Those responsible for the attack – Islamic extremist group al-Shabaab from Somalia – knew they were hitting a high-profile symbol of Kenya’s economic power in booming Africa, and that has been drawing lots of foreign investment. After generations of problems besetting African nations, from poverty and disease to civil war and oppressive regimes, countries like Kenya are on an upward rise economically. But insurgents and violent episodes like this, which tap into conflict, inequality and poverty, threaten to halt the forward gains.

Which is all the more reason to look at the bright side of hope in a place like Kenya, and to support grassroots efforts that will help give the next generation there an education, a way out, and a brighter future.

The face of such hope can be found in a girl like Maggie, who lives at St. Monica’s Home for girls just outside Nairobi. The 40-plus kids at St. Monica’s are supported by Mothers Fighting for Others (MFFO), which recruits sponsors and raises money to ensure that all the girls living there can go to school and have nutritious meals and proper medical care. These girls are either orphaned, or have family members who are too poor to care for them.

Maggie, 18, just received a laptop donated by MFFO, as she graduates from high school and prepares to enter Law School in January 2014. Other high school graduates also received laptops as they take on the opportunity of higher education: Irene is pursuing a degree in Accounting, and Anne in Child Development. This amazing feat would not have been possible without such a home and foundation support.

MFFO was started by Rocky Turner, a wife and mother of six who stumbled upon St. Monica’s home while doing a google search on volunteering in Africa, back in 2006. A few months later Rocky was volunteering through Global Volunteer Network, where she met and fell in love with the girls of St. Monica’s for the first time.

“Let’s just say I will never be the same woman, let alone Mother again,” Rocky says. “This was the beginning of a path that I had no idea I was on. These girls that I met were strangers to me when I arrived. By the time I left, they were my daughters.”

Rocky went back home a different person – one who started a new nonprofit organization dedicated solely to supporting these girls, and empowering them for a better future.

While she realized that while there were many needs for clothing, school support and daily necessities, by and large the greatest need the girls have is simply to be loved. “I was never alone. I was never without a child holding my hand or under my arm. That first trip was overwhelming. It was difficult to remember names and what grades they were in. Now, six years later, I know each and every one of them. I know how tough and feisty Ann is when she feels she’s been wronged and I know how Winnie puts up a front when she is sad and hurting. They are all survivors.”

On Saturday, October 12, MFFO will be hosting its first Annual Calendar Ball. The Mardi Gras themed evening will change lives, and Rocky hopes that the gala will raise the money needed to support 100% of the girls at St. Monica’s for a full year. NBC News Anchor Chris Schaubel will be the emcee of the evening, which will include a silent auction, DJ, hors d’oerves and a cash bar.

All donations to MFFO are tax deductible. Tickets can be secured at http://scvball13.eventbrite.com.

Fighting for a better Kenya for girls such as Maggie is possible – and this is the way to do it.

All proceeds benefit the orphaned girls at Saint Monicas Children’s Home in Nairobi, Kenya. Our goal: Support 100% of their needs for 1 year.

How can you help?

Easy. Join us for a fun filled evening of celebration and fundraising. 

Order Tickets Online By Clicking Here!!

Ticket Cost? Bring a bottle of wine for “Wine Cellar” raffle, or simply make any donation of your choosing.

WHERE?

The Bjorkman’s Residence
21077 Placerita Canyon Rd
Santa Clarita, CA 91321

We’ll have a DJ, complimentary beer & wine,  & substantial hors d’oeuvres will also be served.

Help by bidding on a variety of silent and live auction items.

Dress for the evening is business casual.

- – -

Event Emcee:
NBC Anchor, Chris Schaubel

Contributions to Mothers Fighting For Others are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law. MFFO is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization (EIN/tax ID number: 26-0320699).

The wonderful MFFO Team in Maryland did such an amazing job. It was held at the Kentlands Clubhouse in Montgomery County on November 3rd. Delicious food and great wine were served as the silent auction and raffle ticket sales went on. Jeff Turner, the head of the Board of Directors and MFFO, took all the guests on MFFO’s journey as he presented a very emotional presentation of its history. Many of the guests were taken back by the passion and dedication that each of the volunteers bring everyday to MFFO and the girls at Saint Monica Children’s Home. All of their hard work paid off as well. Over $33,000 was raised on this one amazing night!

I would also like to thank Billy McGee for taking such fantastic photos throughout the night! Thank you for documenting this beautiful night for us!

I would like to send a huge THANK YOU to Audrey Forshey again, who heads the East Coast Team, and HER ENTIRE VOLUNTEER TEAM, who work throughout the year to make this not just a huge success, but a powerful, loving, passionate night for everyone who cares so much about MFFO and the girls at Saint Monica’s. I’M THANKFUL TO CALL YOU MY FRIENDS AND I LOVE YOU VERY MUCH!

*to see all the pictures from the night, check out Billy McGee’s Photography at BabyBluesProductions

The girls go back to school next week to finish the 2012 school year! This is a very challenging time of the year. The girls need to go over all that they have learned over the past eight months and prepare for end of year finals. School is so challenging and competitive in Kenya and we know our girls at Saint Monica’s will be working very hard. We just wanted to wish them well and send love and support their way!

