Dear KCEF Friends & Partners,
My son took a big chance at the start of 10th grade last week. Instead of continuing with soccer, he put forward a request for a sport that had not existed at his school. He and his friends developed a proposal, met with the principal, and engaged in a few debates with their parents. In the end, he helped launch the school’s first official golf club, an initiative that makes us proud of him.
Of course, in the environment where KCEF serves, organized sport, let alone golf, is mostly a dream. But just as my son has the chance to be in an educational environment where his dreams are nurtured, I’m excited to share with you a wonderful, tangible opportunity for KCEF to nourish and educate several hundred more Kenyan students: A friend has generously pledged a $50,000 matching gift to not only strengthen our existing programs but also challenge us to add a new partner school.
Even though we receive email requests every month from prospective partners all around Kenya, we can only add a school when we have the resources to sustain a partnership AND when we have deep trust in the school’s leader. It has been five years since we added a new school!
The pastors we work with in the slum area of Kiandutu, on the outskirts of Greater Nairobi, introduced us to Madame Florence, who founded St. Catherine’s Elite School to offer children hope in an area of severe poverty and unsafe conditions. We welcomed the chance to begin helping St. Catherine’s in a small way, such as building a wall to keep out thieves, but we could not commit to a full partnership until we had the resources—something Madame Florence has no doubt been praying for.
This matching gift can provide the foundation for a full partnership with St. Catherine’s and allow us to serve 363 students in grades K-9 with two years’ worth of the following:
- Daily meals for 363 students
- Investments in monthly teacher training and support
- Digital literacy training and computer coding camps that keep kids learning and safe over the holidays
- Experiential learning with culturally-appropriate rites of passage
- Secondary school scholarships
- And a much needed sewage system for the bathroom!
I had the opportunity to visit Madame Florence and the students at St. Catherine’s in June. This matching gift, together with your donations, gives us the chance to announce the good news of a partnership with them when we visit in early October. Will you consider helping us reach our goal of $50,000? Every dollar will be matched and will go directly to this partnership.
KCEF is also excited to launch a new donation platform which we hope will make your giving easier by including additional donation options, such as Apple Pay and a recurring gift option.
The best things often come when we take risks. Even the smallest steps of faith can have a huge impact. So please take a step of faith with us, help us reach our $50,000 match and transform the lives of the nearly 400 children at St. Catherine’s School.
With deepest gratitude,
