Andy and Heidi Walz

Why We Sponsor

We were lucky to have had the opportunity to volunteer with an Ngong Road camp in Kenya a number of years ago...we saw first hand an organization changing hundreds of lives with a small budget and an extremely dedicated team of staff and volunteers. On previous trips we worked with organizations 10 times the size who weren't nearly as effective. We decided to sponsor as way to show our support to the organization but quickly learned there was much more to it.

The Ngong Road Children Association has encouraged a relationship that has formed between us and the children we sponsor. Through visits and letter writing we have gotten to know Francis and Purity. We've seen first hand how big of a difference the relatively little support we provide makes and have truly enjoyed getting to know them.

One of the first letters Francis wrote us said "I am sorry about Michael Jackson.  Hope you loved him to."  In each letter they update us on school and their families, and decorate it so beautifully with drawings. In our lives, which are now so full of email, text messages, tweets, and other instant communications, getting these letters is like a breath of fresh air. We smile every time.

On our latest visit to Nairobi, we took Francis and Purity out shopping and to lunch.  We saw Francis ride an escalator for the first time!  He told us about his aspirations of attending Oxford University, his adventures with boy scouts, and the Harry Potter book series that he had just finished reading. Purity spoke about her dream of becoming a surgeon, friends at school, her baby brother, and exams.  She asked Heidi good questions about her job as a doctor in the USA.  Getting to know these kids and exploring current events, cultural differences, and life milestones together through letters is an experience that has brought us more joy then we ever expected.