Every Sunrise Brings Hope

The morning sunrise in Kenya is magical. The orange glow. The way orange turns into red. The warmth. When I’m in Kenya visiting our projects, I try to never miss one - savoring the way it fills my heart with a feeling of hope. And also knowing my first cup of Kenyan coffee is just a few moments away.

Inevitably, once the sun has risen, it won’t be long before the earliest of enthusiastic children begin arriving to the front gates of school. In a community where the time is largely based on the sun’s location in the sky, the sunrise indicates it is time for school. For a community that has never previously had a school, that represents something meaningful.

I still remember the first community meeting when Kidspire announced that we were facilitating a site study to measure the feasibility of establishing a new school. We were in 1 of the 3 locations that the local Department of Education had recommended as lacking access to education. More than 150 people showed up for the meeting, introducing us to 3 generations who had missed the chance to attend school.

It was an eye-opening. But need for education is only one of the factors. The feasibility of establishing a quality school facility is crucial. And it felt like we were in a location that was far too remote. It was dry. It was hot. The landscape was barren. There wasn’t access to electricity. Or water.

But day by day it seemed that each obstacle was met with opportunity. And each opportunity passed the feasibility test. The hydrological study discovered an aquafir 600 feet below the property. The constant sun would ensure that the solar panels generated more than enough electricity. Fencing and building contractors were willing to camp on the property for 60+ days to complete the project.

Thirteen months after that first visit to the community, Phase 1 of the project is complete and a 4-classroom school is open. Each morning, 40 eager learners come to school, ready to learn. And that is reason for hope. Hope which become just a little bit brighter with each new sunrise.