GFA Founder Betsy King along with LPGA pros Suzanne Strudwick, Susie Corona and Stacey Lewis, embarked on a journey to Africa to reach out and touch the lives of others. Also joining this amazing group of women are Robin McInnis and Lori Ogren of Southern California, Carol Lewis of The Woodlands, Texas, Anna Sosa and Kathryn Compton of World Vision, Lynne Vanommeren and GFA Vice-president, Debbie Quesada of Scottsdale.
Eight members of the group started the journey in Kenya and the rest will join up in Rwanda on December 6th and continue to South Africa and Lesotho from there.
The first day in Kenya the group visited the Heshima Children’s Center, a school for special needs children located in a slum area of Nairobi. The school was founded by Tracey Haggman, an American who has lived in Kenya for the past nine years. Heshima means “dignity” in Swahili. Dignity is so important as the handicapped are often shunned by their communities as being cursed. The mothers are cast aside and have very little hope of living productive lives while caring for their disabled children. The center gives the kids and their mother’s dignity and hope by providing the care that they need to enrich their lives.
» Heshima Children’s Center Photos
Heshima provides two meals a day, special education and many other services to the kids while giving the mothers jobs making beautiful jewelry to help fund the center.
The group had the opportunity to play with the children, feed them lunch and accompany them on a field trip to a giraffe sanctuary. Hasbro generously donated toys which thrilled the kids. The mothers participated by demonstrating their jewelry making talents and singing and dancing.
The hope and joy the center brings to these wonderful people was so inspiring!
