Winter 2011 Team Blog: Childen, Children, Everywhere!

Sunday began, of course, with church. This Sunday was the last Sunday at the original church. Next week we will launch “Jerusalem”, which is the name of the new church plant. I love to watch Kenyans worship. They are so filled with joy, as they sing to the Lord, dancing all the while. From the oldest to the youngest, all were involved. The children were especially excited by our presence, as they ran to say hello. They have this mix of shyness, but never wanting to be more than a few feet from your side. They won’t always look you straight in the eye, but they’ll eagerly grab your hand or jump in your lap.

About an hour and a half in (though it hardly felt that long), the children left the main church to go outside for children’s church. Elijah is the name of their teacher, and he’s an amazing young man, with an incredible heart for the Lord and a wonderful way about the kids. Most kids don’t have bibles, so Elijah tells them a bible story and then he has them recite verses so they can memorize. Each week he gives prizes to kids who remember the lesson from the last week. The kids are excited to learn the bible. They memorize, recite, and eagerly want to tell back the story (though I’m sure the prize helps, ha, ha).

When bible time was over, we simply played with the kids, maybe 50 of them. They were eager to play our games and we quickly became human jungle gyms. As we began to walk toward home, they all followed as if we were the piped piper with a sweet song. Even the littlest followed along for about a mile, not wanting to be left behind. With almost no worldly treasures to their name, these may be some of the most loving and happy kids I’ve ever met. Kids are just kids, anywhere in the world, no matter the poverty. They just want to give and receive love… and play. 🙂

Our matatu (van) came to collect us and we joined the adults at the site of the new church. I only wish I had the bandwidth to upload photos of this beautiful place. I can’t image anyone seeing a view like this and not feeling the awe of a creator God, eager to bless his children with the world’s beauty. We prayed over this holy place, in both English and Swahili, and then prayer-walked the entire perimeter of the property. We asked that God would protect and bless this place and all who enter there.

The last hours of daylight were spent again with many beautiful children who followed us back to camp. There’s John and Joseph, Lucy and Sarah, Mary and Julius, and a handful more. Again how I wish I would share photos of these precious ones. You’ll have to stay tuned for that. 🙂 But we played soccer with some beach balls and just horsed around. We sang songs together until dark and then ended the day looking together at the millions of stars in the Kenyan sky. There are serious perks of no electricity! It was an extremely busy but wonderful day.
Today, we visited the school in the morning and held clinic in the afternoon. About 130 kids attend Camp Brethren School. We joined them as they were receiving their porridge and taught them lessons and a craft. We can’t say enough about the wonderful teachers, dedicated to caring for and teaching these children. They do an incredible job and are a true gift. Andy and Kelly stayed behind to learn more about the school and how they teach while the rest of us headed back to clinic.

I was again impressed with the quality of the Camp Brethren Clinic in spite of so many limitations. The pharmacy is currently quite stocked with a healthy variety of treatments, and most of the tests you’d require for basic primary care can be done onsite in the lab. We got to hear a great deal about the maternal child health program and its tremendous progress in the last two years. Mary, George, and Peter worked their magic caring for patients, while Francis and I dispensed drugs, and Cindy and Phil got a chance to talk to many of the waiting patients. Cindy and Phil set out to share with the patients about Jesus, but it quickly turned into the patients sharing with them all God had done in their lives. The new found faith of this community has completely transformed it. We heard from patients and staff about the impact that Camp Brethen’s presence has had on their lives and their community.

I spent the greater part of the afternoon, conducting my clinical assessment. This place has so much potential and is well on its way. Mary’s dream is that it someday may evolve into a substantial medical center in the area. To many, access to care is entirely a transportation issue. Many will walk an hour just to the clinic. Navasha or Kijabe, where there are more sophisticated medical facilities (at least by Kenyan standards), would be impossible. The growth of this facility will continue to bless this community.

At the heart of the clinic is the maternal child health program I mentioned a few paragraphs ago. Over dinner we had the opportunity to talk to Peter, who for two years has specialized in this area in Eburru, as part of a community health outreach program sponsored by Kijabe Hospital. He shared with us that 80% of women deliver their babies at home, primarily because until the new maternity ward at the clinic opened, they had nowhere else to go. Due to lack of education and care, it is common that babies will not even make it to their first year. However, in the past two years, the education provided by this program has dramatically changed those odds. Women are taught everything from nutrition, to basic child care, to breast feeding, and how to identify if their child is ill. So many things we take for granted as common knowledge are foreign here, simply because women have never been told. They also use these opportunities to get mamas to bring in their other children, their husbands, and learn about other things such as HIV prevention and contraception. A healthier Eburru is beginning through this program.

