Return to Kenya On March 1st, I will travel to Kenya for the first time since last February. I can't wait to visit the children at Rapha Community Center. It is always amazing to see how much growth takes place between my trips. We have made a lot of progress in the past
I received a message from a graduate of Rapha Secondary School thanking me for all I've done to help her. She expressed her gratitude for the education she received and for the opportunities she had to improve her life and move toward a brighter future. I was so touched by Mary's message, and it
I shared Edward's story last year. He was finishing his final year of school at Rapha Secondary, ready to begin a new chapter in his life. His goal was to continue his arts education, and I'm thrilled to say that Edward has done just that since leaving Rapha. When I was in Kenya this
One night, Steven and Regina fell peacefully asleep in their beds. When they woke the next morning their world was completely different. Their house was empty; their mother was gone. Day turned to night, but she still did not return home. Regina did her best to take care of her younger brother. They survived
I'm thrilled to finally share a special project the HEAL team has been working on this year. We're introducing our newly expanded Gifts to HEAL store, featuring alternative gift opportunities, select crafts from Kenya and a wide range of gifts featuring designs that will inspire you to shine your light wherever you go! Every
John was hit by a car when he was a child. His injuries were never treated and as he has grown, the bones in his right leg haven't developed properly. The doctor said he needed to have a corrective procedure within the next two years or the damage would be permanent. I shared his
I met Steven and Regina for the first time on my recent trip to Kenya. They are siblings who had just joined our community during the prior month. Their father had died and their mother had abandoned them. They are about 4 and 5 years old, but since their birth certificates could not be
Jamie, Eric, Cole and Case Ziehm will be traveling to Africa on February 17 to volunteer at Rapha Community Center, a children’s home and high school in rural Kenya. HEAL and Rapha was started by Jamie’s sister Jennifer in 2007. This will be the first time the Ziehm family will see it all in
I remember Elias when he first joined our community. He was so tiny. He had been found in the streets, abandoned and unable to tell us anything about himself. It’s hard to believe nine years have passed since then. The scared and confused child I first met has grown into an intelligent and very
It's Been and Incredible Week The team has been in Kenya for almost a week. Usually our volunteers are over the age of 18. This time though, 7 out of the 9 in this group are under the age of 18. I was a senior in high school when I traveled
