The Charities

From Beatriz:

I have been really moved by an orphanage on the Coast of Kenya. It was started by two brothers who were street boys themselves. By the grace of God they survived and were helped by a priest and later the Red Cross. In their early twenties they took on children who themselves would have become street kids. From that they started an orphanage. I am impressed by how young and motivated they are. They are eager to become self-sustainable and do not want hand outs. In just a couple of years they have rented a house which they hope to buy, rented an office, and opened a preschool. They get by on practically nothing but keep on going. 

In Kenya there is soo much corruption and abuse. Unfortunately I got to see it up front and personal. It is really sad. But I am confident that this program is good and clean. There is a VSO volunteer there, Hannah, who assures me there is no corruption. The two times I have visited the program I have been moved by the kids. They are happy and healthy. When I visited the first time I watched the boys who run it, who are all in thier early twenties, do the washing, cleaning, cooking and play with the kids. That is a rare scene in Kenya, to see men doing domestic jobs! They read to the kids at bedtime and help them with their homework. It is really amazing! 

From Michael:

I am writing you in order to tell you a little about the non profit organization, School on Wheels  I have been a part of in this past year. Since January, I have been tutoring children, k thru 12, who are currently living in Los Angeles homeless shelters. In California, mothers and children are the highest growing homeless population. School on Wheels helps children all over Southern California by providing him or her with any school supplies (backpacks, pens,etc) he or she may need. Then a child is matched with a volunteer tutor and provided with 1 on 1 tutoring and counseling. At the shelter I work with in Glendale, tutoring is provided for monday thru thursday for any child needing help. The tutoring room was built by School on Wheels and our study room has a computer with internet all possible with the generous contributions from School on Wheels patrons. At this time, I am working with a wonderful autistic child, Adagio and 3 other children. So on behalf of Adagio, Yachua, Ruth, Danny, Wanyeih and the countless other children who I feel have benefitted by this wonderful organization, I urge you to visit the website and do whatever you can. I treasure the opportunity that this organization has given me by allowing me to possibly impact their young lives.  I glean so much by working with them. Their strength and resilience under difficult circumstances are a lesson we can all learn from.