OWI Kenya Update, January 2011

Hello friends and family of OWI (Ordinary Women, Inc),

I hope this finds you well in the beginning of this new year. 

Our Orphan Program in Kenya continues to thrive.  OWI Kenya and the Social Workers organized a very successful Christmas party for the orphans.  It was a big celebration!  They sang songs, did presentations of poems and choruses.  They played soccer and handball together.  They ate lunch and had a cake.  The orphans were presented with their new school uniforms for this year, too.  Patrick, the Director of the Orphan Program said the orphans were so happy at their Christmas party.  Without you, the sponsors of the Orphan Program, none of this would happen.  The majority of the guardians cannot give the orphans anything for Christmas, so they are glad that OWI Kenya offers them a Christmas party, a place where the orphans know they belong, where they can celebrate Christmas together. 

Allow me to introduce you to one of our orphans, Peter.  Peter just graduated from the 8th grade in Kenya and has just received his grade on the exit exam from junior high to get into high school.  I am told that anything above a score of 240 is high and will get the child into a good high school.  Peter scored a 313!  He has high hopes and big dreams, wanting to be a doctor someday! 

Peter has not always been able to dream big though.  Peter's father was a police officer in Kenya and died in 2005 of AIDS.  This left Peter and his two older brothers to be cared for by their mother.  Their mother struggled to pay for the basic needs of food and shelter for herself and the three boys, but the oldest brother had to drop out of school in the 8th grade to earn money for the family.  All three boys were relied upon to go to the fields for day labor to make a few shillings to buy food for the family.  Peter's mother passed away in 2007 from AIDS and anemia.  This left the three boys alone.  Shortly after this, the OWI Kenya Orphan Program began, and Peter and his older brother (who is now going to be a junior in high school) were taken into the Program.  They were placed to live with their very elderly grandmother. 

Because of the Orphan Program, both Peter and his brother Paul have both thrived in the Program.  They have found a "new family" in the Program.  Their grandmother passed away in May, 2010.  This was a sad day for Peter and his brothers as well as all in the Orphan Program, as they have become a tight knit family together.  This is a lot of loss for Peter.  In spite of these losses, Peter thrives because of the support of this Program.  Peter continues to live with his older brothers, as they are of adult age. 

Peter continues to dream big as he begins his adventure into high school. 

Thank you for your ongoing support for orphans like Peter, who even while looking at adversity, can rise above and have big goals, and realize his dreams.

If you are interesting in supporting one of the orphans in our Orphan Program for just $35 a month, please go to our website at www.ordinarywomen.org where you can choose your orphan from the profiles.  Or you can write to us at:

                                                          Ordinary Women, Inc.
                                                26861 Trabuco Road, Suite E#146
                                                        Mission Viejo, Ca. 92691
 
Joining Hands for Global Change,
Darla Morfin
Ordinary Women, Inc.
Executive Director-OWI Orphan Program

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