About Imani4Change

The Beginnings of Anchored Hope

In October 2002, Bev traveled from Wisconsin to Kenya to attend her son Scott's wedding. Scott, a missionary in Sudan and Kenya, was marrying Josephine, a Kenyan woman he met while working on a church-building project. Before Bev left Wisconsin, her friend Shirley gave her $50 to buy food for a needy family. Bev and Josephine's mother, Jennifer, used this donation to purchase food for five very needy families. When Bev returned to Wisconsin, she shared her experiences with her congregation, which inspired a $700 donation to support more families in Kenya. This act of generosity led to the founding of Anchored Hope.

2002-2005: Partnership with Victory Community Project

In 2002, Anchored Hope partnered with Victory Community Project in the Kware slums. This initiative provided a safe space for pre-school children who were struggling with neglect and hunger. Due to a lack of funding, the program was unable to provide food for the 80-120 children who gathered daily.

Anchored Hope stepped in as the feeding program arm, offering two healthy meals and two snacks per day. This support helped the children grow, thrive, and prepare for primary school by learning basic reading and writing skills.

Anchored Hope also launched a micro-finance project for the parents of the children attending the center. Many of these parents, about 90% of whom were single, were involved in brewing alcohol and prostitution. Anchored Hope encouraged them to contribute 50 Kenyan shillings per week (half a day's wage at the time) to create a pool of money for short-term micro-finance loans to start small businesses. Initially resistant, more parents and community members participated as they witnessed the success of those who chose to engage, empowering them to move away from brewing and prostitution.

In 2005, a British priest sponsored Victory Community Project, relocating it to a larger facility outside the slum. Anchored Hope then sought a new project to support.

2005-2017: Establishment of a School in Kiserian

Slums In 2005, Anchored Hope established a school for pre-K to 3rd-grade children in the Kiserian slums, providing education to children facing challenges similar to those in the Kware slums. This initiative transformed the community and offered hundreds of students the opportunity to pursue primary education. 2007: Nonprofit Registration In 2007, Anchored Hope was registered in the United States as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization under the name Imani Yako Incorporated (doing business as Imani4Change).

2017-Present: Transition to Maasai Communities

In 2017, the Kenyan government shut down many private schools to encourage attendance at public schools. Unfortunately, Anchored Hope was one of the schools affected. However, we are grateful for the 17 years of incredible impact and influence in the Kiserian slums.

Later in 2017, God opened a new opportunity for us to work with Maasai communities. The Maasai, indigenous to Kenya, strive to maintain their cultural heritage while minimizing Western influence. This community faces many challenges, including malnutrition (as they are nomads), lack of formal education, early marriages, and high mortality rates for young mothers and babies. Anchored Hope is committed to addressing these issues and supporting the Maasai people in their journey towards sustainable development.