We are celebrating Blessings!
Blessings has obtained the highest mid-term marks in her grade 5 class for Math, English, Kiswahili, and Social Studies. She was awarded the 4 badges she is wearing for her top marks in these subjects.
Blessings obtained a scholarship from GAM in 2018 when she was in Nursery School. GAM and Blessings sponsors are very happy for Blessings success in school!
Way to go girl! We are so proud of you!
Introducing our five 2023 GAM graduates!
GAM is proud of our 2023 college and university graduates! The students focused on their studies and obtained excellent results. They participated in two separate 3 month co-op placements the Kenyan school system calls attachment. Mercy has participated numerous clinical rotations. Our graduates are ready to enter the workforce. Well done!
Bestine O.
Diploma in Information & Communication Technology (3 years). Chuka Technical & Vocational College.
Susan K.
Diploma in Social Work and Community Development (2 years). University of Embu.
Sila A.
Diploma in Craft Electrical Engineering (2 years). Bumbe Technical Training Institute.
Mercy N.
Diploma in Community Health Nursing (3 years). Kenya Medical Training College. Completed with distinction.
Emily K.
Bachelor of Education, 2nd class honours, Major in English & Literature for secondary school (4 years). Kenyatta University.
Christmas Tree of JOY Kenya!
It is a special privilege to be able to give gifts to bless people.
Each year Graceland Africa Mission sends funds, provided by sponsors, for scholarship students to receive Christmas gifts and food. GAM also sends funds to families in need.
Above are photos of the students and adults, in Nairobi., who have received their Christmas blessing. The children’s joyous smiles is heart-warming; the gratitude of the adults is moving.
Graceland Africa Mission has many donors who make this possible.
THANK YOU! You are making a world of difference!
Another GAM graduate - Ethan!
Ethan is from one of the smallest tribes in Kenya, the Teso tribe. When the colonials cut the lines for countries, the Teso tribe was split with Teso people being mostly located in Uganda. Consequently, they represent a minority group in Kenya.
Like his father, Ethan made the decision to use his gifts and time to help those in his community. Ethan’s father, Onyeit accomplishes this aim by running Fruitvine Academy, a primary school that he started and gives the opportunity of an education to kids that otherwise would not have a chance for an education.
Wanting to provide a valuable service to his community, Ethan decided to pursue a career in medicine. Medical aid is a crucial service in any county but that much more so in a country like Kenya which does not have all of the some medical benefits that we can take for granted here in Canada.
GAM helped Ethan with some expenses in secondary school and college, but it was during 2020 that GAM started to cover his tuition and boarding expenses. Ethan says that, “The support I received from GAM has brought a great impact in my life and my family. I hope that in the future I will be able to help people in need to accomplish their dreams."
Ethan has worked hard to be where he is today. He graduated in December 2022, as a Medical Officer from Kenya Medical Training College, and is currently interning to complete his last few steps to obtain his medical licence. His community, family, and us here at GAM are so proud of Ethan’s accomplishments and can't wait to see the amazing gift that he will be for those he serves.
Way to go Ethan!
By J Nogy
CAP Fundraiser 2023
Canada Africa Partnership (CAP) Fundraiser has concluded for another year. A total of almost $59,000 was raised by 13 Canadian grassroots organizations for projects in Africa!
In June, our 10 Graceland Africa Mission participants biked, ran, walked, or hiked 12 km each. We all had fun and together we raised $3033.
WAY TO GO Team GAM!
Thank you Team GAM! Thank you donors.
These funds will be used to assist our post-secondary school students in Kenya!
Support Kenyan Girls Education
Graceland Africa Mission is participating in the 2023 CAP (Canada Africa Partnership) Ride, to be held June 1-4, 2023. We are raising funds for Kenyan girls’ education.
Educating a girl increases their future ability to earn an income, impacting their family and their community. Many girls are left behind when it comes to their education and their career. They grow up uneducated and unable to earn an income, and therefore powerless in their society.
GAM is inviting you participate in the ride. You can bike, run, walk, the 12 km distance of the fundraiser over 4 days. Consider joining our GAM team or donating to girls education in Kenya. Every dollar counts!
For more info click on the link below.
“If you want to lift up humanity, empower women.
It is the most comprehensive, pervasive, high-leverage investment you can make in human beings.”
