A School In Kibera for Orphans

Earlier this year, I had a chance to go and access the work The LIL Project has been doing in Lira where we are helping a region that was devasted by wars, that saw thousands of children witness the harshiest horrors and atop that, they where left orphaned. But on my way back, I also made a trip to Kibera, africa's largest slum. I along with my good friend Guyo, visited an orphanaged that is underfunded and unsponsored but is trying its best to work for the community with little to no resources. I personally believe that every child deserves a chance to pursue their dreams and passions. The conditions at the home where desperate, the mattresses they slept on where virtually like sleeping on concrete, the rooms reeked of urine due to lack a vent system which could lead to illness, the kids had no books, and school materials, the teachers where volunteer teachers and because of that there was periods where kids would go without teachers. It was just managing to keep its head above the water. The kids are between the ages of 2 - 8 years old and i couldnt help but think about the future they face. Is it fair that just because they were born in poverty, that they should stay in poverty without ever, for generations to come? What if we could equip them with tools that will help them break that cycle? So myself and The LIL Project, a completely (100%) volunteer project, have launched this campaign with the goal of empowering the children of kibera to write their own stories.

The goal of this campaign is to raise $60,000 or 60 Million Shillings (Kenyan currency) to develop a home and a school for the children at The LIL Project Orphanage named Angels of Hope. The orphanage serves as a home at night and during the day, it operates as a school and opens its doors to children from the community who have no one to care for them and have no access to education and in most cases kids as young as 8 fend for themsevles. Over a dozen of the children we are helping are HIV positive and this number is larger in the community. In this community thousands of people die everyday simply because of the lack of opportunities. And when it really comes down to it, the only people who can change this brutal cycle is me and you. We can ensure that these kids have a brighter future, that they grow up into leaders that lift their communities out of poverty and hunger. Education is the only sustainable source of change. By ensuring that the kids have a school to go and a safe home to live in, we can change the trajectory of this community. Also your contribution can go beyond just donating, you also can be directly involved and get your hands dirty by by going on the ground and developing this facility. We luckily have construction specialists and architects from Australia and Thailand that have offered to be part of this development and who will oversee it. The goal is to develop a facility that can adapt to the needs of the children, while at the same time, enabling the children to learn the skills that can help them shape their future.

Together we can change the world. My mantra is LILisntLittle and I strongly believe in that. Theres no such thing as an act of kindness thats too small. We have the power to make the world a better place, and it begins with our decision to start being the change we want to see in the world.

Much love,
Peter

P.S. Some of you amazing people may have already donated to the trip that was made earlier this year to Lira, and for that I thank you! I have said it before, but you made a world of difference to the children in Lira and no matter how small your contribution was, if it
wasnt for you, the trip would have never been and the progress would have never been made. Simple as that! :)




Thats GUYO in the picture by the way! :)