Thank you for all your care and concern for Alice, Abdi (returning to the US on the 7th), their families and the Kenyan children. I have been in constant contact with Alice and Abdi and they are safe in the Karen section of Nairobi.

The current troubles in Kenya are reminiscent of the civil rights struggles in the US in the 1950's and 1960's as the poorest of the poor revolt against feelings of despair, hopelessness and injustice.

An important goal of our school has always been to include representation from many of the 40+ tribes in Kenya.  The recent troubles clearly indicate the importance of ethnic diversity to build unity and lasting peace in Kenya.

I am reminded of Martin Luther King's "Where Do We Go From Here" speech in which he stressed "the futility of violence" yet called for action:  "Let us be dissatisfied until the tragic walls that separate the outer city of wealth and comfort and the inner city of poverty and despair shall be crushed by the battering rams of the forces of justice. Let us be dissatisfied until those that live on the outskirts of hope are brought into the metropolis of daily security. Let us be dissatisfied until slums are cast into the junk heaps of history, and every family is living in a decent sanitary home."

This is easier said than done especially when half of Kenyan's 37 million people are under the age of 15, one million (1,000,000!) are orphans and only 3% of the country gets a college education. Despite these odds, the Kenyan children want to learn, they want to succeed, they just need a chance. As we know in the US, we must connect with these children in primary school or the latest middle school, as high school is too late.  In Kenya less than 50% of children go to high school.

As I sat with Abdi in a class of 77 third graders in Kirima Primary School two miles from our school last January, the children were happy and they wanted to learn.  They need smaller classes, their individual books not shared with 5 others, and they need clean water and consistent meals. Our mostly orphan population, needs love, direction and opportunity as education breaks the cycle of poverty as the Beverly School becomes their home.

While our groundbreaking for the dormitory, school building and guest house was delayed a few days, the Beverly School is happening!  Peace will prevail in Kenya; we need your support, we need your prayers and these Kenyan children need a chance!

I will provide a further update in two weeks when I intend to return to Kenya to assist Alice and report on the construction status, the selection of our students and the recruitment of teachers.

All the best,

Tom