Orphans in Kenya are Volunteer Teachers Thanks to US - Kenya Non-profit Organizations Partnership

Near Lake Victoria in Kenya, there are broken families due to poverty and HIV/AIDS. Yet, once hopeless orphans from these families are thriving as STARS, "Students Transforming Africa Renewing Society". They have hope thanks to a partnership between Kenya's St. Luke's International and U.S. non-profit STARS Children Africa. The partnership educates and mentors orphans to be leaders.

Earlier in 2010, 37 STARS graduated from high school and qualified to go on to higher education. Now 15 of them are being leaders as they voluntarily teach poor and orphaned children. Two such STARS Volunteers are Beldine and Derrick who teach high school girls.

Beldine's parents died when she was a toddler, as one of five children. She had to stay with an uncle. Beldine loves helping other girls and desires to attend college to become a nurse.

Derrick became head of the house while in primary school after his father left his pregnant mom, who died shortly after childbirth. With no help from relatives, he thought of dying but changed his mind because of his younger brother and baby sister. An uncle finally took them in. Derrick passed the high school entrance exam but could not afford the fees. Derrick now says, "I am grateful … thousands of age-mates cannot go because of the cost…but through STARS Children Africa and St. Luke's I am full of hope for my future." His goal is to pursue higher education in theology and business.

Ken Prussner, President of STARS Children Africa, says, "Thanks to STARS Children Africa supporters, we have enabled 70 Kenyan orphans to receive high school education since 2003. Our 2011 goal is to raise $18,900. These funds will support 10 boy and girl STARS in high school and, for the first time, enable the 15 STARS Volunteers to begin their higher education. Classes start in January 2011 so we need your help now. Every dollar goes directly to educating these remarkable orphans. Learn more at www.starschildren.org."