Dream Sponsors, Inc.

Making Dreams Come True… For African Orphans and At-risk Youth

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Nairobi, Kenya– During the recent Site Monitoring visit, one of our sponsored children, Kevin, shared words of thanks for the opportunity to make his dreams come true.  Kevin, who resides, in Mathare, one of Nairobi’s sprawling slums, is now eating regularly, has gained weight, and is succeeding in his studies.  He suffers from allergies which negatively impact his eyes.  The allergies seem to be a result of the dusty environment in which he lives.  Kevin is in the care of his older sister after his parents died.  He is sponsored by Karen Hardin, president of the Rotary Club of Wellington!  We are sincerely grateful to Karen for her ongoing care and support of Kevin.  Thanks to Karen, and our volunteers in Nairobi, Kevin has a meaningful chance to make his dreams come true!!!

Our dearest Susan Otuma, pictured third left, recently visited sponsored orphans & caretakers living in Nairobi Slums during a site monitoring visit while conducting a peer review of the project operation.   A formal assessment tool was used to conduct standardized interviews to yield a qualitative report.  These annual peer reviews are a significant part of Dream Sponsors, Inc.’s Quality Assurance process.  Otuma was also able to meet with Aggy Abonyo, Nairobi Project Volunteer Liaison, (pictured far right), and members of the Nairobi Advisory Committee.  Operational information was shared, strategies discussed and ongoing needs of the children were prioritized.  A full report was done by Otuma and issued to members of the USA Board of Directors which will now focus on strategies to improve the project.  It was determined that all of the sponsored children consistently receive the designated goods and services and are positively progressing with the support provided.  Some ongoing challenges persist, which include the time efficiency of the provision of goods and services….largely due to the swelling Nairobi traffic and the length of time it truly takes to travel from one slum location to another…as well as the distance between various schools the children attend.  It was also determined that more volunteers with varying skills and talents are needed in Nairobi to serve on the advisory committee and in other monitoring roles with the children.  Dream Sponsors Board members are sincerely grateful for the dedication of time and energy that Otuma offered while volunteering to carry out the site visit successfully.  Dream Sponsors, Inc. pledges to continue to listen to the voices of the sponsored orphans, caretakers, and volunteers in order to continue to enhance the project. (Also pictured are Sheila, Basil and Diana, all sponsored children in the project…and caretakers Joyce, Helen and Catherine.)

Bunyore & Nairobi, Kenya– Thanks to the generous donations of several Rotary Club Members in Royal Palm Beach and Wellington, Florida, sponsored orphans now receive preventative and acute health care.  All children were recently tested for local diseases prevalent in the region.  It was determined that several were in need of de-worming treatments, de-chiggering and also Malaria medication.   Most notably, one of our first sponsored orphans, Habel, was treated by a local medical professional and had his middle finger reattached, after a serious accident while clearing brush around his hut in rural Kenya.  Habel is pictured, left, while local doctor is working on his finger.  About one week afterward, he suffered an infection, and was again treated with strong antibiotics.  We are now told that he has resumed activity and has regained full functioning of his finger.  We are sincerely grateful to the generous donations of these Rotarians who made this treatment possible.  Without this new service to our children, Habel would most certainly have lost his finger and perhaps suffered even worse consequences!!!   The organization is welcoming additional contributions to this Medical Fund in order to continue to offer ongoing health interventions to sponsored orphan children.  For more information call 561-795-2223.

The Board of Directors recently announced new options for donors motivated to give in support of our orphan children.  Due to rising costs of fuel and food in Kenya and the increased needs of our children, the board decided to offer different packages to attract sponsors who may find full sponsorship a burden… but are still motivated to lend support.  The 2010 actual costs to provide full  support per child ranged between $1300 and $1500 each, which exceeded the annual sponsorship fee of $1000.  This year we decided to offer 4 different sponsorship packages.  Full Annual Sponsorship of One Child’s Dream is now $1300; Food/Nutrition Annual Sponsorship is $1000; Annual School Fees is $500; and One Child’s Annual School Lunch is $200.  Miscellaneous donations are welcomed as well.  We have also begun two separate funds to meet additional child needs in an effort to raise their quality of life and help them succeed.  These include a Reading/Book Fund and a Medical Fund.  Any donation is welcomed to support either of these funds.   We are sincerely grateful to all of our sponsors, contributors and volunteers.  To make a donation simply click on our “Donate” button or download our donation form under the Donation Page of our website.  Thank you!

Join in a full day of fun, rugby, food, drink, music and an awesome Kid’s Corner, while giving back…on Saturday, June 18th from 9:00 am until 6:00 pm at the Harlequin’s Grounds on Ngong Road in Nairobi. The purpose of this year’s event is to reinvest in health, well-being and in the Kenyan community.  The aim is to promote a fitness agenda outside of the usual gym workouts, promote sports, particularly women’s rugby, as well as an atmosphere in which people from different backgrounds with different fitness levels can enjoy and appreciate a great and unconventional workout!  Two other very worthy causes will also benefit in addition to Dream Sponsors, Inc.  These include The Angel Centre (www.angelcentre.org) and the young players of the Kenya Harlequins.    The entry fee for spectators is just 100 KES and per team 5000 KES.  All funds after expenses will be donated directly to the charities.  We invite all our Kenyan friends to come out for a terrific day of fun and show support for our cause!  For more information contact:  Judie Mbogua at 0721510388 or Peter Ochola at 0720736105.

Dream Sponsors, Inc. is thrilled with the addition of our 16th child, Noah, age 11, living in Bunyore!  Thanks to the generosity of the Rotary Club of Wellington, Noah will now receive food, school uniforms, new bed, mosquito netting, and other basic needs.  Noah lives with his paternal grandmother in Bunyore, after both parents died…one in 2000 and the other in 2008.  We welcome Noah to the Dream Sponsors family!   He joins the other 7 youth living in the same region!

Welcome to Noah, our 16th sponsored orphan!