New Hope Initiative (NHI) is a non-profit very dear to my heart as it is what introduced me to Kenya. I signed up for a mission trip with my church to partner with New Hope for a sports camp for kids in grade 4-6 at New Hope Academy in Kibera, the largest slum in Africa.

We stayed at Acacia Tree Lodge which donates its proceeds to New Hope-check out my post on Acacia Tree. There is not a free school system in Kenya, there is a fee to attend any facility there. NHI has scholarship opportunities available for kids from 4 years old (PP1) up through college. When a youth enters secondary school (high school), it is boarding school style and they live there full time-they are only allowed home on breaks. These kids have the biggest smiles, the best personalities and are full of life despite their circumstances

If you would like to sponsor a youth in Kibera at New Hope Academy and help them get an education and a hope to get out of the slum, check out https://newhopeinitiative.kindful.com For secondary and university students, the campaign is Kibera Penda (Love) Project; for 4 years to grade 8, it is Shujaa (Courageous) Kibera AcademyProject.

Along with helping students in Kibera, they also founded Project Biashara, which provides a job and income for women in Kibera to be able to support their families. NHI also has programs in Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Nicaragua and India. They are a genuine organization that has changed so many lives already.