Meet our Health Team!

TKP’s amazing Health Team in Kilgoris works tirelessly to ensure the health and safety of all of our students. We want you to meet them and hear from them directly about how your support of TKP helps. Please enjoy meeting Amos and Belvin!

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Amos Leperes, TKP's Student Health Officer is a star of TKP and stewards your generous gifts to benefit the health and well-being of TKP's entire student population. We recently did a What's App interview with Amos where he shared a little bit about his job and his concerns right now.

Amos Leperes, TKP’s Student Health Officer

Q: First tell us your favorite thing about being a Student Health Officer?
A: My favorite thing as the Student Health Officer is to see young children growing nutritionally healthy and seeing them have access to health care. We have been able to diagnose several children with life-threatening diseases or illnesses at early stages. Then they received treatment and recovered. I also love seeing them get clean water at school.

Q: How are you feeling about COVID-19 and it's impact on TKP students?
A: Vulnerable kids are at risk of malnutrition during this time. TKP was able to help several with our grocery packages. But I am a little worried because all of the children are missing the services that we usually give them in school. With good hygiene and hand washing techniques that we have taught them I'm hopeful they will share with their families and follow them at home.

Q: How are you and your family doing?
A: We are doing well and are healthy. My family is practicing hand washing, cough hygiene (coughing into elbow), keeping distance and avoiding social gatherings during this trying time.

Thank you Amos for all you do for TKP's students and the entire community. 

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We’re excited to share this short interview with our Assistant Student Health Officer, Belvin Potishoi. Belvin joined the TKP team after finishing her schooling in 2019. She’s a joy to be around and a compassionate health care professional! We’re fortunate to have her as part of our team. 

Belvin Potishoi, TKP’s Assistant Student Health Officer

Q: First, can you share why you chose to go into the medical field?
A: What really inspired me was that in my community there was a need for health care workers. Sick people had travel for a long distance for medication. This was a burden on my heart because they were not only sick, but most of them were not able to afford transportation fares so they had to walk long distances to a clinic or doctor. Therefore, I went into a medical field and pursued clinical medicine to help bridge the gap in my community.

Q: What worries you about the COVID-19 pandemic? 
A: COVID-19 could bring adverse effects academically and health wise to a number of TKP students. Most of their parents are casual workers and are not able to work due to the pandemic, others are not employed at all. This is really going to prevent them from providing their families with basic needs. I worry they won’t have access to food and the health of the kids will deteriorate since they will be lacking some nutrients in their bodies. I also worry students will be left behind academically. Many parents are illiterate and can’t access learning programmes offered on television. 

Q: What is your favorite part about working for TKP?
A: I love helping the community so much. I really feel honored working with TKP because it really works for the Masai community to help improve and make it a better place. It provides education and health programme for the kids which are key in changing a community, because kids are the future of a community. 

Big thanks to Belvin and Amos for all you do for TKP students and their families! We are *this close* to meeting our goal of $20,000 to ensure that our health team has the resources to serve our students when they come back. Will you join us today in honor of Belvin, Amos, and the incredible work they do? www.kilgoris.org/donate

COVID-19 Updates from TKP

The following message was shared with the TKP community on May 12, 2020

Hello TKP Family,

Communities across the world are still navigating the impacts of COVID-19 and likely will be for some time. Kilgoris is no exception. Since we last wrote you, local communities have struggled with widespread closures, government-mandated curfews, price gouging, increased military presence, and economic hardships.
 
In the rural Kilgoris area, most families lack reliable transportation, easy access to clean water, or a steady income. With school out of session, students are missing a safe place to go every day, nutritious meals and clean water at school, and easy access to health care. And with no electricity in the area, online distance learning is impossible.
 
But even with these challenges, your generosity is allowing us to continue meeting the needs of our students and the Kilgoris community.

