The Vision
Staff of Hope was started in 2001 by a group of seminary students in response to a severe drought in East Africa. This disaster forced the displacement of one of their classmates' families. Failing to find another organization that was able to assist with long term solutions in the Southern Kenya area, this small group formed Staff of Hope.
The organization has grown since that time, guided by a vision of helping people lift themselves from poverty with sustainable long term solutions and becoming resilient to events like drought, famine and economic shock.
These goals are achieved through 3 main focus areas:
1. Water
Access to clean water is a necessity for life, but for those in East Africa, it often comes at a great cost. Climate and geography contribute to making consisent water supplies a scarce commondity. Well drilling is the quickest, most economical and lasting method for providing reliable and safe water.
Well drilling in this area is difficult. Remote sites and depth requirements often in excess of 500 feet require special equipment and skill. Staff of Hope has acquired both by carefully managing capital investment and developing the talent and experience of drilling personnel. With the rare combination of close ties to served communities and advanced drilling capabilities, Staff of Hope is positioned to best match needs with resources.
2. Education
A key element of making the next generation of Africa self-sufficient is education. Going beyond simple literacy, our goal is to prepare young people to make significant contributions to their families and society at large.
In 2007 Staff of Hope completed the Oloile Secondary School in Kimana, Kenya. With a student population of nearly 200, Oloile fills a critical gap in the availability of education, especially for girls. In 2012, Staff of Hope completed the addition of a 100-bed girls dorm to extend access to even more at-risk students.
3. Christian Leadership Development
Staff of Hope works to empower, develop and mentor local Christian pastors and other leaders by providing increased access to useful resources and teaching. It is our hope to walk beside these local Christian leaders so they may better serve their churches and their own communities.
We will host a Pastor's Training Seminar at Oloile Secondary School in August 2020.
