Group strives to wipe out Kenyan poverty

BOISE — Caring Hearts and Hands of Hope is a Boise-based organization that wants to eradicate poverty in Kenya by helping orphans, children of widows and those from abject poverty with high school tuition costs, the Idaho Press Tribune reports.

Today in Kenya, 56 percent of the people earn less than a dollar a day. Natural disasters, especially famines, are common in traditional farming areas where survival depends on rainfall and good weather. People in these areas become dependent on relief food, mostly from non-governmental organizations, the article states.

Idaho Press-Tribune: What is your organization’s goal and how do you accomplish it?

Caring Hearts and Hands of Hope: The problems of poverty and famine in Kenya are compounded by the effects of HIV/AIDS. Over one million children are orphans due to AIDS. This has led to the increased number of children having no one at all to care for them. When both parents die, their future is lost.

Elementary school education is free in Kenya, but children who pass the national eighth grade exams to join high school must pay tuition. Unfortunately, thousands of needy boys and girls cannot amass the necessary funds. Thus boys do easily turn to a life of crime, drugs or alcohol while girls are in danger of turning into prostitution or being forced to early marriage.

Providing handouts is a short-sighted approach. Educating the youth is a long-term solution that will create a nation of educated professional contributors.

CONTRIBUTE TO CARING HEARTS AND HANDS OF HOPE

To help, please mail a check to Caring Hearts and Hands of Hope Inc. (any amount helps), P.O. Box 7152, Boise, 83707, or donate online at www.caringheartsandhandsofhope.com. You can have Caring Hearts and Hands of Hope President Dr. Vincent Kituku come speak at your organization or school by calling 376-8724.

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Related Reading: Books for Kids about Kenya and by Kenyan Authors.
The list author says: “Books are a great way to introduce young children to a new adventure and get teens and tweens ready for a family trip. We’ve compiled a list of books about Kenya and by Kenyan authors for children of various ages and with varying interests. What better why to begin a journey than a trip through literature?”

One great sample from this list is Bringing the Rain to Kapiti Plain (Reading Rainbow Books). by Verna Aardema.

An amazon reviewer wrote:
I really love the book “Bringing The Rain to Kapiti Plain,” by Verna Aardema. I have enjoyed it so much that I am planning to give it as a gift to my sister who has two young children, ages 4 and 7. This is a simple story about a cattle herdsman and his wish for rain on the African plain. The narrative structure of the story is based on a sequence of events that builds suspense and interest in children until the end of the story. This is a memorable story; it is very simple to understand and has a powerful musical quality that, as a young adult, I enjoy reading aloud. The rhymes and rhythms are so strong that all young children will be wide eyed with suspense and interest until the very end of the story. I particularly enjoyed one line where the author rhymes “fat” and “Ki-pat”: “So the grass grew green/ And the cattle fat!/ And Ki-pat got a wife/ And a little Ki-pat-.” This story is suitable for young children because its tone is happy. It deals with the relationship of humans with water, plants and animals. … From this book … they will learn about the connection between humans and nature by enjoying the colored pictures. The pictures are so vibrant that it is easy to imagine the world of Ki-pat. As an adult, I enjoy this book because it describes the cycle of life in a very interesting way. Readers of all ages will see that human life is totally dependent upon nature, and the existence of human beings without nature is nearly impossible. Readers will also learn how the lives of humans and animals are dependent on rain; people and animals need each other and every part of nature for their perfect existence. I highly recommend Verna Aardema’s “Bringing the Rain to Kapiti Plain” to anyone who has young children and is looking for a book that illustrates the relationship between nature and human beings. The colorful, detailed pictures will keep the children interested while they are learning about the connection between nature and human beings.