REcent Newsletter articles
Kenyan Schools of Hope typically sends out a newsletter on a monthly basis with news from the Ewuaso Osiligi Center, stories about the rescued girls, and updates on construction projects. If you would like to receive these newsletters, please go to "Contact Us" and select "Keep me updated on Kenyan Schools of Hope progress."
For recent articles on how construction or major maintenance projects are progressing, please go to Construction Updates.
Mercy's Story
Mercy Njoki is a very expressive, inquisitive, and joyous five-year-old, who has been living with her father and her younger sister for the last four years since her mother separated with her father. Her mother left her under the care of her father and never came back to check up on her. It has not been an easy task for her father to juggle raising Mercy and her younger sister, take care of his ailing grandmother, and at the same time put food on the table.
A neighbor, who is also a community health promoter, had been assisting Mercy’s father to take care of her. Whenever her father went to work (he relies on casual jobs), she was the one offering her a meal as well as washing her. On days when she was not around, her father would lock the gate and leave her together with the younger sister until late in the evening. This neighbor often reported to a nearby organization that Mercy’s father was having a hard time raising the girl and taking care of his grandmother alone, and her general wellbeing was affected. He also seemed to be undergoing depression and even got deeper into alcoholism and substance abuse. Priscilla, the neighbor, together with other neighbors reported that they would hear Mercy crying every morning as their father would discipline her as he prepared them for school.
Madam Catherine, EOC’s director, came across Mercy during last year’s eye clinic in Ngong. She noticed the girl was squinting, suggesting an eye issue, and wanted to check with her parents if she had received any medical attention. At that point, she got to know more about her case, and a social enquiry was planned and carried out. A day before she was rescued, her father attempted suicide. This was very disturbing as she witnessed it, luckily her father was immediately taken to the hospital and survived. Mercy was rescued together with her sister and admitted into Ewuaso Osiligi Center where she will receive loving care, educational support, and most of all, daily affirmation and knowledge of the hope that only Jesus Christ can provide.
March 2026
A Special Valentine's Day Trip
This Valentine’s, our girls had a day trip to Karen, a district of Nairobi. They had been invited to join a worship service with a visiting group of missionaries. This time, we took along some of our boys, as they are also valued members of Ewuaso Osiligi School. This group of missionaries was on their way to Kinango for an eye clinic. Kinango is in Kwale county, which is on the south coast. The group of learners comprised 10 girls and 6 boys. This also served as an outing for a number of learners who had never been to that side of town. The thrill of spotting the tall buildings and the popular modes of transport popularly known as matatus, noted for their vibrant graphics, loud music, and energetic vibe, was obvious.
The learners, stunning in their Maasai attire, showcased the culture with pride. Their performance of traditional Maasai songs and dances truly captured the essence of the community’s rich heritage, making everyone feel the authentic Kenyan vibe.
Being Valentine’s Day, Pastor Richard Goodwill shared a heartfelt sermon on agape love with them and encouraged the congregation to love their neighbors. The learners were accompanied by some EOC staff and board members.
March 2026
Water cistern on the EOC campus overflowing with recent rainwater.
Water - Strategies to Let Hope Flow
The Importance of Cisterns for Water Collection & Storage
A cistern is a large container or tank specifically designed to store water, most often rainwater. It functions like a big barrel or box and is commonly constructed from durable materials such as concrete, plastic, or metal. The process of building a cistern typically involves either digging a hole in the ground to install the tank or placing it above ground. Cisterns can play a vital role in water collection and storage, especially during rainy seasons. The water they collect can be used for a variety of purposes, including drinking, cooking, washing, and watering plants. This is particularly beneficial in regions where water is scarce and the rains come infrequently.
Ewuaso Osiligi School and Rescue Center currently has one concrete cistern to help provide a dependable water supply for the children and staff. This cistern collects rainwater from the dormitory roof and the roofs of the classrooms. It holds over 26,000 gallons of water. Although this may seem like a large volume, it represents less than a one month water supply for the campus. Therefore, water provided from the cistern and water delivered via pipeline from the community water supply are both essential parts of the overall EOC water supply. There are plans to add one or two additional cisterns to the campus to catch rainwater from the roofs of Multipurpose Hall and possibly the Staff Quarters in the near future. In the case of the Multipurpose Hall, the cistern might be made much larger than the existing cistern because of the very large roof area. These cisterns together with improvements in water pipeline capacity will help ensure good supplies of water into the future.
