Bringing Hope to Others with Different Abilities.

Sam's journey is a story of resilience against overwhelming odds. Born with an invisible disability, Sam was left with his grandparents in the rural village of Kambiti, Wamunyu, when he was just a child. His mother moved back to the city, leaving Sam in the care of his loving grandmother, Grace. Grace devoted herself to Sam, pouring all her love and energy into caring for him. Sam, who is non-verbal and needs specialized attention, relied solely on his grandmother for his basic needs, safety, and care. Unfortunately, local schools in his village  could not accommodate Sam learning.

 When Sam turned eight, his life took a tragic turn. Grace suddenly became ill and passed away, leaving Sam in the care of his grandfather, Kioko. Devastated by the loss of his wife, Kioko took on the overwhelming responsibility of caring for Sam alone. His only help came from his son James, who worked odd jobs in Nairobi (capital city of Kenya) and occasionally provided support. But just six months after Grace's passing, James was tragically killed in a robbery. This left Kioko heartbroken and struggling to make ends meet as he took on the roles of both provider and caregiver.

GAP learned about Kioko and Sam's story in April 2024. Sam, then 11 years old, had never attended school and had spent his days alone, playing with empty water bottles, cans, and shoes while his grandfather worked whatever jobs he could find. Sam's diet was limited to two chapatis a day—the only food he would agree to eat—food that was inadequate to support his development. Through our intervention, Sam was formally diagnosed as autistic. This explained the different developmental challenges he had faced over the years. The school best suited for his needs was far away in a boarding school setting, his grandfather could not afford it, but we stood in the gap. Allowing both Sam and his grandfather a fresh start.

In June 2024, two months after meeting Sam and Kioko, we have witnessed an incredible transformation. Sam, through GAP sponsorship is attending school, learning essential skills like brushing his teeth, bathing, writing, and socializing with other children. Sam is expressive and joyful. Kioko, too, has benefited. We've connected him with mental health support, giving him peace of mind, which he had almost lost hope of finding. Kioko work is more stable, he can his basic needs. Kioko always attends the monthly parent visits to Sam's school, and pays for transportation and other incidentals.

DONATE to make life-changing stories like Sam's possible. $40 per month can stand in the gap for families like Kioko and Sam, you provide school supplies, boarding school fees, and meals for them during the holidays.