As we wave goodbye to another fantastic year, i wanted to send you our warmest holiday greetings along with a reflection on all that we have achieved together through the One Chance Fund. Your kindness has been the fuel behind the stories and successes that have unfolded.
This year, 15 students have graduated and are now preparing to join college. So far, 26 students have graduated from our program. Currently, we have 44 students enrolled - 10 have sponsors and 34 students are still waiting to be matched with a sponsor. Please consider a one-time or recurring donation to support these students who do not have a sponsor.
We were able to fulfill our commitment to provide each student with full tuition coverage, bi-annual mentoring sessions, and a student shopping to promote their comfort while in school. The $15,000 we raised allowed us to do this, with 86% going directly towards tuition, mentoring programs, and care packages. 5% was used for necessary software licensing fees. The remaining 9% covered transportation, administrative costs, equipment and branding materials.
The three-day event was an enriching experience for students and volunteers held at Olympics High School in Kibera from May 30th to July 2nd, 2023. Attendees included 16 volunteers from Kenya, South Korea, and the United States. The retreat was a vibrant celebration of culture, dance, sports, mentoring, and friendship across the three countries. In his closing speech, Pastor Lee emphasized that God's plan goes beyond the salvation of families to having a broader positive impact on the world. He passionately encouraged everyone to become beacons of light in their communities.
Thanks to 15 new sponsors and a partnership with New Hope Mukuru, the burden of covering costs for unsponsored students has eased substantially this year, though over 34 students still need support. Our youngest sponsor, 10-year-old Elizabeth, has been a true inspiration in her passion for uplifting a child much like herself.
As we head into 2024, we hope to cultivate deeper bonds between sponsors and their sponsored students by providing more communication opportunities to share updates, photos, and stories. We envision starting a $20,000 bakery project at Olympics High School - this will become a hub for entrepreneurial skills-building while generating income to enrich school programs. We also plan to expand mentorship offerings so students can meet with professionals quarterly for wellbeing discussions and advice that we hope to profile; and seeking more partners to help with fundraising and work towards long-term sustainability of One Chance Fund.
As we close the book on 2023, words cannot fully express our sincere gratitude for your compassion and selflessness. We remain committed to supporting our students, but we cannot do it without partners like you by our side. As a valued friend, we welcome your ideas, your voice, and your connections to help broaden our community further. Please know that you have an open invitation to visit our schools and witness firsthand the fruits of our shared love.
Wishing you a peaceful and happy holiday season and new year! Let's make 2024 our most impactful year yet for One Chance Fund!
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