Monthly Archives: December 2017

Wafula was sponsored at the end of last year's mission. Although he was the brightest student of his 8th grade class, he had no way of proceeding to high school. Today, Wafula attends one of Kenya's leading boarding high schools and holds much promise for a bright future. As he puts it, "I am a future star, not a scar".

HOLIDAY OF HOPE

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Dear Friends,

There are so many reasons to thank you! Hundreds of Matanya’s Hope students are eagerly awaiting their new academic year. Countless young lives have been forever changed through your sponsorships and love. Just last year, Wafula (pictured above) was sponsored. His life of hunger and despair was changed through hope; he was granted the gift of a continuing education. Today, Wafula is a top performing student. His motto is “I am a future star, not a scar.” He is focused on becoming a doctor. He told me, “I want to be in a position to help others in life.” Wafula’s story is a reflection of your heartfelt donations! It’s because of you, our sponsors and donors, that he now attends school!

As you may know, for 13 years we have been reaching out in a wide variety of ways to those in need. We are personally seeing the incredible impact our support has made in their lives. We know that there is still much more to do.

This is Sabina Nyaguthi. She dreams of going to school like the other children, but fees often prevent her from attending class. Your sponsorship can change the world for this little girl !

This is Sabina Nyaguthi. She dreams of going to school like the other children, but fees often prevent her from attending class. Your sponsorship can change the world for this little girl !

In 2007, we humbly started Matanya’s Hope when 4 children were sponsored. Who knew that this one small act of kindness would soon translate to hundreds of students gaining an education and forever changing their lives. Today, Matanya’s Hope highlights university graduates in law, nursing, pharmacy, teaching, culinary arts and so much more! And our programs are ongoing. We currently have 250 students ranging from primary through university, who continue to embrace education through your sponsorships.

This is Lawrence, a Matanya's Hope graduate. Today he is working in IT and passing the gift of hope to our current students and to many who are still waiting for their chance.

This is Lawrence, a Matanya’s Hope graduate. Today he is working in IT and passing the gift of hope to our current students and to many who are still waiting for their chance.

In the USA, the annual (or even a semester’s) cost of student books is often higher than the cost of a full academic year of education in Kenya! $125 per month can send a student to school for an entire year and this also includes uniform, supplies, transport, life changing conferences, minor medical & counseling, room & board, academic support and so much more!

It is so easy to donate! Thousands of students have received school supplies through your generosity!

It is so easy to donate! Thousands of students have received school supplies through your generosity!

Your special gift to Matanya’s Hope can help a child go back to school. Invest in the gift of hope through education.

Students at Matanya Primary School are excited to thank their donors for the daily porridge and safe drinking water.

Students at Matanya Primary School are excited to thank their donors for the daily porridge and safe drinking water.

We could not do this without you. As my father says, “If a single day goes by where someone else doesn’t benefit from your being alive, you’ve wasted your day.” He got that from his grandfather, Harry Berman. It’s powerful stuff… I invite you to stand with me as we continue learning and growing… making this world a better place for all.

Happy Holidays!!!!
Michelle Stark
Founder, Matanya’s Hope

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BOY DRINKING FROM FAUCET - RAILA PRIMARY - 500 DPI

Water is Life

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It always amazes me that something as simple as water can have a life or death effect on people. Safe drinking water can help revive lethargy and help a student focus on their schoolwork. We’ve seen the miracle of safe water! It is the difference between going to the river to collect murky, brown water and putting a cup under the tank spigot to collect safe, clear hydration! The boy in the above photo is from Kibera. He is desperately trying to extract any remaining safe water from the pipe next to his school compound. Otherwise, he must depend on unsafe sewage water, infested with trash and human waste. It is through your giving that dramatic differences can occur in the lives of those in need every day!

This dirty river water in the photo above is all that remains from the mornings collection. Due to no other choice, the rest has been consumed.

This dirty river water in the photo above is all that remains from the mornings collection. Due to no other choice, the rest has been consumed.

Thanks to the support of our friends and donors, Matanya’s Hope was able to place more than 23 ten-thousand liter rainwater storage tanks during our most recent mission, just 3 months ago. And I am excited to share with you that when a child gains access to safe, clean drinking water through your donations, we are offering the gift of hope. Sometimes, for the very first time, deadly diseases such as typhoid and cholera fade into the background and crystal clear drinking water fills hearts and bellies.

This little girl is so excited as their newly donated tank is being filled with safe water.

This little girl is so excited as their newly donated tank is being filled with safe water.

Matanya’s Hope is indebted to organizations like: B’nai Torah Congregation, Living Springs Community Church, Ox of Salt and H.O.T. for collectively providing the gift of safe drinking water to remote schools, orphanages, clinics and families who otherwise had none.

The children of this Masai village gather with me around their new tank, donated this year.

The children of this Masai village gather with me around their new tank, donated this year.

Rainwater storage tanks come in a variety of sizes and range in price from $350 to $1,500. Individual placement includes building a secure (usually concrete) base for the tank to stand on and the installation of a gutter system designed to deliver the rainwater through the tank’s sieve. Finally, each tank is beautifully inscribed with the donor’s name and a message of hope. During the dry season, we strive to fill each tank upon delivery with clean drinking water.

Make a difference today! Donate a rainwater storage tank and give the gift of life to those in need. In the above photo, safe drinking water is being collected from a newly placed tank.

Make a difference today! Donate a rainwater storage tank and give the gift of life to those in need.
In the above photo, safe drinking water is being collected from a newly placed tank.

