In 2016 at the conclusion of our medical dental mission in Marera Village in Kenya, the discussion turned to the lack of high school education for village girls. The mission team members asked our local team why education is such a problem in Kenya. Their reply saddened all of us.
In this male dominated society, young girls are often needed to work the fields to assure a good crop of food for the family so there is no time for school. Other teenage girls are sold into marriage at age of 14-15 and have no opportunity for an education. Those that do try to go to school often work before school at the home then walk a long distance to school. After they finish classes, they walk home and again work at the home before trying to do their studies at night. Due to lack of funds, there is often not enough kerosene to light the lamp so they can see to study.
We asked the cost of sending a girl to school for one year in a Boarding School which is the best form of education in this area. $800 we were told would pay for tuition, books, uniforms, room and board, and even provide a small bit of money for the girls to use as needed. One of the missioners immediately stood up and said, “I’ll sponsor a girl and I’ll get my parents to sponsor one.” There was quiet in the room for a few minutes then another missioner repeated the pledge. It was amazing.
Four days before Thanksgiving 2016, BTCAM sent out a letter to everyone in the database. Within less than a week, we had pledges for seven girls to attend school for four years. The African search team had only selected six with an air of optimism. We were all joyously overwhelmed to see God’s blessing on these pledges. In 2017, seven girls completed their first year of high school, made friends, had nutritious food everyday, excelled in school, and learned social skills along the way. Each girl wrote her own story. The girls pledged to be a role model for their village, gain an education and return to the village to give back to the people there. Lawyers, doctors, teachers….wonderful goals were stated by the girls.
In 2017 November we again sent out a letter telling people about this program. We gained 10 new pledges as people learned about the plight of the village girls and their hearts were moved. As this information was written we had not yet sent out the information letter and we have 10 more pledges which will bring the number of girls in the program to 27.
BTCAM is a faith based small non-profit organization. There has been unanimous acknowledgement of the miracle of this story. People who know of us and the the girls share the story by word of mouth and God has done the rest. In return, those of us who have been involved in this evolving story and found our hearts overflowing with gratitude. If you would like to be a part of this life-changing movement, please contact BTCAM@BTCAM.ORG or Nola Schrum at ns0239@yahoo.com.
In 2016 at the conclusion of our medical dental mission in Marera Village in Kenya, the discussion turned to the lack of high school education for village girls. The mission team members asked our local team why education is such a problem in Kenya. Their reply saddened all of us.
In this male dominated society, young girls are often needed to work the fields to assure a good crop of food for the family so there is no time for school. Other teenage girls are sold into marriage at age of 14-15 and have no opportunity for an education. Those that do try to go to school often work before school at the home then walk a long distance to school. After they finish classes, they walk home and again work at the home before trying to do their studies at night. Due to lack of funds, there is often not enough kerosene to light the lamp so they can see to study.
We asked the cost of sending a girl to school for one year in a Boarding School which is the best form of education in this area. $800 we were told would pay for tuition, books, uniforms, room and board, and even provide a small bit of money for the girls to use as needed. One of the missioners immediately stood up and said, “I’ll sponsor a girl and I’ll get my parents to sponsor one.” There was quiet in the room for a few minutes then another missioner repeated the pledge. It was amazing.
Four days before Thanksgiving 2016, BTCAM sent out a letter to everyone in the database. Within less than a week, we had pledges for seven girls to attend school for four years. The African search team had only selected six with an air of optimism. We were all joyously overwhelmed to see God’s blessing on these pledges. In 2017, seven girls completed their first year of high school, made friends, had nutritious food everyday, excelled in school, and learned social skills along the way. Each girl wrote her own story. The girls pledged to be a role model for their village, gain an education and return to the village to give back to the people there. Lawyers, doctors, teachers….wonderful goals were stated by the girls.
In 2017 November we again sent out a letter telling people about this program. We gained 10 new pledges as people learned about the plight of the village girls and their hearts were moved. As this information was written we had not yet sent out the information letter and we have 10 more pledges which will bring the number of girls in the program to 27.
BTCAM is a faith based small non-profit organization. There has been unanimous acknowledgement of the miracle of this story. People who know of us and the the girls share the story by word of mouth and God has done the rest. In return, those of us who have been involved in this evolving story and found our hearts overflowing with gratitude. If you would like to be a part of this life-changing movement, please contact BTCAM@BTCAM.ORG or Nola Schrum at ns0239@yahoo.com.