When I get up in the morning I am filled with the instant realization of blessings. I look around my room and remember daily that my room is larger than some of the houses that entire families are living in within the slums of Nairobi, Kenya. As I brush my teeth in clean water flowing from a faucet, I am reminded again of the immense blessings in my life. Food on the table, clothes in the closet, technology in every room in the house, the list goes on and on. A job that covers my expenses and allows me to have some of the finer things in life, like a car that gets me back and forth to work, a saxophone and violin that bring me joy.

And these are the reasons that I give monthly to Our Kenyan Kids. I want you to know that no donations are too small when supporting the children and youth of Kenya. Our Kenyan Kids is structured in such a way that each donation is added together to support one child at a time. This starfish principle is the foundation of the organization and has continued to develop ripples in the lives of many.

Raising the potential of one child, raises the potential of that child’s present family and future family. By giving a child an opportunity to develop skills and gain knowledge we are creating a sustainable way for that child to have a better life circumstance. That child will be employable, or have the skills required for entrepreneurial opportunities that will ensure they can support themselves and their family. Please join me in giving to Our Kenyan Kids either through a one-time donation or  a monthly donation. No donation is too small as just like the star fish even a dollar can help change the circumstance of a child. If an entire organization of say 100 employees all gave a dollar the dollars have added to a critical mass of $100.

Truthfully though the best part of giving is the joy I feel in my heart for helping someone else. The best lesson I brought home from Kenya was the blessing of helping others and the joy that doing so brings. Everyone we met in Kenya had this deep well of joy, they were singing and dancing everywhere we went and passing their joy onto others. Life was challenging for everyone, but no matter how challenging they stopped to have conversations with each other, to ask others how they were doing, to offer assistance in any way they could. They were even quick to offer us help everywhere we went. The joy from helping others is intoxicating and so filling. Please join me in an effort to create joy and happiness not only for the children and youth facing poverty and the devastating effects of HIV/AIDS in Kenyan but also for you, me  and our peers. We all need a little more joy in our lives and the formula to joy is quite simple, HELP OTHERS and even better HELP OTHERS HELP THEMSELVES.

As we all know – self-worth and self-confidence and self-esteem also bring lasting joy.

Beth Kent

Chair of Our Kenyan Kids