Our educational system is so different than Kenya. Let me give you a few examples:
Texts books are purchased by the parents/guardians. So if you don’t have a textbook you are relying on what the teacher is teaching so you really need to be paying close attention. The Bethel sponsored children have textbooks that they share with each other. However, many students do not have textbooks as their parents cannot afford to pay for them.
Lunch is provided, of course, to the sponsored children and for those whose parents send their child with approximately .65 cents for lunch. But we also provide lunch for specific children who we call Educationally Needy. These children are community children but whose parents are wanting to have their child educated but are struggling to pay the school tuition free ($6.00/month). So for the cost of $12.50 Bethel covers the tuition cost to the school and also provides a breakfast and lunch for these children. Some of these children had been previously eating out of the little local dumping area for any food scraps. There is nothing fancy about the lunch but it is nutritious food for the children.
We had to also start a supper program a couple of years ago as some of the children were not being picked up by their guardian after school. Some, in fact, stayed for several days. Others just stuck around hoping for something to eat, knowing that there was nothing for them if they returned home. Just a month ago, 2 children were added to the list of 12 as they were caught eating from a personal garbage can. Others had been told that when they come home they had better bring along some food for the parent and if that food wasn’t provided then the child was beaten.
Life can and is hard for those who are living in poverty. Would you be willing to help out?
- Helping to purchase a couple of textbooks?
- Helping to pay for the supper meals for the now 14 children on our list. (Cost is $350/mth for these children)
- Helping to sponsor a child who wants to go to school but whose parent/s struggle with earning enough money to put food on the table and still pay for education. The parent is still responsible for things like paper, pencils and school uniform, though if Bethel sees a need they help to provide this.
Jesus was speaking to the crowd in Matthew 25:35-36, 40 saying: “For I was hungry and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home. I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick and you cared for me. I was in prison and you visited me…. I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!”
Contact us by email (board@bethelraysofhope.com) if you want to be a part of this ministry. And thank you to the many who are already part of the helping hands.