What started out as a safari to Kenya for my husband Chad and I, with some volunteering visits planned at local schools and orphanages, ended up leaving me with this feeling that I was determined to help this cause I am talking to you about today. Many people know I’ve been dreaming about traveling to Africa all of my life. A few people will ever understand how this trip touched my heart in ways that are indescribable, but I will do the best I can to explain how this respite from reality changed my outlook on life. It brings me to tears just writing this. 

My unrelenting desire to learn about new culture and interest in international adoption first led us to an orphanage in a small village near Lewa Conservancy. The orphanage was as to be expected; no electricity or running water, outdoor toilets, and a perpetual struggle for nourishing food as well as clean drinking water for the 42 children living there. The stories of how the children ended up there was more gut wrenching than the conditions of the orphanage though. Many of these children, who ranged from 3-15 years old, had parents that died of HIV/AIDS, others had successfully escaped from their parents who tried to kill them, and some were just simply found; abandoned by families who could not care for them. 

The most incredible take away was that these children were happier and more grateful for what they had than most people, myself included. They were eager to introduce themselves and tell us their age, and elated to have visitors to sing and dance with. They were happy to see people not just donating their time and resources to them, but genuinely feeling loved and cared for. They were truly just happy. It broke my heart when learning that many of those orphans we met will likely never have the opportunity to be a part of a family, be educated, or have a career. I honestly felt defeated. 

We traveled to other parts of Kenya for our safari, but I continued to ask myself what I could do to help. Then we met Claudia over a campfire at our final destination in the Mara. Claudia was hesitant to share her incredible story and details about her charity with us, but I’ll be forever grateful she did.  I cannot help but believe that we were brought together for a reason. 

Her charity is called Teach a Child Africa (TaC). In Africa, many children are excluded from secondary education (9-12) because their families are unable to raise the necessary funds. In response, the charity ‘Teach a Child – Africa‘ (TaC) works in areas where there is a high prevalence of HIV/AIDS to enable orphaned and other vulnerable children from poor families to attend secondary school. 

TaC pays school fees and provides uniforms and other essentials to help these children fulfill their academic potential and escape from an impending life of poverty. These children go through an extensive application process, one where Claudia personally goes to every applicant’s home to make sure the children qualify for the program. 

Claudia was not advertising her charity until we continued to badger her with hundreds of questions. She had just finished hand selecting which children would benefit from TaC. Out of 80 qualified applicants, the organization was only able to offer 24 children the opportunity for further education due to a lack of funding. 

Every year, TaC selects new beneficiaries to start secondary school, based on their academic potential and economic as well as social situation. 148 young people have already completed the program, which was started in 2008. Twenty one of the alumni have completed their post secondary education, many have already found formal employment, while others have even started their own business.

I cannot help but believe I was meant to meet Claudia. There is a deep seeded feeling that we met so I could spread the word about Teach a Child-Africa, and raise money to help more applicants in the upcoming school years. 

If you have any questions, I would be happy to provide you with more information about how you can help support TaC or give you Claudia’s contact information.  I also welcome you to visit the TaC website Teach a Child Africa.

My goal is to raise $5600, which is 4 years of secondary tuition for two students. For every $5600 raised, Chad and I are going to contribute an additional $1000 ourselves. If you wish to contribute, please use the “Just Giving” donate link on my page. 

Just Giving will send the money I raise directly to Teach a Child Africa every week. No one makes a profit off of these donations as everyone is a volunteer who works with TaC.

Thank you so much for the support. 

Love,

Ashley Chafee