March 2026
Mary's Story
Mary is a courageous young girl whose life story reflects resilience, hope, and the unwavering quest for freedom and education. She is 13 years old, in grade 2, and from Esonorua in Kajiado west.
Her early years were marked by hardship and cultural pressures that threatened to rob her of her childhood and future. Her life revolved around domestic chores and grazing livestock. Her attendance at school was irregular, largely due to her mother’s inability to meet her educational and basic needs. This environment denied her the stability and nurturing required for her growth and development. She faced the grim prospect of being forced into child marriage, an ordeal that had already befallen her elder sister. When her elder sister left her child marriage to continue with her education, Mary’s family was forced to offer her as compensation, since her family had already received her sister’s dowry.
In 2024, through the timely intervention of her area chief, she was rescued from this imminent threat. The chief’s decisive action, coupled with the compassion of another rescue center, provided her with the safety and protection she urgently needed. As she was preparing to join Grade 2, the rescue center that had been supporting her was faced with financial constraints and was left with no option but to exit her from the program and return her back to the community. Through the office of the subcounty children officer, her situation was made known to us. Being a girl in need of care and protection, she was offered placement at Ewuaso Osiligi Center.
Welcome, Mary! Your future looks very bright!
February 2026
Shelter from the Elements
The Ewuaso Osiligi Center campus facilities and equipment take a beating in the hot Kenyan sun and extreme weather conditions. To address this issue, we recently added what Kenyans refer to as a "bus cage" to the property to extend the life of the center's bus and to help keep it clean.
The bus was originally purchased and dedicated in November 2022. Througha generous grant from the Mission Board of Trinity Lutheran Church (Klein, TX), donations from a Kenyan Schools of Hope fundraiser, and monies raised locally in Kenya, the EOC Board was able to purchase the new school bus to support the rescued girls and the school.
February 2026
Water - Strategies to Let Hope Flow
EOC Water Tower
At Ewuaso Osiligi School and Rescue Center (EOC), the primary sources of water are rainwater harvesting/storage (when the very infrequent rain comes) and water deliveries via a small pipeline from the community water supply (when water is available). As mentioned in last month’s newsletter, projects to improve the water supply from both sources are actively being evaluated and pursued. For this month, we will focus a bit on how water delivered by pipeline will be moved to the various buildings on the steeply-sloping, 12-acre campus using the recently completed water tower.
The EOC campus is situated on a hillside with the front being the lowest elevation. The water tower is located at the highest point (back left corner) to take maximum advantage of the natural elevation of the land. The foundation and first elevated level of the tower was constructed in 2023, and three more levels were added in 2025. Water delivered to EOC by pipeline arrives at the front of the campus (lowest point) where receiving tanks are located. From there it is currently moved in various ways to where it is needed. In the future, when sufficient pipeline water becomes available, the water will be pumped uphill (by solar power) to the water tower to then be distributed by gravity flow to the various buildings as needed. Gravity flow is efficient and will provide consistent pressure at the delivery points.
EOC’s three-story dormitory is also situated on high land at the back of the campus (back right corner). Tanks on the top level of the water tower will enable gravity flow to the dormitory, including to the solar water heating equipment on the dormitory roof. Water service to other buildings further down the hill will be provided with water from tanks on the most appropriate levels of the water tower.
As water sources are improved and the water tower is put into regular service, it will help EOC to more effectively provide for the growing number of God’s children served and all those that teach and care for them.
February 2026
Kendy's Hope
Kendy is the second born in a household of four siblings and the only girl. She is 13 years old and in grade 7. During most of her life, Kendy witnessed a significant amount of domestic violence. Their alcoholic father would beat their mother regularly and in the presence of the children, which left them psychologically traumatized. Her father started threatening to kill their mother. Fearing for her life, their mother decided to flee to a town called Narok, leaving the four children behind.
The four children have been living with their father in a single-room house in Ewuaso town. Their father works at a nearby quarry but being an alcoholic, often he ends up using the money for alcohol instead providing for his children. This has left the children going to bed on an empty stomach most evenings. At one point, they were even chased from their rental house for not paying rent. Their father ended up leaving the children at another man’s house, which again put the children at risk and more so Kendy, being a girl.
