Stories of Hope: Robert

Robert's family stands in front of their new home. He is caring for his brother, sister, and cousin.

Your gifts are empowering Robert to care for his family. After the death of his parents, Robert became the provider for his brother and sister. When he found out that a young cousin had no one to care for him, Robert took his cousin in as well.

Robert’s Giving Hope Journey began close to one year ago. Through Giving Hope, Robert is receiving excellent training from an orphaned teen who has completed his Giving Hope journey and is now a successful farmer in the community. This training will allow Robert to cultivate his land and provide for his family.

Like a parent, Robert is passing on all of the important life skills he is learning to his brother, sister, and cousin.

Giving Hope recently built and dedicated a home for Robert and his family.  Members of his community, a local church, Robert’s Faith Working Group, Giving Hope staff, and a ZOE mission team gathered to surround them in joyful celebration.  At the dedication, Robert was honored to accept a handmade, green prayer shawl on behalf of his young family.

See the video of Robert’s home dedication:

Stories of Hope: Purity

“When my parents died we were so afraid.  We were praying only to God to help us to get something even to eat because we were sleeping without food…But nowadays we can eat more than even those who are having parents.” – Purity M., age 18.

Before Giving Hope, Purity says her family of four was completely without hope. Their parents died of AIDS within several years of each other. Their oldest brother lives with a mental disability so the burden of care passed to Purity. Their land sat empty like a desert providing no food for the hungry children. They were often kicked out of school because they could not pay their school fees.  The children spent lots of time inside their home crying because no one would have anything to do with them.

When members of ZOE’s Giving Hope staff met the young family for the first time, they cried as well. It was one of the most difficult cases ZOE’s staff had ever seen.

Purity joined Giving Hope, and life began to change. Today, Purity is a leader in her community and a faithful disciple giving hope to other orphans in her community.

Watch this video and discover how Purity’s story of transformation is a gift that now brings tears of joy to ZOE Staff and all who love her.

Then, join Purity and give a gift that will transform the lives of other orphans in need of hope.

Stories of Hope: Titus

Titus was 15 years old when his parents died of HIV/AIDS. Left with a 9 year old sister to raise, Titus was forced to drop out of school.

His story was like that of so many orphans in Africa: Titus and his sister were isolated, stigmatized, and despised by their neighbors. They frequently went hungry and could not afford medical care or pay school expenses. With no opportunity for a steady job, Titus worked as casual labor at the local market. He was trapped in poverty and hopelessness.

Titus’s story began to change when he joined ZOE’s Giving Hope project. Through ZOE, Titus was given the opportunity to start his own small business. He used his first Income Generating Grant to purchase a goat and began a breeding project. After his goat gave birth, Titus was able to rapidly expand his business. In addition to his original project, he also buys and sells goats from a rural market and resells them for profit in his village. He now has a herd of animals, 8 goats and 5 sheep!

Two years ago Titus had nothing. Today, your support means he is able to meet the needs of his family and save money to open a butchery shop in the future.

Stories of Hope: Faith

Under One Roof

Faith and her sister Lisa stand in front of their old home

Faith, her family, and friends gather beside their new home

See a video of Faith’s new home as it was built by Faith, community artisans, and a ZOE team.

Stories of Hope: Dickens

Dickens and one of his younger brothers

Dickens was orphaned when he was only 9 years old. When a ZOE team visited his home, Dickens explained that he now understands that his parents died because of HIV/AIDS. His brothers were only 5 and 2 when their mother died.

Following the death of their parents, the children suffered the stigmatization so commonly experienced by orphans. Initially they lived in several different places. At age 15, Dickens took his brothers and returned to the empty home left by his parents. To feed his brothers, then 11 and 8, he was forced to beg and go to work. Earning less than $2 per day doing back-breaking construction work, Dickens struggled to care for his brothers.

Dickens is a successful businessman.

In 2007, Dickens joined ZOE’s Giving Hope project through Maua Methodist Hospital in Kenya. Receiving training in small business management, Dickens coupled his experience in construction with an income-generating grant from ZOE to buy and re-sell truckloads of rock for construction projects in the area.

Now Dickens earns enough to support his family and to diversify his business. Using proceeds from his initial venture, Dickens has purchased two cows, opened a kiosk, and started a chicken-raising project.

Like many orphans who have been touched by ZOE Ministry, Dickens has become a follower of Jesus Christ. Attributing his success in life to God, Dickens explained to the ZOE team that God never fails him when he prays.

