Kisima Academy

For people who send Kisima Academy donations directly to FTKI, the address has changed. It is now: FTKI, 6614 Van Winkle Dr., Falls Church, VA 22044.


Kisima Academy, a mission of COS, is a Christian orphanage and school in rural western Kenya. More information is at www.friendsofkisima.org or on Facebook at Friends of Kisima Academy. Gerda Fink


The important national exams for 9th and 12th graders are over and the students at Kisi-ma are anxiously awaiting their results. In the meantime they’re enjoying their long holiday reading, working on the computer, helping in the gardens, and just enjoying socializing with each other. Kisima is currently supporting 105 children and young adults, nearly all of whom are orphans, in elementary school through college or votech schools. There are also about 250 impoverished community day students at the school. Huge thanks go to the COS members who sponsor students or donate to the school! They have been a blessing in the lives of these children and young adults. The stories vary but all are sad. Here are a few stories of those sponsored by COS members:


Caudencia’s father abandoned the family. Her mother tried to kill her and is now in prison. Her grandmother was

raising her but was in an accident.


Saviour’s parents died of AIDS.


Peter’s father died in the 2007 tribal/election violence. His mother remarried and abandoned him.


Alex and Grace’s mother married in Kisii but felt insecure when she realized the com-munity was one that eats human flesh. She returned to her parents and went to find work in Sudan. She was never heard from again. Her parents died several years ago and no one knows if Alex and Grace’s father is alive or dead.


Diana’s parents both died in the 2007 violence.


Besides the many children orphaned by tribal violence, AIDS and other illnesses, or accidents, there are many sad stories of orphans having been rescued from abusive or exploitive situations, girls fleeing genital mutilation, or very young boys living on the streets. Kisima has been a blessing to all of them, providing them with food, shelter, and a caring, Christian education. If you are interested in helping support the school or in sponsoring an orphan, I encourage you to check out the website www.friendsofkisima.org for more information. Donations can also be made through COS. Please be sure to specify that they are for FTKI (For the Kids International, the 501(c)3 established to support Kisi-ma).


Thank you, Gerda Fink


Gerda Fink, COS Kisima Committee Chair-person,  www.friendsofkisima.org, on Facebook at Friends of Kisima Academy.

update

News From Kisima Academy


At the last update we had four unsponsored high school graduates with no money for college or vo-tech school. We thank God that some current sponsors of recent college graduates were willing to take on sponsoring a recent high school grad headed to college. All the high school grads will soon be headed off to begin the next stage of their academic career. Many in the oldest class of orphans have graduated from college or vo-tech; some were delayed by the pandemic and are still in school. Several have started teaching careers. It’s very gratifying to see these orphans on their way to a productive future. Many have been cared for and educated by Kisima since they were in early primary school.


A couple of months ago a hailstorm severely damaged Kisima’s gardens and crops. The plants were able to recover but in June an even worse hailstorm occurred. The vegetables will have to be re-planted but it may be too late to replant the maize and bean fields. Crop failures inevitably cause price inflation of those foodstuffs. Maize and beans (augmented by a small amount of vegetables) form the basis of their diet and will now have to be purchased, making a sizeable dent in the budget. Kisima not only feeds the orphans and staff but also provides two meals a day to the 250 or so community children attending school there.


Bonnie Lefbom, who came with a group I took to Kisima in 2012 and who subsequently became active in the effort to support the orphanage/school, is in Kenya right now (July 15) with the first group of visitors since the pandemic started. I put out a feeler to see who might be interested in going this year and only one person responded. If you might be interested in going next year, please let me know. Trips are two weeks and in addition to working at the school we visit the elephant orphanage and the giraffe refuge outside of Nairobi, spend two nights in a retreat center in the last tropical rain-forest in Kenya, and go on a short safari in Maasai Mara.


Gerda Fink