About 10 years ago, an 11 year old boy named Joseph, who had recently lost his mother, stood outside the gates of a school. He did not have shoes or food to eat, but he knew that he needed to get an education.
In another part of Kenya, 5 year old Anna looked longingly at the children around her village as they made their way to school. Her guardian did not have the money to send her to school. Even at her young age, she knew that school is where she needed to be if she hoped to have a brighter future.
Four years ago, a 14 year old boy named Thomas finished his 8th grade education at Open Arms Academy. He was the top of the class. This was a tremendous achievement given that he had only started going to school at the age of 10 when he received sponsorship from Open Arms.
Meanwhile, in a nearby village, a middle aged mother of 5 who has never gone to school can now speak and understand English because her two daughters who go to Open Arms Academy have been teaching her.
These children are among the dozens of children who have joined the Open Arms family and now have access to a good education.
Today is a special day for these children. On June 16th each year, we celebrate the Day of the African Child. The day has been celebrated each year since 1991 to honor the children killed during the Soweto uprising in 1976, when they demanded a better education. The day highlights issues that face African children, especially regarding education.
As we celebrate the Day of the African Child today, I want to thank you for your generosity and kindness. The education you are providing for children in Kenya will change their lives...and the future of Kenya.
God bless you,
Kaytie Fiedler
Executive Director, Open Arms International US