Category Archives: MISSION 2017

Water is Life

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.”

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.

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”.

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.

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

Mission 2017 – Meet Vincent

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Vincent Murithi, Matanya’s Hope University student, expresses his joy for the gift of clothing and education.

Landing in Kenya was bitter sweet. I missed my family and I knew all too well that leaving the USA meant leaving the comforts of my high speed internet. It meant headaches – such as an hour and a half to open ONE email successfully.
But, that is the technical side of mission and technicalities are far from the heart of what this mission is all about.

We are about giving the gift of hope to some of the most precious people who might otherwise never have had the chance to go to school beyond 8th grade.

3 days into the mission, our vehicle transcended from Nairobi’s tarmac to the dusty dirt and rock roads of Nanyuki. Henry and Vincent had been busy offloading the donations throughout the night and our rented home was ready for occupation.

None of this could have happened without the tireless dedication of one young man who balanced his pending exams with the leadership of Matanya’s Hope in Kenya. Thank you Patrick for emulating the heart of giving service beyond self.

As the mission begins, I have the honor to spend our beginning days with a current University Economics student, Vincent Murithi. Sometimes, when I only have my own vantage point to reflect upon, I can’t see the fullness of the impact that Matanya’s Hope has on those we reach out to.

This morning, Vincent shared: “It has been an incredible journey as I sit here and reflect way back, 10 years ago. I am overwhelmed regarding what Matanya’s Hope has done unto my life. It has been a long way coming and I am grateful for this opportunity. I am scheduled to graduate next year and I want to appeal to other Matanya’s Hope students to take this opportunity that you are given and to utilize it well, knowing that one day someone else will look upon them. It is about giving back to society. You can only do that when we have a clear plan or vision of what you want to do – of where you want to see yourself in coming years. It keeps you on track. At this age, we should stop dreaming and start working on those dreams. It is a way to becoming responsible and dependable.
I have a plan, in 3 or 4 years to come, to sponsor kids throughout their school life, throughout their education, just as Matanya’s Hope has done for me. It is quite fulfilling experience when you can give back to others in need. I can never forget where I came from.

To everyone who is a sponsor, I want to thank you for what you are doing. I promise you, your gift of hope will not go in vain. To each sponsor and mission participant who I met, thank you for being a part of my life. Jonah, Quincy, Ariel, Ann…. the list is endless. You have all impacted my life and helped me to believe in my dreams.
To my sponsor, Brogan, thank you so much for being my brother and my dear friend. You have walked by my side since I was 12 years old. No words can possibly express all I feel.

Today, I received gifts of clothing and shoes from Matanya’s Hope. I humbly thank each of you who made these much needed items possible.”
Vincent Murithi

Listen Closely to Their Heartbeats

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All children have a longing to be loved and accepted by someone. But what happens to the orphaned or forgotten child? Where will they find sweetness? Who will help them build a bridge to their future?

Millions of children are forced to live on the streets. But, ONE BY ONE, we can reach these children with a gift of hope – together.

DONATE TODAY

Wangechi can now attend school thanks to her sponsor, Barbara.

Living on the streets is rough. The younger children get beaten by the older ones. Hunger plagues them every day and often they will do anything for a morsel of food. Like our need for food, love also nourishes the human spirit. A lack of love is like starving the soul physically, emotionally and developmentally. On behalf of these children, we come to you for hope.

Jackline Wairimu in class at one of Kenya’s Medical Training Colleges. Thanks to the gift of hope through sponsorship, Jackline is studying to become a nurse.

Matanya’s Hope’s Jackline Wairimu writes: “Your gift changed everything for me. I thank God for bringing you into my life. I don’t know how life could have been if it were not for Matanya’s Hope. At one point, I almost dropped out of school but, at that moment, Matanya’s Hope rescued me. I have been through my primary and secondary education and now I am in College studying to become a nurse! I really thank God and my sponsors for the blessing. Together, you brought my smile back.
LOVE.

Every child needs to feel as if they belong to someone.
Will you hear their cry?
Will you listen for their heartbeat?
Will you help just one of these children re-write their story to a story of hope?

DONATE TODAY
Help Matanya’s Hope reach children in need.

Matanya’s Hope: WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE?