Kendy was at risk of domestic violence, dropping out of school, and teenage pregnancy. Her case was reported to the EOC by a community health promoter in Ewuaso dispensary and after careful screening by the social worker, a case plan was developed and presented to the County Children’s Officer. The case was approved and Kendy was officially admitted to the Ewuaso Osiligi Center, where her future is now shining bright! Just look at that precious smile!
January 2026
A Treasured Skill Amongst Our Girls
Among a variety of skills our girls have, one of the most common ones is beadwork. While beading is common in this community, not everyone has the skill. Most of the girls at the EOC learned their beading skills through observation, often from their grandmothers, mothers and siblings. One of the girls -Jeniffer Katatei, shared that she learned the skill from her grandmother when she was only 5 years old!
The girls often do beading during their free time, over the weekends and during school holidays. They craft various beadwork items, often bracelets, which are sometimes purchased by guests to the EOC campus, generating a source of income for the Center. Currently, they’re working on keyholders for the Multipurpose Hall's room keys!
The girls are very conversant with beadwork; hence we get to learn from them from time to time about it. The beaded items display creativity with custom designs covering country flags, animals and intricate tribal patterns. The items made range from bracelets, necklaces, belts, rings, earrings, placemats, bags… the possibilities are endless!
Beadwork is not just aesthetic; it’s a visual language that has been passed down for generations. It is not just beautiful, it’s a vibrant tapestry of history and symbolism. It is a form of identification, with various Maasai regions marked by their own signature colors, designs and patterns. The jewelry is worn on different parts of the body such as ears, neck, arms, wrists and others.
Different jewelry is worn during different occasions. The most expensive jewelries are the ones given to the bride by the groom’s family during marriage ceremonies, the ones used for singing and the ones worn by morans (Maasai warriors). Wearing these jewelry pieces comes with certain restrictions and taboos. For instance, the headgear is only to be worn by women. Men are not allowed to wear earrings. The beaded walking stick is only to be used by women. The beaded belts without small hanging chains are only to be worn by men. The beaded knobkerrie and the beaded fly whisks are only to be used by men.
Beads are used for marking girls for marriage, commonly referred to as beading. A young girl is given a necklace, sometimes from as early as 12 years. This is to send a clear message to the members of the community that she is already ‘booked’ for marriage.
While other communities may gift items like honey, cereals, or fabric, the Maasai are known for giving jewelry. Visit a Maasai home, and you'll likely receive a beautiful piece of jewelry as a gift!
January 2026
Water - Strategies to Let Hope Flow
The Ewuaso Osiligi School and Rescue Center (EOC) is situated in the Kenyan Rift Valley, with nearby proximity to the village of Ewuaso Kedong. This area is noted for its vast expanse of arid and semi-arid beauty, volcanic landscape, livestock grazing and Maasai culture. All life in this area faces significant challenges with water scarcity and land degradation due to erratic rainfall, high evaporation rates, limited access to any flowing surface water (river/streams/ponds or lakes), deficient subsurface water reservoirs due to volcanic dominated geology, and an ever growing increase in human activity.
The EOC Board and Kenyan Schools of Hope Board are working jointly on the creation of sustainable, multi-part water strategies focused on securing additional freshwater by pipeline from a reliable source, enhanced water harvesting and storage of all natural rainfall (EOC rooftop gathering and surface gutter systems directed to large volume enclosed cistern storage and filtration), the maximum use of all EOC “greywater” generated (waste water from all sinks, baths, showers, clothes washing) that is processed for non-potable water uses such as garden and tree irrigation, cleaning and toilet flushing, and the use of water conserving methods across the entire EOC campus.
Through these monthly newsletters, we commit to keeping all of our donors, friends and prayer warriors informed of our needs and progress in our water sustainable plans at the EOC.
More to come.....
January 2026
Let Hope and Water Flow
Girls help the house mother carry rainwater.
Deacon Joseph & Andrew fetch water from Ewuaso Town.
Jugs of water are brought back to the rescue center.
At Ewuaso Osiligi Rescue Center, we believe that every girl deserves safety, dignity — and yes, a good, long shower without having to pray for the tap to cooperate!
