Faith, the last born in a household of six siblings, is 14 years old and currently in grade 8. She comes from a polygamous family. Her mother, who was the first wife, passed on when she was still a little girl. Faith has been under the care of her stepmother, who had been mistreating her for the longest time. She would be assigned all the household chores, whilst her step siblings did not do any, as if she was a servant in the household. This really frustrated Faith to a point she decided to run to her older brother’s home. Her father kept persuading her to come back since he was under pressure by the stepmother to bring her back, Faith reported. This went on for so long.

At the beginning of this year, when everybody else was preparing for school, her father informed her that he would marry her off. Since he was educating the boys, he did not have money to educate her. Faith pleaded with him to educate her just like the boys, but it seemed he had already made up his mind. For this reason, she opted to run to her brother’s home for assistance. She was hoping that the pressure would subside shortly after, but unfortunately it did not. It is at this point that she decided to completely run away from home to seek help elsewhere. She had also gone through FGM back in 2021 together with her stepsister.

Faith was rescued by some security guards as she was escaping, who got curious because she looked very distressed. She explained to them, and they took her to a nearby rescue centre. Unfortunately, the centre’s management could not take her in because, apparently, they do not admit girls who have already been circumcised. The social worker reported her case to the area chief, who then informed the children officer. Her case was then referred to us. When her father learnt that he was being sought, he went into hiding.

Faith has since settled in at Ewuaso Osiligi, where she has found a new home and continues with her studies. She has high hopes for the future.

August 2025

Sylvia is the youngest in her family of nine siblings. Her father is a very violent and brutal man. After he lost all his cattle to the drought in 2023, her father made it very clear to Sylvia that he planned to give her out for marriage.  In the Maasai community, females are perceived as a source of wealth so that they are married off for the families to gain wealth through a dowry.

Sylvia’s mother was not in favor of his plan and wanted Sylvia to continue with her education.  Sylvia’s brother reached out to a young man who was an advocate for rescuing girls in their community, and informed him of his father's marriage plans for Sylvia. The young man contacted their area chief and his family took her in until the chief could seek out a more permanent solution to the urgent situation. Sylvia's case was brought to the attention of Catherine Wangari by a children's officer and she was admitted to the Ewuaso Osiligi Rescue Center in 2024.

Sylvia is now happily pursuing her education as her mother wished for her and is safe and secure to finish out her childhood,  free from child marriage.  She has been sponsored by one of our generous donors since February 2024. 

Interested in being a sponsor? Contact our sponsorship coordinator, Marilyn Lynch at hope4kenyangirls@att.net.

July 2025

At just 14 years old, Jane has already faced more hardship than many do in a lifetime. A Grade 7 pupil and the sixth born in a family of seven, Jane's life took a painful turn when her parents separated. Her mother chose to start a new life with another man—leaving Jane behind, emotionally and practically.

With no one to fully support her, Jane’s education hung in the balance. Even registering for her national exams became a struggle, as obtaining her mother’s ID was nearly impossible. It took the intervention of the area chief to finally secure the necessary documents—just in time.

Jane’s story could have ended there, another bright girl lost to a cycle of poverty and neglect. But hope came through Ewuaso Osiligi Rescue Center, which stepped in to support her. Today, Jane is not just surviving—she’s thriving. Sponsored through Osiligi, she continues her education with a renewed sense of purpose and the dream of a better future.

Her journey is a testament to resilience—and to the life-changing impact of timely intervention and compassion.

June 2025

On Thursday, April 24,  several KSOH board members, along with Trinity Early Childhood Education teacher, Dawn Roach, hosted a mock vision clinic at the school. The clinic event also served as a fundraiser to raise money to purchase musical instruments for the girls in Kenya.  The event was a huge success!

Before arriving to the clinic, ECE students received a registration card from their teacher. Students started their clinic visit with a short introduction about all the work being done in Kenya and singing, “Oh, Be Careful Little Eyes.”  Next, students moved to the first station where they checked their eyes using an eye exam chart. Triage was the next station.  Here students learned more about KSOH, the vision clinics, and Kenya. Students used mirrors to have a good look at their eyes, and enjoyed examining Kenyan artifacts that were passed around.  As in a real clinic in Kenya, students prayed with the volunteers before moving to the next station.  The next stop was the doctor station. Learning how to protect your eyes and different ways our eyes help us was the focus of this station.  The final station was a glasses fitting station. Students were given the opportunity to choose a new pair of sunglasses and a pocket protector! 