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Children become ill after drinking from stagnant pools when that is all the water available.

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE?
…the difference between starvation and enough to nourish the body
…the difference between an education and being lost in the cycle of poverty
…the difference between a career and considering yourself fortunate to earn .82 cents a day as a common laborer (not even enough for daily food)
…the difference between having a clean water source and water laiden with bacteria and disease
…the difference between sleeping cold and uncovered on a dirt floor and sleeping contented on a bed with a blanket
…the difference between suffering (or even dying) from malaria and having medication and protection from mosquitos
…the difference between being barefooted and having shoes to protect tender feet from the earth’s challenging conditions

This is considered a lucky child with a pair of shoes…

Your gifts and donations to Matanya’s Hope make a huge difference in a child’s life.

Here, in the western world, our youth have access to free education K – 12. Most are fed at least twice a day and worry more about the BRAND of shoes they have or about acquiring the latest electronic devise.

But, in impoverished areas of Kenya, students walk miles to school and they long for any pair of shoes. An electronic devise is a novelty that few of these children have seen or even heard of.

Here, students know they must attend High School. Most do their homework and await the arrival of their coveted weekends. Many orphaned and impoverished students in Kenya will be unable to pay the fees for high school; for some of these most brilliant minds, schooling stops as early as 9 years old. Weekends are almost ALWAYS reserved for hard labor, with or without food.

In 2005, as I traveled and met the children of rural Kenya, my perception of “the rights of a child” was overwhelmingly challenged. I met 4 students in a dilapidated classroom. Dirt floors… no electricity… no running water… and bare feet surrounded me. These children were orphaned, malnourished and each one believed they would never walk through the doors to study at any high school.

Children waiting outside of a classroom at Matanya Primary School

Before I left Kenya, each one of these 4 students were sponsored by 4 of the families on tour with us. They became the first four Matanya’s Hope students (before we ever even had a name). Matanya’s Hope grew from this first act of love through the ongoing gift of Hope being planted in each of these four lives. And though I celebrated these students, I could not erase the faces of the 250+ barefooted children I saw who also deserved the same chance.

The four original students who once had no hope for furthering their academic minds, have now grown. Two are working adults and two are finishing degrees; one in education and the other in food science. Imagine the joy in having a teacher who understands the plight of hunger and abject poverty; what an encouragement she will be!

From a start of 4, Matanya’s Hope now sponsors 250 +- students ranging from nursery to university. We have students studying pharmacology, nursing, education, engineering, accounting, law and more……..We have a plethora of graduates who work in the following areas: teaching, tourism, procurement, chefs, banks, aeronautical engineering, accounting and so much more. Together we are making a difference.

IF EVER YOU FELT COMPELLED TO GIVE, NOW IS THE TIME.
CHILDREN ARE IN NEED OF YOUR HELP.

Soon we will travel back to Kenya for Mission 2017 and again we are going to meet the faces of starvation, malnourishment and hopelessness. Funds are needed to place water tanks in drought stricken villages, schools, homes, medical clinics and orphanages. Medical supplies are needed in the remote clinics (where even an aspirin is often hard to come by).

We are going to see heartbreaking hunger and torn and ragged clothing. We are going to see feet without shoes and students without pencils. We are going to find children who sleep on dirt floors without a single blanket.

Funds are needed now for shipping of over 4000 pounds of donations and supplies so generously provided by you, our donors. Thank you! We need funds to continue our porridge program that feeds over 1000 students (in three different schools) a daily cup of freshly prepared hot, nutritious porridge. For many this cup of porridge is all these hungry children receive daily. HOPE is YOU. It is in all of you and I thank you from the bottom of my heart. Please listen to the song ‘Do Something’ by Mathew West and be the Hope these students and families need. ….

HOPE HAS A NAME. It’s YOU! Life is better for so many children and families, because you care!

Please help us continue this noble work.

Michelle Stark
Founder, Matanya’s Hope

Matnaya’s Hope founder, Michelle Stark with two children from Matanya Primary School. Photo taken during Mission 2016

Journey to Help Africa

SAVING THE WORLD ONE CHILD AT A TIME

Category Archives: MISSION 2017

Water is Life

Tis the Season

Mission 2017 – Meet Vincent