Miles for Makena

Kenya is home to one of the world’s worst HIV and AIDS epidemics. Approximately 1.5 million people are living with HIV, and an estimated 1 million children have been orphaned by the virus.

Founded in 1997 by Sherri Mills.

In 1995 Sherri made her first trip to Kenya. As she learned about the people, their culture, values and the challenges they face, she was inspired to help. She asked Peter Muigai Muruthi, her guide on the trip, what she could do , and he quickly provided the answer: Help the children learn, nothing more.

These proud people were not looking for a handout or for charity, they simply wanted help to achieve and education which would allow them to help their families and their village to see a brighter future..

Peter had grown up in a very poor family. He knew firsthand the difference education can make in the life of a Kenyan child.

When friends and family heard about Sherri’s plans to help, they wanted to join in providing financial support for the education of two Kenyan children. Both were members of large families. Both also had suffered the loss of a parent.

That’s how it began.

Since 1997 the Makena Children’s Foundation has devoted itself to helping to provide support and education to the children.

Makena has only one paid staff member. Charles Karanja, raised in the village of Maraigushu, who accepts little and helps greatly to organize efforts and support the children as they further their education  by attending elementary and secondary boarding school....The village of Maraigushu, a subsistence village already impoverished, has been particularly hard hit. The impact on the orphaned children is incalculable.

Today the Makena Foundation provides education, support and hope for the children of one small village, a seemingly simple task but one that takes commitment and funding beyond the capabilities of a few family members and friends.

With no paid staff in the U.S. the Foundation is dedicated to ensuring that every penny goes directly to the village which so desperately needs the help, with your assistance we can make a difference.

Brenda and Ken will be hiking 100 miles, if you can pledge just $5.00 per mile it would be enough to make a lifelong difference to the children of Maraigushu; an education, a job and the ability to show others a path to a way of life beyond their dreams.

Our goal is simple, we don’t seek to fund the Red Cross or the Cancer Society; we simply want to help one helpless orphan to help others to leave a life of poverty and hopelessness and make a difference in one life at a time.

Please give what you can, $5.00, $2.50, $1.00 or $0.50 EVERYTHING helps and every child is worth the effort.

Thank you,

Brenda and Ken