However, the challenge is this: Kijabe Hospital has reassigned Peter elsewhere. The passion he feels toward this program was evident in every word, but he only gets to Eburru now on rare occasions. George and Mary have tried to pick up many of these responsibilities, but each with other full time jobs, this quite difficult. This is why we’ve been trying to raise money for a full time nurse. This nurse can be onsite and on-call for emergencies (like the motorbike accident that pulled Mary out of bed last night at 1AM) or for routine care like the maternal child health program.

There are two things changing Eburru right now… a growing faith in Jesus and Education. Seems pretty logical… and so very simple. Your support, be it prayer or funding, is helping this to happen. An entire community is being transformed. I’m excited to be a part of it. Are you?
I guess I’ll close with a challenge. Not all of us are called to Eburru, but each of us is called somewhere. How are you transforming your community, the lives of those around you, today? Everything in Eburru is changing because of the dream of one couple and 14 people from Northern Virginia. Don’t get stuck in the monotony. Big or small… have a dream… and go make it happen.

With that, goodnight from Eburru. Love you and miss you all!
Anjanette (and the team)

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Rachel’s Hope Scholarship (RHS)

The Rachel’s Hope Scholarship is a new and transformative initiative established by David's Hope International (DHI). It is a university scholarship program designed to empower exceptional graduates of Camp Brethren High School in the rural Kenyan village of Eburru.

Vision

To transform the Eburru community through advanced education of Camp Brethren graduates who will lead their communities and country, grounded in Christian faith and empowered by a university education.

Mission

To enable all graduating seniors of Camp Brethren High School with academic excellence, motivation and faith in Jesus Christ to attend university and receive mentorship & leadership certification, regardless of financial means.

Goal

The goal of Rachel’s Hope is to ensure that the top graduates of CBM High School attend university and benefit from the CBM mentorship program that will seek to sharpen them and help place them in attachments and quality jobs upon graduation. In addition, Rachel’s Hope is intended to increase the visibility and desirability for parents to send their children to CBM schools knowing that graduates will have the opportunity to receive university scholarships and benefit from the mentorship & leadership program. Scholarship recipients are expected to give back or “pay it forward” to CBM by agreeing to fund a scholarship for a CBM school student for each year they were on scholarship or serving on staff at CBM in a position of need.

Eligibility for Rachel’s Hope Scholars

To be eligible for the Rachel’s Hope Scholarship, a student must meet the following criteria:

  • Be a Graduate of Camp Brethren High School.
  • Must perform well on the National Exam with a minimum score of 300.
  • Must profess faith in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.
  • Must also agree to the scholarship requirements identified in this document.

Funding and Program Costs

Support for Rachel’s Hope will come from a division of David’s Hope established for this purpose. The funding goal is to raise enough support to meet the mission statement.

The Program will start with 4 to 10 scholarships per year and seek to increase to all eligible students as funds become available.

Funding guidelines and targets on average are estimated to be as follows:

  • $2,550 per student per year for up to 4 years (~$10,200 per student for a 4-year program).
  • Kabarak University, located near the city of Nakuru, is ideal as it is a prestigious Christian university that provides a wide variety of quality degrees to choose from and can produce high quality leaders.

Estimated Fees Breakdown Per Year Per Student at Kabarak University

Bills and Utilities Per year:

Category Annual Cost
Books & Supplies$150
Housing & Utilities$150
Food$400
Mentorship$200
Program Overhead & Support$150
Total Cost (Non-Tuition)$1,050

Kabarak University Degrees and Approximate Annual Pricing (Tuition Only)

Degree Program Annual Fees (Ksh) Annual Fees (USD) Duration (Yrs) Total Cost Over Duration (Ksh)
Engineering190,000$1,461.544760,000
Teaching180,000$1,384.624720,000
Agriculture180,000$1,384.624720,000
Theology150,000$1,153.854600,000
Computer Science190,000$1,461.544760,000
Law260,000$2,000.0041,040,000
Medicine380,000$2,923.0841,520,000
Health and Nursing315,000$2,423.0841,260,000

