Back to Newsletter Archives

The Story of one of the Newest Projects of Hope Children - meet Belinda

EXCITING UPDATE!! 5/2009

Belinda, the young girl with the physical disability who was in need of surgery, is now thriving at the Rehabilitation Center. Thank you to all who supported her needs and please continue to keep Belinda and her family in your thoughts and prayers. See the amazing transformative pictures below, all thanks to Peter and Projects of Hope donors. Enjoy the updated picture below of Belinda with her new walker!

This lovely family is Wycliff (father),Benard (son), Belinda (daughter), Cornelius (son), Lillian (mother) carrying Lavinah (daughter). You can see the mud home which they reside in with a tin roof. There is a jerry can to the left of the father for collecting water from the river. You can also notice some maize growing in the background. The red cross on their clothes signifies their membership in an evangelical church. You will notice the baby doesn't wear diapers like in the United States. Also, you will notice that not everyone has shoes to wear. You will also see the raised dirt area surrounding the home. This is so that, during rainstorms, the water won't come into their house. Belinda is the little girl in the photo smiling proudly.

2/2009 Belinda is a young girl, struggling with disability and poverty in Kenya and courageously attending school with her same age peers. Peter (Projects of Hope Kenya Program Coordinator) was out doing field work and was very moved by her situation.

Peter states, "She is handicapped and she walks on her toes as you can see. She has a lot of difficulties in moving. She is in Primary school in grade 1 and she is the second born in a family of 4. Her mother and father are at home. We walked with her to the shop, she was buying a 32 page exercise book and a pencil. She is a great and strong girl." To be a child with a disability is a difficult thing in Kenya.

Seeing her and moved by her courage and her condition we knew Projects of Hope, who helps children with disabilities, could be of assistance to Belinda. Belinda requires a special surgery and Projects of Hope will assist with that. Belinda was also enrolled in Ol'Kalou Disabled Children's Home to assist with therapy and education during her rehabilitation. The family is extremely grateful as they had been looking everywhere for appropriate care for Belinda. Projects of Hope's intervention and Peter's care and opening his heart to the needs of this one child is truly a miracle for her and her family.

Belinda, purchasing a pencil and a workbook at a local store in the market, where we first met her.

Will you share your heart of hope with Belinda for her future as she faces challenges in her life and starts second grade? We are seeking gifts of sponsorship to meet her medical, educational, and rehabilitation needs. Give a gift of $25 and you will receive, in gratitude for your generosity during difficult economic times, a fair trade plump hand-carved sweet heart soapstone, hand-carved and dyed by artisans in Kenya. Dimensions: 2" long, 2" wide, 1.25" tall.

Your sweet heart will be mailed with a Projects of Hope gift card and brochure. You can think of Belinda and all the children of Projects of Hope each time you hold your special gift.