But lately, the taps for drinking water, cooking, washing and bathing have gone nearly silent. The availability of running water has turned into a daily guessing game: “Will it flow today… or must we fetch again?”
The current water supply has become unreliable. Some days, not a single drop appears. The girls wait, buckets in hand, hoping the tap offers more than just a muddy trickle.
Yet, our girls still laugh, still dream, and still rise early to fetch water so they can cook, wash, and bathe before school. Their resilience is inspiring — but they shouldn’t have to work this hard and worry about something as basic as clean and safe water.
We’ve found a reliable water source at Maai Mahiu — a steady river that can be piped to Ewuaso Osiligi Rescue Center. The KSOH and EOC boards of directors are pursuing a multi-pronged solution to the critical water supply issues at the campus. Our annual fundraiser, which will be launched later this month, will focus on providing the funds necessary to secure a reliable, safe water supply for our precious girls and for those who tirelessly care for them on a daily basis.
November 2025
Study Time!
It has been study time at the EOC lately. The country of Kenya has recently revamped its national testing system.
The KPSEA (Kenya Primary School Education Assessment) is a grade 6 assessment that replaced the old KCPE exam under the new Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC). Unlike the KCPE, KPSEA's primary purpose is not to determine high school placement but to monitor learner progress and evaluate the effectiveness of the curriculum. It is a transition assessment for learners moving from primary to junior secondary school.
Brand new this year is the KJSEA (Kenya Junior School Education Assessment), a national assessment under the Competency Based Education (CBE) system. Unlike traditional exams that focus on rote memorization, KJSEA evaluates students based on the development of competencies and practical skills. This marks a historic milestone across the country for the pioneer class of CBE currently in Grade 9. The KCSE (Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education) is Kenya's national examination administered by the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) to students completing their four-year secondary education. In Kenya, this examination is the entrance qualification to public and private universities, and the pass mark is grade C+. Students who attain a lower mark than C+ join other tertiary institutions (vocational or technical schools) for non-degree courses.
Our rescue center and school boards have worked very hard to update the school curriculum to match the government education changes in recent years. You may remember that some of these changes are part of what necessitated the need for Junior Secondary School classrooms and labs in the new Multipurpose Hall. The EOC pays a fee for each candidate to take these exams and holds special study sessions, and most importantly, a day of prayer to help prepare the students for these very important exams. Our student body had a total of four candidates sitting for the KPSEA exams, 15 candidates sitting for the KJSEA exam, and 12 candidates sitting for their KCSE national exams this year! The exams concluded in early November. Historically, our students have done very well on their national exams, and we pray that is the case again this year! To God be the glory!
November 2025
Elector Akinyi and her father on her first day of school at Machakos Teacher College.
A Teacher in the Making
We are thrilled to announce that Elector Akinyi recently started her college journey in September 2025. Her story is an amazing testament to resilience.
At an early age of 14, when the Covid-19 pandemic hit, Elector's world was turned upside down. The pandemic’s onset led to significant financial hardship for her parents, with her father resorting to work as a street vendor. Things worsened, leading to her mother's departure with two of the children, leaving Elector and her brother Eli, who was only 5 years old, with their father. The situation took a devastating toll on her father, plunging him into depression and desperation, even attempting to take his own life in front of the two children. From time to time, he would share with her that the sight of his children suffering was too much for him to bear.
Overwhelmed, he relied on Elector more and more to care for her younger brother. She would often miss school or arrive late, even during her KCPE national examinations. She would also have to dash home after each exam session to tend to his needs including feeding and diaper changes. The headteacher noticed her habitual lateness and inquired about the cause. She shared her family's struggles, prompting the headteacher to report the situation to the center’s director. Following a comprehensive social inquiry and family assessment, the Ewuaso Osiligi Center stepped in to support her to join Form 1 (Senior school).
Elector is now pursuing a Diploma course in Education, which is a 3-year program. As a token of her appreciation and a way of giving back, she is planning to come back to our school to teach, as one of our staff. We are not only proud of her, but her father as well, who has shown remarkable dedication and support given that he has an additional burden of caring for the other child who has sickle cell anemia. His support and cooperation have been invaluable, greatly facilitating our work.
At the beginning of this year, we successfully reunified her with her family; hence, we will now be supporting her from home as she pursues her degree.
We wish Elector every success!