Stories of Hope: Janet

Janet used to beg in order to survive and provide for her family. Girls are especially vulnerable to exploitation when they do not have a safe, positive way to support themselves. One key focus for the Giving Hope Empowerment Project is teaching all children business skills so that they may begin income-generating activities.

Giving Hope helped her accomplish her dream of operating a sewing business. She received vocational training and the necessary equipment.

Now, she employs her sister and is training another orphan from her working group in the sewing business as well.

Read about recent graduates of Sewing School.

Stories of Hope: Sewing School

Vocational training helps orphans who are heads of household support their families.

Certificate of Thanks to ZOE from the Dukundane Iwacu Cooperative

Each graduate had to design and make the outfit they wore to their graduation. Many children and youth joined in the celebration which was a wonderful reminder that they too may accomplish their life dreams as they study and work hard.

Watch the video and share in the joy.

Stories of Hope: Meet the Champions

The Champion Working Group consists of 12 families for a total 61 children. For their common project they grow sukuma wiki, maize, and potatoes.

The Working Group supports one another in all they do. Purity’s story is a wonderful example of how they work together as a family. When she joined Giving Hope, Purity felt completely hopeless. The Champions took her difficult land on as a project. They helped cultivate it, plant grass for the family cow and sukuma wiki to sell for profit. That first year Purity and her working group shared the income they made together. The following year, Purity was able to cultivate all of her land, growing sukuma wiki, maize, carrots, and potatoes which she used for food and family income.

The Working Group has also created an Anti-AIDS club to educate each other and people in their community about the dangers of HIV. Here, Purity is pictured (center) with other members of the Champion Anti-Aids Club.

Stories of Hope: Poem of Thanksgiving

Thank You Giving Hope Group

By Eric Maore from Faith Working Group in Kenya

Oh Giving Hope Group,
What else can I do?
What else can I say?
Apart from thanksgiving?
Yes! yes! yes
I know and I have experienced,
Your kindness,
You have given food,
You have given education,
What else can I really say?
Apart from spreading your good name.

Ah! Ah! Ah!
Yes I have done agriculture
I have planted Sukuma Wiki,
I have planted maize and beans,
I have reared goats,
And now am agriculturally upright,
I have had enough food, and earned income,
What can I say or do
Apart from singing your goodness?

Oh Giving Hope,
You have fought HIV/AIDS,
You have taught us,
Ways to abstain and prevent it,
Thanks a lot because you,
Saved me,
From the anger,
This strong killer MR. AIDS,
I thank you I am not dead,
I had a narrow escape from AIDS.
You are so! So! So!
Generous, kind and honest,
You look after the orphans and the poor.
Yes I understand you have fought poverty.

Finally I convey,
My sincere gratitude,
To you giving hope,
On behalf of faith group,
And my country Kenya,
For your efforts,
Keep up,
Giving Hope!
Giving Hope!
You are a delicate flower,
That needs to be nurtured well every time.
Endless thanksgiving.

Stories of Hope: Elie

Elie tends his crops using farming skills learned through Giving Hope.

God’s Love Is Good

Elie became head of his household when he was 12 and his brother was 5.  His parents left land for cultivation but he did not know how to utilize it, so he went to town to beg for food.  Many times he ate from garbage as street children often do.  Living on the streets and in bushes, he was unable to bathe had no new clothes for many years.  Often he and his brother were separated.

After joining Giving Hope in 2008, Elie came to realize that there are other many orphans facing the same challenges he faced.   He recently stated, “This project has brought a lot of change to my life,” as he shared his accomplishments:

• He and his brother take a bath every day after working in their fields
• He has six trousers
• He produces his own food from farming
• He keeps a cow from a neighbor to make manure for his land
• He produces enough cassava, sweet potatoes and vegetables for consuming and even more for selling.
  

  Elie at his home.

• He is food secure because he eats 2 meals a day permanently.
• He has given a piece of land to his working group for free (without renting) for cassava plantation (25 acres).

The most powerful change is Elie’s story of faith. From June to December 2008, he neglected working group activities, but his group members, group leaders, mentor and social worker never stopped reaching out to him.  In December he was arrested for stealing money which he used to buy alcohol and drugs.  He was beaten and kept in a local prison.

Upon release, Elie decided to change. He accepted Christ and was baptized in January 2009 and now attends church faithfully.   He rejoined his group, confessed and asked for forgiveness.    His favorite song says:

“God’s Love is so good that he has taken me out of rubbish and sat me with important persons!”