• Your generous gifts have provided two rounds of emergency food relief for TKP’s most vulnerable students. Our Kenyan team mobilized quickly to secure staple grocery items (maize, beans, cooking oil, tea, sugar, soap) to supplement our most food insecure families. We hope to continue this program on a regular basis while school is out of session. (Pictured below, TKP's Student Health Office

• A new grant from The PaperSeed Foundation allowed us to purchase grade-level workbooks, pencils and erasers for every TKP student. These books provide needed academic reinforcement while students cannot be in school together.

• Our leadership teams in both Kenya and the U.S. have created a plan to reduce expenses, where applicable, as experts warn us to anticipate economic uncertainty during the 2nd half of 2020. We always take a judicious approach to financial planning and are being even more cautious in our spending for the remainder of the year.
  

• The generosity of our grantors, donors and partners has put us in solid financial position to weather a downturn in the global economy. We remain in a healthy position and are not anticipating any changes to our staffing levels.

• Your partnership and kindness during this crisis have been a bright spot for our team. It is our hope you find solidarity and joy in our partnership as well. We couldn’t do any of this without you, and we remain committed to Kilgoris’ children, because we have you by our side. We have felt each one of your prayers, and your messages of support give us encouragement for the future!
   
  With immense gratitude,
   
  Caren McNelly McCormack, President & Co-Founder, The Kilgoris Project
  David Lemiso, Executive Director, The Kilgoris Project

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April 23, 2020

THANK YOU! Over the last three weeks we have felt ALL of your support, love, and prayers. Your generous gifts helped us surpass our campaign goal and make sure that our most vulnerable TKP students are supported during the COVID-19 pandemic.

We appreciate you!

If you didn’t get a chance to donate to our campaign, you can do so here: www.kilgoris.org/donate

Please stay in touch with TKP! We are on Instagram and Facebook and you can sign up for our emails here.

ASANTE SANA!

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The following message was sent to the TKP family on April 15, 2020

Hello TKP Family,
 
I’m writing today to ask for your help.
 
We have all been impacted by COVID-19, some much more gravely than others. There is no doubt that we still don’t fully understand how this global crisis will play out and how it will impact our 1,400 students in Kenya. But, when we come out on the other side of it, we need to be able to serve our students in the same meaningful ways we always have.  
 
For TKP’s students, that support has always included so much more than the classroom experience. From nutritious daily meals to access to life-saving health care (led by our amazing Kenyan Student Health Officers Amos Leperes and Belvin Potishoi), to safe and clean campuses—you make it all happen.
 
Right now TKP students are at home. We pray for the safety and health of all of them and their families during this time. At the same time, we know that many students will return to school malnourished, sick or with possible physical and psychological injuries. As always, we will lovingly meet their health needs when they return and are already reaching out to help our most vulnerable students.
 
We are halfway to our goal of raising $20,000 for health and hygiene resources in 2020. But with less than a week left in our campaign, we need your help.
 
If you are able, would you consider a special one-time gift to help us ensure TKP’s health team and services are fully resourced for our students? Your secure, tax-deductible gift can be made at www.kilgoris.org/donate.
 
I cannot thank you enough for your years of partnership and the impact you have every day in Kilgoris.
 
With sincere appreciation and gratitude,
 
Caren McNelly McCormack
President & Co-founder, The Kilgoris Project

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April 7, 2020

Dear TKP family,

YOU are making a difference in Kilgoris. Hear directly from TKP's Executive Director, David Lemiso about the distribution of 41 meal/supply kits to TKP students and families. The *BEST* news of the week is that a faithful TKP donor offered up a match for all donations this week! (Up to a max of $5,000!) 

Watch this short video from David and know we are thankful for your support NOW and in the FUTURE. And, if you haven't joined yet... double the impact of your gift today! www.kilgoris.org/donate

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TKP families picking up emergency care packages

This message was sent to the TKP family on April 6, 2020

Hello TKP Family! 

Thank you for your prayers, generosity and support as we navigate the COVID-19 crisis. We wanted to share a quick update from Kilgoris and let you know your gifts are already at work, helping dozens of families.