October 2025
Shamba Update
Following a bumper harvest last year, we zealously tripled the farm acreage this year. We cultivated a shamba (farm) in Suswa town, aiming to reduce food costs at the center. We worked on 3 acres of land, with 1 acre generously donated by one of our parents and the additional 2 acres leased. Our crops included both maize and beans. Initially, we anticipated a good harvest, similar to the previous season, but unfortunately, heavy rains in April flooded 1 acre of the shamba, damaging the crops, especially the beans. The rest of the crops were thriving with moderate rain, and we were hopeful of harvesting about 8 bags of maize with each weighing approximately 90 kilograms.
However, just a few days before our scheduled harvest, the maize was stolen from the shamba by members of the neighboring community. We were devastated to discover this on arrival. The girls and several EOC staff members had gone to the shamba with high spirits, only to be met with the disheartening sight. We ended up harvesting just one bag of maize.
Despite the demoralizing experience, we remain optimistic that the next season will bring better results. As the old Kenyan adage goes, a farmer should never be discouraged. We are already looking forward to improving our strategies and achieving a successful harvest in the future.
October 2025
The Power of Education: Hanka's Story
Hanka Saiton, a 19-year-old girl, is gradually but surely restoring hope not only in her family, but also in the community. She became one of our beneficiaries in 2023. At that time she was in Form 3, the third year of secondary education in Kenya.
Hanka comes from a single parent family of nine children and is the fourth born. Her father passed away. Her mother had financial constraints thus could not keep her in school as the 2019 drought that ravaged Kajiado as well as many other parts of Kenya had a devastating impact on her family, wiping out most of their cattle.
During our recent team building, Hanka shared her story with the other girls, noting that EOC greatly contributed to her exemplary performance in the national exams. In her own words, she said, “Previously, at home, my academic performance went unnoticed, but EOC's strict follow-up on term-end results changed everything. Knowing I had to present and explain my results motivated me to work harder!"
Hanka has joined Maasai Mara University in Narok county for a bachelor’s degree in education. Being a trailblazer in her family, she is proud to be the first girl to reach such heights. Her university admission is a milestone for EOC, making a historic moment as our first beneficiary to reach this level.
We are so proud of Hanka and wish her the very best!
Interested in being a sponsor? Contact our sponsorship coordinator, Marilyn Lynch at hope4kenyangirls@att.net..
September 2025
August Holiday: A Beehive of Fun Activities!
Our girls came together for their annual August holiday team building. This was a day whereby all KSOH beneficiaries, including those who are supported from home, come together to interact, decompress, and motivate each other. The girls took part in various activities like a variety of games, bible drills, spelling bee, dancing, among many others. All this was in a bid to ensure they interact and keep the spirit of competition alive. A motivational session from the social worker capped off an amazing day, followed by the girls sharing their favorite meal.
A group of 15 girls attended a youth seminar hosted by Kenya Evangelical Lutheran Church (KELC) from August 13-17 in Ngurumani, Magadi. The youth seminar brought together youth from various parts of the country. This event was a great opportunity for the girls to learn, grow in their faith, and challenge each other spiritually. Besides the learning, they enjoyed the road trip to Magadi and the beautiful scenery in Ngurumani.
On the last weekend before opening of schools, the girls were treated to a special back-to-school lunch. They enjoyed taking a walk to Ewuaso Town accompanied by some of the staff and spent the rest of the afternoon in one of the gardens in the town. This was a well-deserved break before going back to their busy school schedules.
September 2025
A Story of Faith
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
Our Journey Toward Protecting Children
The Child Protection Information Management System (CPIMS) is one of the tools that the Kenyan government is using to monitor and evaluate the work done by charitable children’s institutions and also assess how the institutions are doing as far as alternative care is concerned, which is one of the key pillars of care reforms in Kenya. With all efforts being geared towards family and community-based care, the data management system is being used to assess institution’s case management. It is also a pivotal toolkit for caseworkers in these institutions, which will be a crucial requirement as institutions transition to child welfare programs.
We are glad to be part of the key stakeholders in the care reforms in Kenya, and especially Kajiado county. Ewuaso Osiligi Center's social worker got to be part of a capacity building training on data management in the month of July.
The use of this data management system will streamline Ewuaso Osiligi Center's case management processes, enabling more efficient and effective support for children and families. We look forward to continued collaboration with the government and other stakeholders to ensure successful implementation of care reforms.
