75 bags of maize, and a widow's new business

75 bags of maize, about 15,000 lbs

Our farm staff worked hard this month processing the maize harvest: 75 bags of about 200 lbs each, 2,000 more pounds than last year. Here's where it goes:

• Feeding our programs: it will feed the children and families in our programs all year, cutting our food costs just as last year's harvest did.
• Blessing widows: 15% of the harvest goes directly to the widows in our program, so their households are fed.
• Sustaining the future: the rest is sold to pay for next year's seed and planting, and any surplus covers program costs.

A widow's new business

A widow in our program has launched a new business. Before she opened, our program director and social worker took her through small business training and financial literacy coaching, and we bought her starting inventory. She now sells new and thrifted clothing at a busy outdoor market.

As our director put it: "You have restored her dignity!"

Medical program

Last month we asked you to pray for a young boy in our medical program as he traveled to Nairobi for mobility surgery. The surgery went well. He's healing at home and will return to Nairobi with our team for a follow-up, then begin physical therapy with the hope of walking.

Julius, our Kenyan founder, has now completed all his surgeries after his motorbike accident earlier this year, and is starting physical therapy to learn to walk again.

An important need: the Education Gap

When Waweza began, most of our children were in primary school, where costs were low. Today most are in high school, trade programs, college and university. Each student has one or two faithful sponsors, but rising tuition means sponsorships no longer cover the full cost.

We're raising funds for high school, trade school and university tuition, so every student can reach the finish line of a degree or certificate.

We don't post photos of the children in our care. The photos in our updates show our staff, the widows in our program and the farm.