Last week we contacted 41 families and invited them to stop by school to pick up an emergency care package. These families represent the most vulnerable of the TKP students—orphans and those living in extreme poverty. The care packages included extra groceries like beans, maize, tea, sugar, soap and feminine hygiene products, and a message about the importance of hand washing to prevent the spread of coronavirus. (Pictured below, a few of our grateful families picking up packages and groceries stacked high in the TKP offices.)

We hope that these items will provide a small amount of support and security in this very uneasy time. Thank you again for your prayers and partnership as we support our students and their families during the COVID-19 crisis. Please continue to join us and help keep our students safe and well-fed.  Visit www.kilgoris.org/donate to make your tax-deductible donation today. 

With gratitude,

Suzie McNelly, Vice President, Student Programs & Campus Development

Sabina Lenkarie, Education Officer

Amos Leperes, Student Health Officer

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March 30, 2020

Today, we’re launching a three-week initiative to keep our health programs going strong in Kilgoris, especially in the face of the COVID-19 crisis. 

This initiative includes a bold ask. We need to raise $20,000 in the next three weeks to keep our health programs going strong. 

For 2020, we are expecting a 20 percent decrease in income due to cancelled summer traveller donations and a global decrease in non-profit giving. We are relying on our generous community of donors now more than ever. 

A couple of things we put in place last week:

1.     We are committed to keeping all of our staff employed during this time—this includes our all-star health team of Amos, Belvin and Ashley in Kenya.

2.     We are finding creative ways to serve our kids in Kenya—including grocery supplements, soap and feminine hygiene products for our most vulnerable students and orphans.

Right now, we don’t know what we’ll face from a health standpoint, but thankfully we have the infrastructure and team in place to continue to serve our students. Will you partner with us to keep our unique health programs going strong in Kilgoris?  Make your secure, tax-deductible donation here: www.kilgoris.org/donate.

With gratitude,  

TKP leadership team

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This message was sent to the TKP family on March 24, 2020.

 Hi TKP Family, 

Thank you for your overwhelming support since our message last week about how COVID-19 is impacting The Kilgoris Project. We’re in this together, and we’re feeling that more than ever right now. So many of you have reached out with messages of love and support, prayers, and requests for how you can help. 

We’re working closely with our Kenyan team/partners to determine how Kenya’s school closures will impact TKP students and families. Right now, we know three things:

1. We are committed to keeping our Kenyan staff (teachers, cooks, janitors, guards, management team) employed during the school closures. They will receive their regular salary so that school cancellation does not add financial burden to their families.

2. We will support our most vulnerable students (orphans and those living in extreme poverty) during this time. Our health team in Kenya is putting together a plan that may include extra supplies of groceries, soap, and educational materials for these families. 

3. We will need financial resources to make this happen. 

As a non-profit, TKP’s income will likely be impacted by COVID-19 in the next six to nine months. We invite you to join us in keeping our commitment to our staff and our most vulnerable students during this uncertain time. Visit our website at: www.kilgoris.org/donate to partner with us today.

Above all, please join us in continuing to pray for our staff and students. We don’t yet know how this will impact individual families in Kilgoris, but we can continue surrounding them in prayer at this time! 

Thank you,

Caren McNelly McCormack, President & Co-founder, TKP

David Lemiso, Executive Director, TKP

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This message was shared with the TKP family on March 19, 2020

TKP Family,
 
We’re writing to share an update on how The Kilgoris Project is responding to COVID-19. The safety of our students, staff, and the communities we serve remains our top priority, as we navigate the rapidly changing situation.
 
Yesterday we learned that the Kenyan government has closed all schools, effective Monday, March 16. Our students will not attend school and TKP leaders in Kenya are working today to close our 11 preschools and primary schools. During this time, please pray for the vulnerable communities we serve. The 1,400 students who attend TKP schools eat two meals a day at school, have access to clean water, and are surrounded by safe and caring adults. This is not always the reality in their homes.
 
We are committed to supporting TKP students, staff and Kilgoris communities during this time. We will continue to pay our teachers and staff while school is out of session and will also take the opportunity to clean our schools. During school closures, the Kenyan government prohibits us from any operations on our campuses, including cooking in our kitchens. We are investigating what, if any, support we can provide to our food insecure students. Additionally, it is our hope that the health and hygiene teaching our students have been exposed to at school, will carry into their homes and communities.
 