Trinity ECE teachers and staff were grateful for this opportunity for their young students.  The KSOH board hopes to make this an annual event.

June 2025

Michelle is a 9-year-old girl living in a low-income, densely populated informal settlement with her mother and older brother. Her mother is a single parent and the sole breadwinner, often working long hours in casual jobs such as washing clothes to support the family. As a result, Michelle and her brother are frequently left alone at home, which exposes them to various risks in their unsafe environment. Due to the limited income, Michelle was unable to attend school for an entire year, causing her to fall behind academically and remain a class below her age group.

Social assessments revealed that Michelle is a very quiet and fearful child, possibly due to prolonged exposure to unsafe and unstable conditions. The social worker recommended psycho-social counseling to help her regain confidence and emotional well-being. Her situation was brought to attention by a concerned neighbor who recognized the urgent need for intervention. Michelle has since been identified as a child in need of care and protection, and support measures are being considered to ensure her safety, education, and mental health.

We are happy to welcome Michelle to Ewuaso Osiligi Center.

May 2025

Jessica, a 14-year-old girl from a remote village in Kajiado West Sub-County, comes from a region known for high school dropout rates. After losing her father and being abandoned by her mother, Jessica was left without basic care and survived by begging from neighbors. A kind neighbor’s family took her in, but she had to stop schooling and had been out of school since 2020 (Grade 3). While living with this foster family, her late father’s brother planned to marry her off against her will. Jessica, who desired to continue her education, was nearly forced into child marriage. Fortunately, a concerned neighbor who works closely with the children’s office intervened in time, reporting the case and ensuring her rescue. In late 2023, Jessica was enrolled at Osiligi and placed in Grade 4. Despite being older than her classmates, she remains highly motivated and is excited to be back in school pursuing her dream.

April 2025

At just 13 years old, Joyce has already faced more challenges than most. She and her siblings were raised by a single mother whose abusive behavior made home life difficult. The situation worsened until her mother was jailed for one year, leaving Joyce and her siblings without a guardian.

During this difficult time, Joyce was placed in temporary home care. Eventually, she was referred to Ewuaso Osiligi Centre, where she found stability and the chance to continue her education. Now in Grade 9, she is determined to build a brighter future.

Beyond her struggles at home, Joyce also battled health challenges. Last year, she was among the beneficiaries of an eye medical clinic, where she underwent surgery for cataracts. The successful procedure not only restored her sight but also renewed her hope.

Today, Joyce is optimistic about the future. With a safe place to stay, access to education, and improved health, she can finally focus on her dreams. “For the first time, I feel like my life is coming together,” she says with a smile.

Her story is one of resilience—a testament to how love, care, and opportunity can transform a life. Though her past was painful, her future is bright, and she now walks forward with hope.

March 2025

Kenyan Schools of Hope has been blessed to have the support of Trinity NJHS students who have volunteered to raise funds to purchase musical instruments for the students at Ewuaso Osiligi Center in their new Multipurpose Hall!  Byrdie Kaiser was a friendly face raising awareness at the PSIA District meet at Trinity Klein Lutheran School recently.  Thank you, Byrdie, for your awesome fundraising idea, and thank you to all the students who helped raise awareness at the State basketball meet in February!  We welcome other students who would like to join this effort, and earn community service hours in the process!

March 2025

Juliet, a 14-year-old girl in Grade 9, endured a life of suffering at the hands of her abusive parents. Driven by greed, they sought to marry her off against her will. Her mother, an alcoholic, offered no support, leaving Juliet to care for her younger siblings, who suffered greatly due to neglect.

Struggling under these conditions, Juliet found it impossible to concentrate on her studies. She was eventually forced to drop out of school and take on manual labor just to provide for her siblings. However, even the little money she earned was squandered by her mother, deepening Juliet’s despair. Her refusal to enter into a forced marriage further enraged her parents, leading to increased abuse and emotional torment.

As the pressure mounted, Juliet contemplated ending her life. At her lowest moment, her pastor intervened, offering her refuge and guiding her toward hope. He referred her to Ewuaso Osiligi Centre, where she was rescued and given a chance to rebuild her life. Now, with renewed hope and support, Juliet is on the path to healing and a brighter future.

February 2025