If you or anyone you know is interested in donating a life saving rainwater storage tank to those in need, please contact me personally through email: [email protected] or by responding to this post. Safe water is life. What a beautiful gift to give this holiday season.

It is my prayer that through donations, Matanya's Hope will be able to provide this little boy and his family with safe water for the very first time.

It is my prayer that through donations, Matanya’s Hope will be able to provide this little boy and his family with safe water for the very first time.

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CHILDREN LAUGHING AT CCM PRIMARY SCHOOL - NANYUKI

Tis the Season

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Matanya’s Hope – Tis the Season

There is so much catching up to do with so many of you, but with the Holiday Season upon us, it is my deepest desire to share a recap of this very successful year at Matanya’s Hope. We could not do this without you!

First and foremost, I am grateful for every one of you, our donors and sponsors, who make our work possible in Kenya. I am attaching some Mission 2017 pictures so that you can see the miracles that you helped us to deliver through Matanya’s Hope and the mission team.

Students at Matanya Primary School are excited to thank their donors for the daily porridge and safe drinking water.

Students at Matanya Primary School are excited to thank their donors for the daily porridge and safe drinking water.

We distributed more rain water storage tanks than ever before! (23 ten-thousand liter tanks to be exact) Imagine the thrill of providing safe, clean drinking water for hundreds of students, orphans and families who have been forced to depend upon contaminated, bacteria infested river water.

This student is at a local river gathering unclean, bacteria laden water for his family to drink. Many suffer from typhoid and cholera due to drinking such contaminated water.

This student is at a local river gathering unclean, bacteria laden water for his family to drink. Many suffer from typhoid and cholera due to drinking such contaminated water.

Students from CCM primary school in Nanyuki gather around the rainwater tank donated by Matanya's Hope

Students from CCM primary school in Nanyuki gather around the rainwater tank donated by Matanya’s Hope

We delivered over 3 tons of school supplies, shoes, backpacks, clothing, blankets and medical/hygiene supplies to literally thousands of impoverished school children and to remote clinics which serve them.

School children receiving book bags donated by the Dawn Brancheau Foundation in loving memory of Dawn.

School children receiving book bags donated by the Dawn Brancheau Foundation in loving memory of Dawn.

This before and after photo shows the ongoing need for shoes that our children face. Your donations helped us deliver thousands of pairs of shoes to needy recipients.

This before and after photo shows the ongoing need for shoes that our children face. Your donations helped us deliver thousands of pairs of shoes to needy recipients.

"We were able to hand out more than a ton of blankets and clothes to those in need."

“We were able to hand out more than a ton of blankets and clothes to those in need.”

A boy receiving clothing and boots at Kagaani Primary School.

A boy receiving clothing and boots at Kagaani Primary School.

Thanks to Jennifer Oliak and the many donors from Manhattan Beach, California, we added a deeply impoverished remote primary school to our porridge program and are now serving freshly made hot, nutritious porridge to an approximate total of 2,000 students attending 4 schools – daily! Prior, many of these students would go an average of 2 to 4 days without food.

Thanks to Oz of Salt, The Bertram Family, Verde Events, The Gail Scott Family, Stephanie Kazuba and Lucyna Czuba... Matanya's Hope was able to deliver approximately 2,000 cups of hot, nutritious porridge daily this year alone! This is sometimes the only meal a child will have for an entire day.

Thanks to Oz of Salt, The Bertram Family, Verde Events, The Gail Scott Family, Stephanie Kazuba and Lucyna Czuba… Matanya’s Hope was able to deliver approximately 2,000 cups of hot, nutritious porridge daily this year alone! This is sometimes the only meal a child will have for an entire day.

We bring Hope and Education through our sponsorship program to hundreds of children and older students in need. Currently through your generosity, we have approximately 250 students enrolled in boarding schools, ranging from primary school through university, across Kenya. Matanya’s Hope is building a future for these students which will impact their families for generations to come. Accountants, nurses, pharmacists, aeronautical…civil and architectural engineers, chefs, teachers and lawyers make up some of our already graduated students.

Wafula was sponsored at the end of last year's mission. Although he was the brightest student of his 8th grade class, he had no way of proceeding to high school. Today, Wafula attends one of Kenya's leading boarding high schools and holds much promise for a bright future. As he puts it, "I am a future star, not a scar".

Wafula was sponsored at the end of last year’s mission. Although he was the brightest student of his 8th grade class, he had no way of proceeding to high school. Today, Wafula attends one of Kenya’s leading boarding high schools and holds much promise for a bright future. As he puts it, “I am a future star, not a scar”.

Our work continues and needs your support as much as ever. When you celebrate the closure of 2017 and the beginning of the New Year, please think of the students we have not reached who need access to clean water, a bed and warm blankets, a jacket to keep warm, a pair of shoes to walk miles to school in, education, or even just a daily meal. These gifts convey the message of love and hope.

With much love from our precious student, Michelle Wangechi and all of those we humbly serve through Matanya's Hope.

With much love from our precious student, Michelle Wangechi and all of those we humbly serve through Matanya’s Hope.

As you plan your end of year giving, please give generously; we are already gearing up for Mission 2018. There are many ways to help. Plan a bake sale, have a penny war at school, donate your proceeds from a garage sale, a read-a-thon, a church or synagogue project, or write a check.

Matanya’s Hope PO Box 562, Homewood, Il. 60430

MICHELLE POSTER 500 dpi