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
In only a few short weeks our Form 4 students will begin their KCSE (Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education) examinations. The testing process is rigorous and will last throughout the month of November. Completion of this exam marks the culmination of their secondary school education. For many of our students though, this achievement represents
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
We've tried to plant maize three times at Rapha Community Center in the past year. Each time it seemed like the rains were on the way, we'd plant, but the rains never came. All of our attempts ended in failure. This is the same experience so many farmers are experiencing across Kenya. The
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
Annual Giving Message Twelve years ago, I walked the land that would become Rapha Community Center for the first time. The property was overgrown and the only building in sight was a rundown wooden shed with no electricity or access to water. At first glance, it was hard to see
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
