading to the pilot site, I managed to squeeze in a walking tour of Kampala... and here’s the proof!

If you’ve been following my blog, you’ve already heard of Agape Hope Children’s Centre, the orphanage and school in Nairobi at which I first volunteered at in 2011, in the summer after my junior year of college. Since my first visit, I have kept up contact with Maggie and Oliver and have had the privilege to return to Agape to visit the children who have been there since my very first trip, meet the new members of the Agape family, see the progress of the center, and contribute what I can. [If you’d like to see my past writings on the center, please see my posts on this blog from my visits in 2011, 2014, and May of this year.]

The directors of Agape are Maggie Kimaiyo and Oliver Chiraba. They are Kenyans answering the needs of the children in their own community. Maggie and Oliver began their mission with a feeding program for street children, and eventually, their compassion and faith inspired them to start Agape Hope Children’s Centre. Today, there are about 130 children in Maggie and Oliver’s care. Along with around 170 more students who live in the local community, these children attend the Agape school, which offers “baby class” (the equivalent of our preschool) through secondary school (high school) education.

Among children whose have faced neglect, abuse, stigma, and hopelessness, Oliver and Maggie have raised a family that works and plays and forgives and accepts and loves together. They have achieved this goal through sacrifice--working long days 7 days a week, taking on the stress of being primary caregivers to 130 children, and assuming a considerable financial burden. Despite the challenges and the unpredictability of their situation, Maggie and Oliver choose this rare life of faith and sacrifice, knowing how much the children need the support.

In May of this year, I returned to Agape, this time with my boyfriend, Charles, and we were inspired to start a fundraiser for the center. When we asked about some of Agape’s larger unmet needs, Maggie and Oliver explained their goal of purchasing a van for the center. A van will provide safe and on-demand transportation for the children, help the directors collect donations from other locations in the city, provide the center with an additional means of income generation, and give the children opportunities to explore beyond the Agape compound’s big blue fence.

A few who have volunteered at Agape have tried to raise this money before, and the proceeds from their efforts (a few hundred dollars in total) will go towards the $15,000 goal. Charles and I want to help Oliver and Maggie finally purchase the van, so we are personally investing in this effort and are asking you to join us as together, we chip away at the $15,000 cost.

If would like to donate, Charles has set up a gofundme page at: http://www.gofundme.com/wzp39w.

We are encouraging 300 people to support this initiative with $50 contributions, though any amount you are comfortable giving will help us reach the goal and maintain momentum. Please also share this posting or your own words of encouragement and the gofundme page with your social networks. As of September 20, 30 people have contributed $1,888. Oliver, Maggie, Charles and I so appreciate your help growing those numbers!

If you would like to learn more about Agape, this campaign, or other ways to donate, please feel free to send me a message or email ([email protected]).

Thank you, sincerely, for your support.