Scholarship Requirements

Rachel’s Hope scholars must adhere to the following requirements:

  • Attend Kabarak University on a Rachel’s Hope Scholarship.
  • Choose a course in fields promising wide career options, including: Engineering (Actuarial Science, Computer Science, Information Technology, Telecom), Teaching, Health & Nursing, Theology, Agriculture, Law, or Medicine.
  • Maintain a minimum average grade of C+ and above. If one does not acquire the required average grade, only a one-time opportunity will be allowed to improve their grades for the subsequent semester. If still the grades do not meet minimum requirements, then the scholarship will be withdrawn.
  • Live in the Rachel’s Hope provided housing or an approved hostel. All the students will be booked into the same hostel and whenever practical into the same room to ensure that the students mentor each other and push each other to grow spiritually, academically, socially, and mentally. Personal hygiene must be observed at all times, with DHI representatives monitoring living conditions.
  • Agree to follow all the laid down Rachel’s Hope Code of Conducts.
  • It is required to attend the recurring (at least monthly) mentoring/development sessions and servant leadership retreats twice per year.
  • It is required to attend a session with a DHI representative where the student verifies their progress in school through official university reports. The representative will also collect attachments of their exam transcripts, their views of the school, and how they are doing in other areas of co-curriculum apart from academics.
  • RH scholars must agree to mentor or coach a younger RH Scholar upon completing the first year.
  • Upon completion, Rachel’s Hope scholars must honor the Agreement of giving back to CBM in the form of paying for a scholarship of a CBM high school student for each year he/she was on scholarship with Rachel’s Hope, or serving at CBM in an open position of need. This obligation begins once the graduate is in a financial position to support. For example, if one spent 4 years at university, they are expected to give back 4 years at CBM; if on scholarship for 3 years, then pay for a minimum of 3 years for a CBM boarding student.

Rachel’s Hope Selection Process & Criteria

Students will be rated on a weighted scale of the following key criteria:

  • Academic Merit (10 points): Based on KCSE Score.
  • Financial Need (30 points): Evaluates family income, housing situation, number of siblings, and school costs per sibling.
  • Servant Leadership Potential (30 points): Assesses demonstrated acts of servant leadership, future plans of serving others, and achievements in CBCS School.
  • Personal Motivation & Faith (20 points): Based on a motivation statement for why they need the scholarship and their relationship with Christ.
  • Supporting Documents (10 points): Includes Recommendation Letters, KCSE Certificate, Identification Card, Good conduct certificate, etc..

A scoring rubric is used for scoring students based on their application form answers. Real reference letters from teachers and others are needed. An interview involving all stakeholders (DHI, RHS, and CBM) will be conducted.

Rachel’s Hope Code of Conduct

Scholars must adhere to the following strict Code of Conduct:

  • No use of drugs and illegal or questionable substances of any kind. Students must focus on their studies and personal growth.
  • Attending university classes is compulsory. Where absence is unavoidable, it must be signed by the university administration and reported to the DHI representative in Kenya.
  • Being on time for Rachel’s Hope-related meetings must be strictly observed.
  • Attending all mentorship and leadership training classes is required.
  • Attending all ministry growth activities and/or church must be done on a weekly basis.
  • One must maintain an encouraging and optimistic attitude towards life and their future.
  • Healthy interpersonal relationships must be maintained at all times.
  • Personal hygiene must be observed at all times. DHI representatives will attach pictures of students’ living conditions while visiting them to ensure hygiene standards are maintained.
  • Academic integrity must be upheld at all times. Plagiarism, cheating, or dishonest practices will not be tolerated.
  • Respect for university staff, peers, and all DHI representatives must be demonstrated in words and actions.
  • Proper financial stewardship must be maintained. Scholarship funds should be used responsibly for education-related expenses.
  • Participation in community service and outreach programs as a way of giving back is encouraged.
  • Responsible use of social media is required. Students must uphold the values of RHS and DHI in their online interactions.
  • Students must keep open communication with their assigned mentors and provide updates on their academic and personal growth.
  • Any major life changes, including changes in academic status or living conditions, must be reported to the DHI representative immediately.
  • Student must observe utmost good faith while reporting to the DHI representative at all times.