Melinda Gates, The Moment of Lift: How Empowering Women Changes the World, 2019
Another Graduate
Emily K, Bachelor of Education April, 2023
GAM began financing Emily’s education when she started secondary school. Emily’s single mom has for years worked in a city about 450 km from their home near Kitui, Kenya. This means that she has not been home a lot. However, Shosho their grandmother, has been there to support Emily and her two older sisters. See photo below of Emily, her mother, and her grandmother. Although Emily’s mom has generally had steady employment as domestic help, she was still unable to fund Emily’s education. Secondary school, college, and university are very expensive for most Kenyans.
Emily has now completed her Bachelor of Education degree at Kenyatta University. Emily majored in English and Literature for secondary school students.
Emily has worked hard to achieve her academic goals in secondary school and in university. She has been determined to do well. Emily has obtained an impressive GPA giving her Second Class Honours (upper).
CONGRATULATIONS EMILY!
We are so proud of you and your accomplishments!
Greetings from RTB student
Mercy’s single mother faced great difficulty with funding her secondary school education. Mercy shared with us that, “I was always sent home from school because my mother was not able to pay my school fees”.
Through our Right to Be scholarship program, GAM began assisting Mercy with a scholarship when she joined grade 10 in January, 2017. Now, seven years later, Mercy is close to completing her 3 year Nursing diploma through the Kenya Medical Training College. Mercy has been a diligent student obtaining distinction in her courses. Currently Mercy is on a medical rotation at a psychiatric hospital in Kenya.
Way to go Mercy! Your sponsor and Graceland Africa Mission are proud of you and we are looking forward to celebrating your graduation!
Kenya: Donated Clothes an Environmental Disaster
https://allafrica.com/stories/202302200014.html
By Michael Fitzpatrick
As much as one third of the clothing sent from the wealthy west to developing countries every year may be ending up as landfill. Unwearable polyester garments are little more than "plastic waste in disguise," according to a report on Kenya by the Changing Markets Foundation.
Kenya is the destination for 900 million pieces of used clothing every year.
The garments are frequently useless because they are stained and damaged. Or, like the tonnes of skiing outfits and winter wear, the donated clothes are useless in Kenya's climate.
Much of the clothing shipped to the country is made from petroleum-based materials such as polyester.
When the clothes cannot be used, they end up burning in landfills near Nairobi, exposing waste pickers and local residents to toxic fumes.
Tonnes of textiles are also swept into waterways, eventually breaking down into microfibres which enter the food chain.
"More than one in three pieces of used clothing shipped to Kenya is a form of plastic waste in disguise and a substantial element of toxic plastic pollution in the country," the report by the Changing Markets Foundation says. The CMF report is based on customs data as well as fieldwork by the non-profit organisation Wildlight and the activist group Clean Up Kenya.
Between 20 and 50 percent of all donated clothing is not of sufficient quality to be sold on the local secondhand market, the foundation says. And what can be sold has a negative economic impact by undercutting the prices of locally produced new clothes.
Second-hand clothes on display at a stall in Toi Market in Nairobi (file photo).
Another GAM graduate employed
Mercy M, a Right to Be scholarship recipient, gained employment in her field, only 2 months after completing her program!
Mercy completed her Certificate program in Craft Food & Beverage at Bumbe Technical Training Institute in Kenya in December, 2022. Mercy excelled in her studies and obtain a strong endorsement in her evaluation after her 3 month attachment at the Breez Hotel Company Limited in Busia, Kenya. Her supervisor wrote in her evaluation, “her dedication and commitment makes her a forerunner to any employment role in the industry and I strongly believe that she will make a lasting contribution to your institution”.
Mercy is so thankful to GAM. Her comments in recent corepondence are , “I just want to say thank you for the courtesy you extended to me during my school. You've indeed played a big role in my career extension and it couldn't be possible without your help. Thank you very much I'm really and forever will be grateful to you”.
In February, 2023, Mercy gained employment in the house keeping department of a major Hotel in Nairobi!
Well done Mercy, we are so proud of you!
We are so proud of our Grade 12 graduates!
All grade 12 students in Kenya write national exams, the Kenya Certificate Secondary Education (KCSE). In 2022, GAM had 9 students, 8 girls and 1 boy, who wrote their KCSE exams in December 2022. Their results have been released and are as follows: Felistus B+, Shakina B+, Beth B, Marylyne B-, Renne B-, Rehema B-, Marion C-, Juliet C-, and Robert D+. Their marks are amazing and will open doors for them for post-secondary education.
