Help Send Serena, Cherie & Keila to Kenya This Fall

Before Serena started raising children, she made a promise to herself: each of her children would have the opportunity to take part in a mission or service trip outside the United States before turning 16.

She admits she is a little late with Keila—but this November, they are finally going.

Keila will begin her senior year this fall. Through her work at Foothold Market, she has become increasingly involved in Foothold International’s mission and has embraced the vision of supporting girls and families around the world. This trip will allow her to meet the Kenyan leaders, artisans, community workers, and families behind the work she has been helping support from Ohio.

Serena and Keila will travel with Cherie to Kenya, with stops through Ethiopia and Tanzania. Their airline tickets have already been purchased. Now we are raising $12,000 to help cover the remaining travel expenses, training costs, project support, and needs that arise while they are on the ground.

What We Will Be Doing in Kenya

This will be a working trip centered on Foothold’s current programs and long-term partnerships.

Advancing the Safe Shelter Project

We will visit Foothold International’s property and continue planning for the future rescue center for children and teens affected by trafficking, sexual violence, abuse, and exploitation.

The shelter is being developed alongside Kenyan clinicians, social workers, healthcare providers, law enforcement, and community leaders. While there, we will meet with local partners, review next steps, and continue building the relationships and systems needed to make the center safe, sustainable, and responsive to the needs of the community.

Training Adults Who Work With Children

We will also provide a three-day child mental health training for counselors, teachers, social workers, healthcare workers, and other community professionals who work directly with children.

Many of these providers serve children affected by trauma but have limited access to specialized training.

A gift of $150 sponsors one community worker for all three days of training, including instruction, materials, meals, and participation costs.

One trained provider may go on to support hundreds of children throughout their career. Our goal is to make the training accessible to people already serving children in schools, clinics, churches, and rural communities.

Supporting the Jasiri Menstrual Pad Project

We will meet with Sabina Enemutungei and the women involved in the Jasiri Project—Foothold’s reusable menstrual pad initiative.

Jasiri means bold, confident, and brave.

Through this project, local women sew reusable pads and discreet carrying bags while girls receive menstrual health education, underwear, supplies, and follow-up support. Access to menstrual products helps girls remain in school instead of missing days each month because they cannot safely manage their periods.

We will review the program, help address current needs, and plan for the next group of girls to receive supplies.

Working Alongside Our Soap and Hygiene Projects

Foothold’s soap projects support hygiene in schools, clinics, and rural communities while also creating opportunities for local women.

During the trip, we will meet with the people managing these programs, review production and distribution needs, and help strengthen the connection between soap, clean water, menstrual health, and disease prevention.

Supporting Clean Water and Rural Health

We will continue our work with local water projects, including efforts connected to rural clinics and communities.

In 2022, the Rekeke Dispensary lost access to water, forcing maternal services to stop. Through a local Rotary grant, Foothold helped restore water delivery for approximately $70 per month, allowing the clinic to reopen care for pregnant mothers and young children. Local health officials have told us that this support has saved lives.

We are now working with the health department toward a sustainable, long-term water solution for the clinic.

Visiting and Purchasing From Our Kenyan Partners

We will travel to Voi, Nairobi, and surrounding communities to visit several of the organizations and artisan groups that partner with Foothold Market.

Our visits will include:

Wildlife Works for ethically made clothing
Hadithi for handwoven baskets and purses
Local jewelry makers in Voi
Njoo Dada in Nairobi, which supports women and girls facing crisis pregnancies and difficult circumstances

We will purchase clothing, jewelry, baskets, bags, and other handmade goods directly from our partners to bring home for Foothold Market’s holiday season.

These purchases provide immediate income to Kenyan artisans and women’s groups. When the products are sold at Foothold Market, the proceeds continue supporting Foothold’s programs.

Why Taveta?

Foothold works in rural Taveta because we were invited.

Long before Foothold International was founded, we developed relationships with schools, churches, healthcare workers, and community leaders in this region. Few organizations serve these rural communities, and local leaders asked us to work alongside them.

Our role is not to arrive with outside answers. We listen, collaborate, employ local people, purchase locally, and support solutions led by those who understand their communities best.

How Your Donation Will Help

Funds raised through this campaign will help provide:

Scholarships for Kenyan child-service professionals to attend the mental health training
Training materials, meals, and venue expenses
Support for the future safe shelter and rescue center
Menstrual pads, underwear, education, and follow-up for girls
Soap and hygiene supplies for schools, clinics, and communities
Assistance for clean water projects
Travel, lodging, transportation, and other trip expenses
Flexibility to respond to urgent needs identified by our Kenyan partners

You may sponsor one community worker’s full three-day training for $150, contribute toward a project, or give any amount toward the overall $12,000 goal.

This November, Serena, Cherie, and Keila will not simply be touring Foothold’s work. They will be meeting with the people leading it, helping move current projects forward, and bringing home the stories and handmade work of our Kenyan partners.

Thank you for helping make this trip—and the work connected to it—possible.

Send Keila & Serena to Kenya in November!

Keila & Serena will join Cherie in Kenya for a Creative Mission

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