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To share hope by demonstrating God's love through partnerships with communities of East Africa, empowering them to meet their own spiritual, physical, educational and economic needs. 
It all started in August 2000 when two Fuller Seminary students, Moses Pulei and Jeff Spainhour, sat down just to eat lunch and share about Moses’ recent trip to his native Kenya. Moses and his new wife Brittany went to Kenya expecting to find a party to celebrate their marriage. Instead, they found severe famine. As Moses told Jeff about the situation in Kenya among his people Jeff quickly realized that “this is an opportunity for us to love our neighbors”. After several more meetings and prayer they decided to share the story of the drought with some friends from seminary. David Moore and others came together to meet, pray, and look for a way to help. While meeting, they felt God was telling them not to just put a temporary bandage over the situation, but to walk with the Kenyans over a long time period of time. This small group was able to raise enough money to purchase and ship a drill from
More then just projects, Staff of Hope is different than other organizations because our primary focus is on relationships. We work side by side, sweating together, not just to put up new buildings, but to cultivate neighbors, people who really know and care for each other. We eat at the homes of our friends in east Africa, not as guests but truly as family. We regularly share in the lives of our friends in We truly count it a privilege to tell the stories of our friends in east Africa. We are moved and humbled to be joined by so many just like you. Each year we have grown in the number of supporters and the scope of our mission. Please tell your friends and family about this mission so we may continue to grow and better partner with those in east Africa. We are excited about the future. With your support we continue to develop the programs for education, medical services and clean water access. Together we are truly having a positive impact in east Africa. Your generosity has rapidly grown our capacity to serve those in east Africa from the humble beginnings of a handful of seminary students just a few years ago. What an exciting time to be in this community where people from the USA and east Africa are united in relationships to empower communities of hope for today and tomorrow. Thank you and way to go!!!
Relationships of trust that honor the traditions of the community is the foundation from which Staff of Hope works. Activities such as supplying water in dry areas create opportunities for Christian witness and provides for peoples’ spiritual needs as well as their physical needs. Our goal is to minister to and empower the people on multiple levels. To achieve a holistic plan of ministry we will focus on four major areas as listed below.
These areas build on one another, beginning with water and progressing through Spiritual Care. Staff of Hope looks to partner with existing ministries to truly build for the future.
In support of our holistic plan to address the needs of the communities we serve, Staff of Hope is currently focusing on the region along the Kenyan/Tanzanian border, roughly within 50 miles of Kilimanjaro (see below). View Larger Map Primary Health Care-
In many of these communities access to clean water is fleeting and at best met by a daily arduous effort of walking over 5 miles each way to contaminated sources. This is traditionally done by women and children. As a result, water borne disease is epidemic and contributes to over 80% of deaths in children under 10.
Staff of Hope specializes in drilling deep-water wells (in excess of 200 meters) needed in this area to reach underground aquifers. Each of these wells has provided access to clean drinking water to over 350 households. In addition to the enormous health benefits, these new sources of clean water have spurred local economic growth by supporting livestock and improved crop yields. Our drilling operation also provides over a dozen jobs for the local team of dedicated drillers, mechanics, and laborers. In addition to clean water access, Staff of Hope has also built a community medical clinic in the town of Karero in our focus area. Opening in 2008, this much-needed medical facility will serve as many as 10,000 people who would otherwise go without even the most basic medical care.
Education
For decades research has shown that the best way for Africa to thrive is to ensure that its women have the freedom, power, and knowledge to make decisions affecting their own lives and those of their families and communities. The best strategy to help Africa is helping the rural farmer and her husband.
Concentrating on educating young women, Staff of Hope founded the Oloile Secondary School in Kimana Kenya. Opening in 2007, Oloile provides high school level education to over 200 students, most of whom who would otherwise enter the work force or marriage. Oloile has quickly grown from a vacant field to a campus of 6 class rooms, science lab and a dining hall that provides daily meals to students. In addition to academics Oloile offers students extracurricular activities including societies, clubs and athletic teams. The school boasts high levels of student participation, most notably two female student track athletes who rank among the top in the country. In addition to operating Oloile, Staff of Hope sponsors students throughout the region at both the high school and university levels. By promoting education in these communities, many students are able to have the opportunity for education largely unavailable previously in their families and communities.
To see a few stories of those we serve see our video page here.
Economic Development
As a largely agrarian society, the economy of the area we serve relies heavily on crops and livestock. Staff of Hope has a well establish program providing goats and other agricultural grants and loans to move many families and communities from subsistence to self-sufficiency. By seeding key initiatives like initial livestock for breeding, and farming equipment to improve productivity, many local farmers are able to provide for themselves and reduce the risks associated with recurrent droughts and famine.
While overseeing many projects, Staff of Hope is not a project organization. We address the needs of the communities we serve through what ever means are appropriate. These are just a few of the ways we reach out to the people of East Africa and build the relationships and partnerships necessary to alleviate suffering and lift these communities from poverty. |
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Empowering Neighbors
Since the founding of Staff of Hope, a hand full of people has grown to ignite a vision uniting scores of churches, corporations, government officials and many people throughout the 