The scholarships they have received over the years have made a huge difference for these students! Thank you sponsors!
We are currently looking for additional funding to make sure they are all able to continue their education!
A total of 881,416 students sat for the examination in 2022. The Education Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Machogu announced that 173,345 candidates, or 19.7% scored C+ and above, while %55.8 percent of the students scored Grade D+ and below.
Seasons Greetings 2022
Our One for One scholarship students who live in western Kenya gathered in December to receive a Christmas package provided by their sponsors. Students are always so happy to receive the gifts. This year the Christmas package for students in Amagoro included school supplies, as well as food for their families: 2 kg chapati flour, 1 kg sugar , 1 kg Rice , 2 litres oil, and 100 gm tea leaves (approx. $25 worth of goods).
We are always so grateful for the generous support of our sponsors for the Christmas Program!
The video below is from the students sending Christmas greetings!
2022 GAM girls in college and university!
January 2022 Currently GAM has 6 young women enrolled in college and university. GAM girls in college are in their 2nd year. Mercy N. is studying Nursing, Bestine is in Information and Communication Technology (ICT), and Mercy M. is in a Food and Beverage program. GAM girls in university include Emily who is in 3rd year Bachelor of Education, Naomi is in 2nd year, Bachelor of Arts, and Janet is in 2nd year, Bachelor of Food and Nutrition.
We are proud of these young women. They are focused and determined to get an eduction! But they need financial support. Would you consider a one time or ongoing donation for scholarships?
GAM boys in college and university!
January 2022 - GAM is supporting 4 young men studying in college and university in Kenya. Both Sila and Enan started college in September 2021. Sila is studying Electrical Engineering and Enan is in Community Development & Social Work. Phillip is in his 4th year, Bachelor of Social Sciences program. Ethan is in 3rd year Medicine, studying to be a doctor. We are proud of these young men. They are working hard to make a future for themselves and their families.
These boys need help with their school expenses. Please consider providing a scholarship or making a one time donation.
Education Fund
In November 2021, 5 calves were purchased for One for One students in Amagoro. The students and their families will raise these calves with tender love and care, because they represent a big investment for their children’s education.
In the next few years when the calves are mature, the cows will be bred. Their investment will grow when the cows birth calves. Then families have the option to sell the calves to generate funds for school expenses for their children or to raise them and sell them as mature cows.
The student’s sponsors provided the funding for the calves. It is an “out of the box” education fund, but it works!
2021 Grade 9 Students
It all begins with an idea.
We are pleased to announce that for the 2021 school year, GAM has provided scholarships for six students entering secondary school!
Three of these students are from our One for One scholarship program. Sponsors have been supporting these students for a number of years. They have graduated and achieved exceptional marks on their KCPE Grade 8 national exams. These three students are Lyncolyne, Ruth and Zeal. Way to go! We are proud of you!
As well, we added three students to our secondary school scholarship program. Emmanuel, Naomi and Samuel are siblings of students already in our scholarship programs. They also have done exceptionally well on their KCPE Grade 8 national exams and obtained admission into top notch national secondary schools.
Some of these students are in need of scholarships. Please consider donating to our scholarships programs, in order for these students to continue their education beyond primary school.
2021 CAP RIDE in support of girl’s education in Kenya!
It all begins with an idea.
EVERY GIRL HAS A RIGHT TO BE EDUCATED
In 2016, Graceland Africa Mission launched Right to be, a girls scholarship program dedicated to helping Kenyan girls obtain secondary and post-secondary school education and training. Girls are chosen based on their financial need, their ability and desire to continue their studies, and the agreement of their families to allow the girls to pursue secondary and post-secondary education.
Secondary school, college, and university is very expensive for Kenyans. Often it is the girls in Kenya who are left behind when family funds are tight. The pandemic has made this situation even worse. We currently have over 20 girls registered in our Right to Be scholarship program. Yet our financial resources are unable to cover the school expenses of many of these girls.
2021 CAP WALK/RUN/BIKE-A-THON
The 2021 Canada Africa Partnership (CAP) WALK/RUN/RIDE was a huge success. With 13 participants on 3 teams, we raised $7371 for girls education! Thank you so much to all of your who participated and donated. This was our first time joining the 15 km CAP Ride and we plan to do it again in 2022! Won’t you join us?
Below are photos of some of the participants!
