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Our Story

Our History

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Melanie volunteered at Upendo for 4 months and fell in love with the children she met.
2009
 2006

Melanie began hosting annual fundraisers to help fund Upendo operations.

Melanie volunteered for the Global Diabetes Initiative in Uganda.

While in Uganda she met Deo Kagimu, the founder of Good Hope Initiative.  The first time they met was when she went to distribute mosquito nets.  She met a little girl, Evelyn, who needed surgery.  Melanie and Deo worked together to get Evelyn the medical treatment she needed.  During that time Melanie pledged to continue to help the children of Good Hope. 

2011
In 2011, Melanie, Melissa and Trish visited Upendo and the Good Hope Initiative together for the first time.

From this trip, EACH was born! EACH was incorporated in the state of New York in November of 2011 and earned federal 501c3 official tax-exempt charity status the following January.

2013
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In 2013, Melissa and Melanie returned to check on the progress since 2011.

Since their last visit, the construction of a new permanent classroom at GHI had begun and permanent bathrooms for the students were completed.

2014
EACH began it’s Sponsor a Girl program in Kenya with 4 inaugural girls.
2016
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13 girls started secondary school at Upendo and 4 new permanent classrooms were constructed at GHI, the borehole EACH funded in 2015 continues to supply water for the entire community.
2018
EACH sponsored 29 secondary and post secondary students and educates over 900 primary school students.
2020
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EACH provided COVID relief for students and foster families so that schools could reopen.

EACH coordinator Joan Omini  developed an online mentorship program to provide emotional support due to COVID.

Fifteen of our students from GHI attended secondary school. At Upendo, five students attended secondary school and a record number, 17 girls, attended college or university.

2021
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The 15 Pioneers were able to begin their Advanced Certificates.

In Kenya, 3 of our girls graduated college and 5 graduated from primary school.  
2022
 

 25 students were working toward undergraduate degrees and advanced certificates, and 5 students pursued their secondary school education

 

EACH provided support to help our communities withstand the hardships related to the global inflation and the food crisis due to the drought and war as well as the Ugandan Ebola outbreak.

EACH's sponsorship program grew to over 30 students. 
 
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2023
 
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EACH funded the construction of biogas toilets, connected Good Hope to electricity and opened an entrepreneurship program in Kenya.
 
The Pioneers completed their final year of their Advanced Certificate degrees, giving them the foundation they need to obtain their Bachelor’s Degree and five EACH students graduated from college or university. 
Present
Every year, more and more female students in rural Kenya drop out of school due to lack of access to the feminine hygiene products they need.

EACH's Keeping Girls In School initiative is providing reusable feminine hygiene supplies to students in need, allowing them to remain in school . 
This initiative has been made possible with the collaboration of PLIKEN, Mia Jolie Vasquez and the New Fairfield Leos Club of Connecticut.  
 

Ways to Help

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SUPPORT

OUR  MISSION

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START A

FUNDRAISER

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BE AN

AMBASSADOR

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