Imagine, at age 10, being thrown out of school because you didn’t own, and couldn’t afford, a school uniform? In Kenya, Africa, this was the case for Evans Wanyonyi. School fees were eliminated, but the cost of providing a school uniform remained. Living in poverty killed any hope for Evan to secure a formal education.

Evan is the youngest of 12 siblings. When he could no longer attend school, he helped his father, George, care for a neighbours cattle. What little money George earned went to providing minimum food requirements for his family. Then, when George broke his hand in a bicycle accident he could no longer perform heavy duties. Unable to take care of his family needs, he started to abuse alcohol. Every day he came home drunk after a spree with friends.

When The Salvation Army came to his community, George’s life changed. “I couldn’t believe The Salvation Army gave my son a uniform so he could go to school,” says an emotional George. “Other support provided by The Salvation Army really changed my life. “

George has a small piece of land where he and his wife cultivate maize beans and sweet potatoes. Through the Salvation Army’s income generating skills program, George’s wife, Violet, hopes to run a business of her own. They both attend church and says Violet, “Although there are many hardships we are able to care for our children. My husband is now responsible and takes care of us.”

The Salvation Army in Kenya
-The Salvation Army aims to meet the needs of the whole person, body, mind and soul. Through social institutions, schools and churches.

-The Salvation Army cares for the needy and teaches and trains as opportunity allows.

-The Salvation Army also runs vocational training centres and schools for the physically handicapped, which give opportunity to pupils who would otherwise be excluded from school. Although it is costly to run the homes and special schools, social work is of uttermost importance to The Salvation Army.

-The Salvation Army sponsorship office seeks funding from local and overseas sources and all the proceeds go into sponsorship of needy children. These include children from broken homes, aids orphans and underprivileged children. And, throughout the country, Salvation Army programs such as HIV/AIDS prevention, safe water, livelihood development and income generating skills are empowering the vulnerable and giving hope to more than half the country who live in extreme poverty.

Facts About Kenya
-HIV/AIDS is most prevalent among young and middle-aged Kenyans, the most productive segment of the population

-Almost half of the people in Kenya are under 15 years of age

-An estimated 700 Kenyans die daily of HIV/AIDS-related causes.

-Life expectancy is 46 years,

-More than half of the country’s 31.3 million people are poor, and 7.5 million of the poor live in extreme poverty.