CHILD SPONSORSHIP PROGRAM
DAGO VILLAGE, KENYA
In 2015, in partnership with the Odoyo family of Dago, we began a sponsorship program for pre-school children, ages 3-6, in Dago, Kenya. This is a picture of the 11 children sponsored that first year. They were so excited to receive their uniforms and back packs!
A $300 per year sponsorship includes school fees and supplies, teachers' salaries, uniforms with shoes and socks, sweater, backpack, and 2 warm meals a day which includes food for not only your sponsored child, but all the children!
53 of the 100 children in the Early Childhood Development school are sponsored now, and we invite you to join our sponsorship family! We will be visiting the children during our trips to Kenya. You can send a picture of your family for them, and they will draw a picture for you.
Here is a letter received from one of the mothers during one of our recent trips to Dago: "On behalf of Dago Kogelo ECD (Early Childhood Development) parents, may I say thanks a lot for your support towards our children's life, education and well being. We are grateful for such blessed hearts, helping us to nurture these little angels. Preparing them for future, impacting sense of humanity and responsibility with a lot of love. Truly you are sent by God, and by His grace let His will be done through your widely stretched hands. We are glad to see you and hoping for best from our children. We love you all. Greet us all our friends from various destination. Hope to see them too." - Mama Narvash Winfrey Ochieng
UPDATE: When the pandemic hit Kenya, the schools in the country were closed, and will not reopen until January, 2021. We spoke with all the sponsors, and with our partners in Dago, and decided to continue supporting the children and their families by providing a weekly food program. The parents come to a central location near the school, and are given rice, beans, corn meal, oil, little fish (like dried sardines) for the week. The teachers help out with this and still receive a salary.
If you would like to donate to the general feeding ministry during the COVID-19 pandemic, contact Megan Southwell at (812) 202-2494 or at megansouthwell05@gmail.com.
Donations can be mailed to:
Friends of Dago
10466 Devon Ct.
Newburgh, IN 47630
Memo Line: Feeding Program
EYE CARE MINISTRY
BACKGROUND: We have held Medical/Dental/Eyeglass Camps once or twice a year in Ekerenyo, Kenya, since 2010, and Eyeglass Camps in Dago, Kenya, since 2012. We test for reading glasses and prescription glasses, and screen for cataracts. Needless to say, vision care is a very much appreciated ministry.
Reading glasses: We collect over 300 pairs of readers from people who graciously donate them throughout the year, and give out all of them to people who are not able to read because of poor vision.
Prescription glasses: We partner with Holland Kendall Optometry Ministries in Louisville. This company provides us with used prescription glasses that have been measured for strength in each lens. These strengths are then entered into a computer program that allows us to find a good fit for each person, through the use of an auto refractor machine that we take with us to test eyes. We keep 2000 pairs of prescription glasses on site in Kenya, and on the next trip replace all those we have given out. Each camp we give out over 200 pairs.
Cataract Surgery: Over the years we have seen that many people have cataracts, and Dr. Michel Gelinas from Wisconsin is helping develop a cataract surgery program in a hospital about 30 minutes from the village. Fundraisers have raised money for equipment needed, and a local Kenyan surgeon is being trained.
Donations are still welcome!
(your gift will double because of a matching grant!)
Pay online at www.aldersgateum.org
Click on "give" which will take you to Aldersgate UMC Contribution page.
Or write a check
payable to Aldersgate UMC with Music for Sight in memo line
(send to AUMC 5130 Lincoln Ave. Evansville, IN 47715)
All money donated (there are no overhead expenses) will go towards purchase of
surgical microscope, slit lamp, Stryker eye surgery table, O.R. stool
that will be taken to or bought in Kenya on our next trip
(your gift will double because of a matching grant!)
Pay online at www.aldersgateum.org
Click on "give" which will take you to Aldersgate UMC Contribution page.
Or write a check
payable to Aldersgate UMC with Music for Sight in memo line
(send to AUMC 5130 Lincoln Ave. Evansville, IN 47715)
All money donated (there are no overhead expenses) will go towards purchase of
surgical microscope, slit lamp, Stryker eye surgery table, O.R. stool
that will be taken to or bought in Kenya on our next trip
SHORT-TERM MISSION OPPPORTUNITY
Kenya Mission Trips will continue after Covid-19 is contained and travel is allowed.
If you are interested in joining one of our Short-Term Mission Teams, please email Lynn Renne at LRenne@aol.com for more information! We travel to Kenya in February and July each year for two weeks, holding a medical, dental, eye clinic, and include a safari in the adventures.
If you are interested in joining one of our Short-Term Mission Teams, please email Lynn Renne at LRenne@aol.com for more information! We travel to Kenya in February and July each year for two weeks, holding a medical, dental, eye clinic, and include a safari in the adventures.