Last week we made the decision to postpone our annual in-person board of directors and advisory council meeting. Our U.S. staff already works remotely and is working with maximum flexibility as we manage through disruptions.
 
We have received several questions about upcoming travel to Kenya. First, we are listening to the advice of government and public health entities. Second, we are working closely with our trusted travel agents, church partners, and other travel partners to determine options and flexibility for our current summer travel plans. We are communicating with travel teams directly. As you can imagine, the situation and travel advisories are changing on a day-to-day basis. We ask for continued patience.
 
Above all, we thank you for being part of the TKP family. We appreciate your prayers and partnership!
 
Caren McNelly McCormack
President & Co-founder, TKP
 
David Lemiso
Executive Director, TKP

Food for Thought

Each year, your gifts in December allow us to add something new to TKP’s nutrition program. Five years ago we added breakfast, then the next year more fresh fruit, next it was more substantial meals for the preschoolers. And, in 2019 we expanded even further. Your generosity creates these beautiful mealtime scenes. Bowls filled with rice, beans and veggies. Fresh, clean water. Bananas. And our Student Health Officer, Amos Leperes, beaming with pride as his students fill up on the nutrients they need!

We’ve seen the fruits of your generosity and need your help to keep it up! TKP schools are growing (we’re expecting to add up to 105 more students in 2020!) and food prices are rising in Kenya. In 2020, we plan to add more variety and nutrition to the student meals by including seasonal produce like watermelon, mangoes and avocados.

Will you join us with a gift today? We can’t continue our life-changing meal and nutrition program without you. Visit www.kilgoris.org/donate to make your gift today.

It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year

From Thanksgiving until New Year’s Eve, we’re celebrating the people working tirelessly behind-the-scenes to make TKP what it is. From our Kenyan staff, to our U.S.-based team, parents, students, travelers and our thousands of donors… each person plays a critical role in in the lives of 1,400 children in rural Kenya. Learn about these incredible people transforming lives, thanks to your generosity!

(Check back for updates throughout December and meet some new faces or learn something new about a familiar team member!)

Meet Jennifer, a teacher at Intimigom Primary School. Jennifer is a bright light on our campus and shines through all she does. Whether it's working with kids in the classroom, leading scouts, or greeting campus visitors... she does it all with a smile and a joyful heart. A highlight of any trip to Intimigom is 400 students singing and praising in unison. These songs and the special greetings visitors are treated to, are thanks to Jennifer's creativity and leadership. (TKPx travelers... share a favorite song or greeting from Intimigom in the comments!) Thank you Jennifer, we love your heart and your creativity. We appreciate you!

Meet Dalson, a teacher at Oltikampu Primary school. Dalson's love of teaching, humble heart, and ability to connect with students make him a star on our Oltikampu Campus. This year, Dalson served as lead teacher for Class 8--the first graduating class at Oltikampu. He led a group of 15 students through the entire year and in preparation for the important KCPE exam. Dalson was honored at the Oltikampu graduation for his commitment to Class 8 and he was beaming with pride as his students received their diplomas. Thank you Dalson, we love your dedication to your students and appreicate your leadership!

David Lemiso, Executive Director gives a special shout-out to all of the donors who make TKP's work with children in rural Kenya possible!

Let's Celebrate our TKP Grads!

This October, surrounded by red graduation gowns, shimmering tinsel, beaming students and proud parents, the TKP family celebrated 49 eighth grade graduates. The graduates represent years of hard work, dedication and generosity on TKP’s two largest campuses—Intimigom (34 graduates) and Oltikampu (15 graduates).

Many graduates have been with TKP since their preschool days. And, another handful represent students whose parents chose to enroll in a TKP school, based on our excellent reputation in the community. From investing in preschoolers just learning their letters and numbers, to eighth graders nearing high school, YOU continue to make a pathway for TKP students every step of the way.