Donate a Desk and Change a Life

What an amazing summer it has been! At the Collective for Orphan Care and Education (COCE), we began raising money in March to build two classrooms in Nangina Village, which is located in rural western Kenya. By the end of May, both classrooms were built. Then came the task of filling them with desks and chairs. On June 1, 2020, we started our crowdfunding project "Donate a Desk and Change a Life" and as of July 1, 2020, we met our goal of $3,800!

Having this microproject fully funded means that students will not only have an individual desk to sit in, but we can also support the local economy through our purchase of materials and labor. In August, we will work with a local carpenter to buy materials and begin building the 90 total desks needed for students using these classrooms. When the desks are completed, we will send an update with photos so you can see the final result.

We want to thank all of our donors for their generosity because, without you, children would be sitting on concrete floors to learn. Your investment in children and their education means the world to them, and to us at COCE.

While COCE will have the desks constructed this fall, the Kenyan government has mandated that schools will not reopen until January 2021. Virtual learning is not an option for most students in Kenya, due to lack of internet access, electricity, and technology devices. Moreover, many poor students are struggling to survive due to lack of food as a result of COVID-19. Rural Kenyans do not have access to food pantries or safety net programs. At COCE, over the next several months we will be working to establish a Student Assistance Fund to support students and their families through the provision of food, hygiene, and basic health care needs. As we gear up for this new project campaign, we hope that you will consider joining us in these efforts.

Thank you for your continued support of our children. You have made a difference beyond what you can even imagine.

Gratefully yours,