Exciting news from Kupenda!

 “For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in…”

Mathew 25:35

Dear Friends,

I have exciting news! Thanks to an amazing matching grant, any new contributions to Kupenda will be doubled….up to $150,000! It enables us to hire a development coordinator who is projected to triple our income over the next 3 years. This means any new contributions could now triple or more! Please share this news with your friends and invite them to reach children much of the world has forgotten.

This matching grant and new position means more children with disabilities will have renewed hope, access to education, provision of medical services, and inclusion in communities that once shunned them. This is an especially important development as our friends in Kenya are facing a difficult year. In addition to political strife connected to the upcoming elections, severe food shortages are expected in the coming months. Children with disabilities will suffer more than most if we don’t take immediate action. Tumaini is one of these children so it is fitting that his name means “hope”.

Leonard, our Kenya director, met 8 year old Tumaini while facilitating a gathering of community leaders to discuss disability issues in an impoverished area of Kilifi County. Tumaini was severely malnourished, weak, and lacked sufficient services for his special needs. He has cerebral palsy and exhibits signs of autism. We arranged for him to enroll in a special boarding school which will provide him with nutrition, therapy, education, a walker, and a caring environment. Your contributions enabled us to find Tumaini and provide support. Children like this young boy are impacted more than most when food is scarce so the anticipated famine is especially concerning to us.

The area where Tumaini lives did not get the annual rainfall they expect last April and May for the first time in 10 years. As a result, the staple crops that normally get the community through much of the year will not grow, and many will go hungry. In an average year, Tumaini’s mother works hard to support her family of 9 with what little she earns making charcoal. To provide just basic nutrition costs almost $3 a day for her family. That sounds like so little until we learn she will make an average of 50 cents a day…on a good day. Due to these dire circumstances, this year will become increasingly difficult for so many like them.

During crisis situations, children with disabilities are often overlooked but we will not let that happen. Kupenda has started strategically working with other community leaders to ensure that children with disabilities are provided with the food they need during this critical time. Because of your support, our efforts have already resulted in deliveries of food to special needs schools. We are also calling a large meeting of local organizations and religious leaders to determine a strategy for providing food to these children when they go home for two months during the Christmas holidays. If we do all we can now, we may save vulnerable children from starvation as the impact of the drought worsens. Will you help us reach more children with disabilities during this challenging year?

If you, or a friend commit to giving $30 a month, it will become $60 a month immediately and $90 over the next three years. Think about it. That’s just $1 a day, less than the cost of the most basic Starbuck’s coffee. One dollar a day tripled equates feeding Tumaini’s whole family! Remember, any new contribution will be immediately doubled and potentially tripled! Give $100, and it turns into $200…$500 turns into $1,000 and $5,000 turns into $10,000! The more new donations we receive the more the grantor gives so tell your friends about this opportunity to bring hope to thousands like Tumaini!

Donate here today and save lives!

With much love and appreciation,

Cynthia

Cynthia R Bauer

Founder/Director

Kupenda for the Children

PO Box 473 Hampton NH 03843

978-626-1625

[email protected]

www.kupenda.org