Fundraising Progress Update

It is one thing to raise funds when you have already built a network of friends from college or university. It is an entirely different story when you are a graduate of Home Grown University.

Home Grown University is where you decide to make do with what you are passionate about as opposed to focusing on the educational qualifications that you don't have. In my case, it was choosing to use my passion for creative writing and working with children to become a TV producer in 2008, which I later quit in 2013 to focus on empowering boys in juvenile prison.

I have over 1,200 Facebook friends. This being so, I used to think that getting USD 1 from each Facebook friend would fund my work with boys in juvenile prison. Well, thankfully it didn’t take me that long to learn how wrong I was!

Much as fundraising is a necessary component of my work, it is the least favourite on my to-do list. Besides, as an online writer, I believe I will be able to fund Lifesong Kenya's activities and juvenile prison program. It is only a matter of time before that becomes a reality.

In the mean time, I will continue raising funds through running half marathons and triathlons. This is by all means, easy. The fact that I am able to raise even a single dollar is a miracle in itself. I am dependingon blind faith and belief that God will bring people by divine appointment.I believe that this is the only way I will get the following category of people:-

• writing clients through Candid Writers


• children to sign up for holiday reading camps


• individual and corporate sponsors for running and triathlon events

Latest fundraising progress report

We recently took part in a fundraising marathon where Kelvin Hondo, Elisha Maketa, Jared Junior and I managed to raise a total of USD 230. This will enable Lifesong Kenya to run its program at the juvenile prison for the next 3 months. We will be able to conduct the following activities:-

• visit and spend time with the boys at the prison


• engage the boys in bead work and entrepreneurial skills


• accompany some of the boys to court


• call and trace families and the people the boys have wronged

In conclusion

Despite the daily challenges we face in our work, I am optimistic and confident that I will soon have enough writing clients and people wiling to support Lifesong Kenya. By having Kelvin and Elisha in our running and cycling team, God is building our vision, one brick at a time.

We already have our eyes set on cycling and running on June 1st as a team. Our duty is to continue working, praying and trusting God to sustain Lifesong Kenya and our juvenile prison program.

Feel free to reach out to us. There are numerous ways you, friends, family and institution can get involved. Every contribution – material and finances – counts. Now only will you be empowering Lifesong Kenya to meet the needs of boys in juvenile prison, you will also be equipping 200 boys to become men of conscience, character and courage.