Tracking Students Through the DHI-RHS Management System

The DHI-RH Management System will be the main tracking tool used by all to manage this program. This system will be updated by the Rachel’s Hope Program Manager in Kenya.

The aim of the DHI-RH management system will be:

  • To register every student beneficiary for easier record keeping.
  • Collecting student’s bio data and contact information.
  • Making updates on the students progress in Academics and RH mentoring and leadership training activities.
  • Keeps a record of students' progress academically.

All Rachel’s Hope recipients are to be tracked in the DHI-RH Management system with at least one complete update for each student each semester (twice per year). Key Updates will include the following:

  • Student grades for each semester.
  • A letter from each student sharing their day-to-day highlights, challenges, prayers, and season’s greetings.
  • An updated photo for each student done annually.
  • Attendance of monthly mentorship and leadership development meetings.
  • Attendance of twice per year mentorship and leadership development retreat.
  • Notes from program manager identifying accomplishments or challenges on issues concerning each student.
  • Acknowledgement of key events to include the following: On-time arrival to hostels for each new semester of school, Payment of tuition, Payment and purchases of books, stationery and other supplies.

Mentorship and Leadership Development Program

There is a need for a thorough and consistent follow up on the leadership development and mentoring of the students.

  • Monthly mentorship sessions while the students are in university can be done in Nakuru area in or around their hostels and can be led by the program manager and/or a special invited guest.
  • The mentorship program can build on the Life shape / Chick-fil-A team Leadership materials and other materials to develop a monthly program that provides real value to the students. The ultimate goal is to produce students that have a high degree of leadership training/skill and a Servant heart such that graduates of the program are truly ready to lead and serve in their life beyond education. Presentations can be made based on specific topics that help improve the quality of students and help in improving themselves as future leaders.
  • RH Scholars in their 2nd, 3rd, and 4th year will be expected to have some kind of role as a “big brother” or “big sister” to new RH Scholars as the program progresses. RH Scholars are not just listeners, they are participants and leaders as the program intends to develop future leaders and servants and ultimately graduates that are highly employable and ready to impact their communities for Christ.
  • The program will seek a leadership training program that can provide multiple different kinds of certification for the students that will add additional value. For example, students can earn a new certificate each year like Lead Self, Lead Others, Financial Management, Servant Leadership, etc..

Internship, Attachment, and Job Placement Support

The Program Manager will be responsible for helping scholarship recipients navigate internship and job opportunities. In order to do this, the PM will need to work extra hard to help identify potential opportunities and build up the program and the students such that companies will want to hire Rachel’s Hope Scholars for their Internships and Attachments and ultimately even for jobs in the future.

There is need to be some “secret sauce” or something that makes Rachel’s Hope scholars stand out from the others, and these core values include:

  • Confidence
  • Integrity
  • Optimism
  • Proactiveness
  • Excellence
  • Hard work
  • Team Work
  • Professionalism

The mentorship program should provide a certification to show the student has attained the above mentioned core values having gone through different classes in Leadership, Money/Finance management, Business and administration, etc..

The Program Manager Role

The Program Manager works for DHI in partnership with CBM and is based in the Nakuru area. Their responsibilities include:

  • Manages the DHI-RH Management System, ensuring day to day updates are made and Payments for school tuition fee and Hostels and accommodation, are fully catered for.
  • Coordinates the Rachel’s Hope Hostels.
  • Coordinates and Leads Mentorship and Development Training Programs.
  • Identifies Internships and Attachments and aligns the Rachel’s Hope scholars to them.
  • Supports in selection of future scholars from CBM High School.
  • Supports in the enrollment of RH Scholars into the appropriate universities.
  • Supports in building a program that has a solid foundation and that which can serve as a model for expansion to more scholars and even the potential for partnership expansion in the future.
  • Close follow up other laid down policies as directed.

Rachel’s Hope Scholar Commitment: "Paying It Forward"

RH Scholars will be obligated to pay forward or give back to CBM upon graduation and once the graduate is in a financial position to support. There are two primary ways to give back:

  • Serve at CBM in an open position of need for each year scholar was on scholarship. For example, if one spent 4 years at university, they are expected to give back 4 years at CBM.
  • Pay for the scholarship for a CBM boarding student for each year scholar was on scholarship. For example, if on scholarship for 3 years, then pay for a minimum of 3 years for a CBM boarding student.

The AGREEMENT should be duly signed by all the parties involved and should also be approved.

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