Good luck girls! Work hard and make yourselves proud!

I tend to travel to places where I know someone with local connections, since that always provides greater exposure and understanding of a local culture. All the circles aligned and Rocky (who needs no introduction here) happened to be traveling to the orphanage the same month Dan and I were organizing our journey to Africa. I’ve known Jeff Turner a long time, and had met Rocky several times at real estate conferences but hadn’t had a chance to spend much time with her. When I think of people I respect and look up to in this world, Jeff and Rocky are at the top of the list. Being able to visit Nairobi and spend some time at Saint Monica’s while Rocky was there was simply too good of an opportunity to pass up.

What exactly did Dan and I do at Saint Monica’s?

I believe the photos above tells the story quite well — we painted. You can see from the photos that the walls in the common area and hallway are quite high. 25 feet high in places. I tell you, obtaining a 20 foot ladder in Nairobi is not what it is in the United States. It’s not as simple as driving down to the local Home Depot (that doesn’t exist) and returning 30 minutes later with a brand new ladder. Instead, the process was a full day endeavor for a local to track one down and borrow a truck to transport it back to the orphanage, and if my memory serves me correctly, the ladder ended up costing about $250. It wasn’t the sturdiest ladder you’ve ever seen – reminding me of the ladders my dad had 15 years ago more than the standard reinforced ladders you are accustomed to seeing in home improvement stores. That said, all that really matters is that it got the job done.

The passion for the girls and the orphanage bleeds through Rocky’s online persona, but seeing the 34 girls took that understanding to a whole new level. It was a powerful reminder to me that life is about a lot more than money. The facility has enough room for all the girls, yet I heard other Kenyan orphanages put 3 times the number of children into the same space and sleep 50 in one room (as opposed to 10-12). I also heard that there are still Kenyan babies abandoned regularly or left outside a church for a priest to attend to because the mother can’t provide for the child. Clearly there is a great demand for quality orphanages in Kenya, and it was great to see & learn first hand how a great Kenyan orphanage is run (and help them out a bit in the process).

Aside from painting, Dan and I also geeked out a bit with Rocky, Maria, and Deborah.

When thinking through possible organizations to volunteer with or donate to — I simply couldn’t think of a better one to support than Mothers Fighting For Others.

What are you waiting for? I promise it’ll change your life for the better.

About the author: From Seattle. Techie. Entrepreneur. Microfinance advocate. Travel addict. Fan of Red Hot Chili Peppers and Kiva. Founder – Oh Hey World.

You see these beautiful faces? These are the girls from St. Monica’s Children Home in Nairobi, Kenya. That’s Rocky Turner in front, she’s the Education Director at St. Monica’s. She spends as much time with the girls as she can, and sometimes on her visits to be with them Kenya, she shops at the open air markets and buys gorgeous African wax print fabrics. When I’m very, very lucky, she sends some of them to me.

The fabrics are absolutely beautiful! They’re full of vibrant, cheerful colors and bold designs. I wanted to work all the fabrics into one wall hanging, but what a challenge to blend such strong patterns together! And the wax prints are lighter and more delicate than the quilting cottons I’m used to working with, which only makes sense coming from their warmer climate. Frankly, I worried that the fabrics just weren’t strong enough and that so many “personalities” of prints just couldn’t work well together.

Then realized with a stronger, more stable start, this could really work. The fabrics just needed a good home base and a little room to shine, just like the girls at St. Monica’s.

Each circle is from the African wax print fabrics Rocky bought in the open air markets of Kenya, and they’re appliqued onto a batik fabric square I purchased here. The squares are arranged so that in the background you’ll see an outline of Africa, with the warm oranges and yellows of the land in the blue batik sea. The batik fabric provides strength to the African wax prints and gives the restful space each fabric needs to stand on its own.

Can you see the continent? With a closer look, you’ll also see sturdy double rows of pale blue quilting following each seam. This makes for an especially strong little quilt.

I hope this wall hanging quilt will serve as a reminder that the strong base of an education and the loving home provided at St. Monica’s will give each of these girls what they need to grow, prosper and shine.

The Africa quilt will be auctioned November 3, 2012, to raise funds for the Gift of Education. It measures approximately 35.5″ x 40″ and has a rod pocket on the back for hanging. Please let me know if you have any questions about it!

My last visit to Kenya in May of this year was an eye opening trip for me. It just hits me at times just how far we’ve come and how much the girls have grown. Back in May, Ruth, AKA Wangu, and I were looking at old pictures of my first trip back in October of 2007. We were both laughing at my bald head and just how small and cute she was!! You don’t realize just how much they have grown until you put the two pictures together. She was finishing up fourth grade in the photo on my laptop and now she will be on her way to High School in January. I’m so proud of the beautiful young woman she has become.

I can’t wait to see how much she has grown when I go back in December!!

More details will follow in next few months. Thanks again and we hope to see you there!