Elvis is in class 1 (the equivalent of first grade) and is already the primary caregiver in his home. He cooks, cleans, fetches firewood and water, washes clothes, and cares for his ill grandmother and three younger siblings. Elvis was abandoned by his parents when he was just three years old. AIDS has orphaned most of…
Hear the 2018 Duke Divinity interns share their hope and expectations for the summer in Kenya.
Jambo Marafiki! Hello Friends! We’ve arrived in Kisumu and are having a great time settling in and going through our orientation with Leonard and Linda, the Project Director and Deputy Project Director of Umoja here in Kenya. We have visited many schools that are supported by the Umoja Project. Umoja partners with 18 local primary…
This year the Umoja Project is pleased to have three interns from Duke Divinity School working with teachers, guardians and staff in Chulaimbo. Courtney Sanford, Bailey Sanford and Vanetta Dunn are second-year seminary students, who are assisting link teachers and helping with psychosocial events for Umoja Project students this summer. When they return to the…
One of our recent secondary school graduates has had a particularly difficult spring. He lived in an earthen home with family members until recently when torrential rains washed away much of the family compound, leaving Bryan and his extended family without any shelter. Each summer GIP hosts interns from Duke Divinity School work with Umoja…
On May 10, 2018, the one year anniversary of Ellen Daniels-Howell’s death, the Umoja family planted five trees at each of the 18 primary schools served by the project. The five trees represent the branches of the Umoja Project: Students, Head Teachers, Link Teachers, Guardians, and Umoja Staff. As these trees grow and flourish, they…
Our Kenyan Umoja Project leaders Leonard Otiende and Linda Olasya enjoyed a busy two-week visit to Indiana in April 2018. They participated in the strategic planning retreat with the GIP board of directors and spent time at many of our partner congregations and schools, including North United Methodist, St. Luke’s United Methodist, Northminster Presbyterian, Tabernacle…
The Indiana Umoja youth are presenting an Umoja Benefit Concert on Saturday, May 12 from 3 to 5 pm. at North United Methodist Church, 3808 N. Meridian Street. Come hear some amazing local talent and see videos of performances by our Kenyan students. Admission is free. We will be accepting donations for the Umoja Project…
Join us for a leisurely walk along the downtown canal! GIP is one of many organizations participating in Walking for Dreams on Sunday, May 20. You can sign up to walk with us or support our organization through this event.
In April 2018 the GIP board of directors gathered for a strategic planning retreat led by the Butler Business Consulting Group. Eleven board members were joined by four staff people, including Leonard Otiende and Linda Olasya, who lead the Umoja Project in Chulaimbo, as well as Executive Director Denise Soltis and Indiana Program Coordinator Celia…