August 2025
Sylvia's Story of Hope
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
Day of the African Child
On June 16, 2025, students at the Ewuaso Osiligi Rescue Center and School joined the rest of the African continent to celebrate the Day of the African Child. This year's theme was Planning and Budgeting for Children's Rights: Progress since 2010. The theme emphasized the need to examine how far African nations have come in prioritizing children's rights in budgets and what is still needed. It also serves as a reminder that investing in children, particularly in education, is crucial for breaking cycles of poverty and conflict.
The Day of the African Child has been celebrated every year since June 16, 1991. The day was created to commemorate the courage of South African children who protested poor education conditions in the Soweto uprising of 1976. The day also raises awareness of the continuing need to improve the education provided to African children and champions the well-being of all African children.
"Bringing hope today for a better future tomorrow" is our vision for the children at Ewuaso Osiligi. Over the years, and with the completion of the new Multipurpose Hall, Ewuaso Osiligi has grown to include 11 classrooms, a library, a kitchen, computer lab, home science lab, a bus, a very dedicated staff, and many other facilities. In addition to the girls living at the center, over 70 local boys and girls are now attending Ewuaso Osiligi School as day students. The Ewuaso Osiligi School is a fully registered and recognized school by the Kenyan government.
Our work is not done, however. Current plans include exploring the possibility of an onsite high school and collaborating with other organizations on a project to ensure a reliable supply of water for the school and surrounding community.
July 2025
A Day of Hope:
Dedication of the Multipurpose Hall at Ewuaso Osiligi Rescue Center
The sun rose gently over the hills of Ewuaso Kedong, ushering in a day unlike any other - a day of thanksgiving, unity, and renewed hope. The dedication of the new multipurpose hall at Ewuaso Osiligi Rescue Center was not just the unveiling of a building, but a powerful testament to what compassion and vision can achieve.
Graced by Bishop Melio, alongside board members from both KSOH and EOC, the event drew hundreds from the local Maasai community, all eager to witness and celebrate this milestone. Laughter, music, and joy filled the air as the community came together—tribes, faiths, and generations under one roof built to serve, nurture, and empower.
But the most compelling moment came when the rescued girls took the stage. Their drama on FGM and early forced marriage was not only poignant. It was transformative. With raw emotion and courage, they told their stories, stories that mirrored the lives of many in the crowd. For the Maasai community, it was not just theatre; it was a mirror, a challenge, and a call to action.
As the final applause rang out, there was a palpable sense that something had shifted. Minds were stirred, hearts were opened, and the purpose of the hall became clear: It would be a beacon of change, a place where voices once silenced would now be heard.
In every brick and beam, hope has found a home at Osiligi.
June 2025
It’s time for the girls at Ewuaso Osiligi Rescue Center to explore new, fun ways to grow, starting with the game of chess! Studies have shown that chess can positively impact academic achievement, especially in subjects like math, due to its emphasis on logical reasoning and problem-solving. Chess is also known to help develop decision-making, critical thinking, and planning skills. The game encourages thinking several steps ahead and evaluating options.
Education Event at Trinity School
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
A Milestone Achievement for the Rescue Center
During a recent meeting at the Ewuaso Osiligi Center, Catherine proudly announced that the institution has finally received its official certificate from the government, the Republic of Kenya Ministry of Labour and Social Protection - Certificate of Renewal - Charitable Children’s Institution!
She presented the certificate to the team, marking a major breakthrough in the center’s journey. This milestone was celebrated as a remarkable achievement, considering the challenging and often discouraging process of acquiring such documentation. Many rescue centers struggle to meet the strict government regulations required for licensing, and some never succeed in obtaining official recognition.
The certification not only legitimizes the institution’s operations but also opens doors to greater opportunities for funding, partnerships, and support. It assures the community and stakeholders of the center’s commitment to maintaining high standards of care and accountability. The recognition also boosts the morale of the staff and volunteers, affirming that their hard work, resilience, and dedication have not been in vain.
This success strengthens the center’s capacity to continue offering safe shelter, protection, and support services to vulnerable children. It is a testament to the team’s perseverance and a sign of greater impact to come. The institution now moves forward with renewed confidence and credibility in fulfilling its mission to protect and empower those in need.
May 2025