THE AMERICAN “SISTERS”
Ashley Saunders
Since grade school, Ashley Saunders has always had a dream to open orphanages around the world. The daughter of two Air Force parents, she is not unfamiliar with traveling. In 2008, her journey’s led her to Kenya for the first time. While there, she volunteered at an orphanage called Saint Monica’s Children’s Home and realized first hand the great need the world has for people committed to helping children in need. She returned to Kenya once again in 2009 to begin the Inspire the Child Project.
Before teaming with Rocky to start Inspire the Child, Ashley invested time in various educational programs including student teaching in high school and college in subjects from Philosophy to self-defense classes. She has also spent time as a peer counselor to others struggling with suicidal ideology, eating disorders, and various post-traumatic issues.
Ashley attended Full Sail University where she studied Film and Video Production.
Racquel Turner
Racquel Turner, known as Rocky for most of her life, is the founder of Mothers Fighting For Others. Born and raised in Southern California, her first job is to protect, love and care for her six children and her amazing husband. In her “spare” time, she runs off to Kenya twice a year to protect, love and care for her other thirty-five Kenyan daughters at Saint Monica’s Children’s Home outside of Nairobi. She met and fell in love with them when she volunteered in Kenya with her sister in law for three weeks in 2007.
That single trip changed her life and soon after, Mothers Fighting For Others was born. Today, her days are filled with cooking, cleaning, collecting underwear for Underwear for Africa, raising money for school fees for the high school girls at Saint Monica’s, and getting ready for her biggest project yet, Inspire the Child. When she grows up, she wants to live in Kenya with her husband Jeff, and spend the rest of her life protecting, loving, and caring for Kenya’s orphans.
Rocky earned her bachelor’s degree in Health Education from California State University Northridge.
THE KENYAN “SISTERS” Sisters Arise Project
Margaret Njoki Karanja
Margaret Njoki Karanja has been an Educator with over 13 years experience. Her career began as a high school teacher in her former high school, the Bishop Gatimu Ngandu Girls High School in Mathira Division, Nyeri District, Central Kenya. Margaret taught History, English, Geography and Christian Education between the years of 1971-1975.
In May of 1975, Mrs. Karanja was promoted and became the Principle of South Tetu Girls School situated in her home division of Mukuruweni, Nyeri District. She held this position from 1976 to 1983. Besides overseeing the overall administration of the school, she also taught English Literature. Margaret’s rising star was still shining and in recognition of her devotion to education, she was sponsored by the Ministry of Education to pursue a Bachelors degree in Education Management. Margaret attended the prestigious Sterling University in Scotland from September 1983 through to 1985. Upon her graduation, she returned home and was offered a top job as a Trainer of Trainers at the Kenya Education Staff Institute (KESI). In 1992, Margaret re-careered and joined the Entrepreneurship world as a business woman and investor.
Margaret’s heart has always been in education and it would only follow suit that she would conceive and begin a Non Governmental Organisation called Sisters Arise Project (SAP). SAP’s aim is to alleviate the suffering of poor children from the slum areas around her neighborhood along Kiambu Road. Her drive is to ensure these OVC’s Go to and Stay in school, Get Quality education and Learn prevention measures against getting infected with HIV AIDS as well as escape the vice of child labour.
Alice Wairimu Karanja
Alice Wairimu Karanja, the Administrative Secretary of SAP, is a horticulturist by profession. Having completed her “A” Levels in 1981 and proceeded to undertake and successfully complete a Diploma in Horticulture at Egerton College now University and worked as an Area Technical Supervisor in charge of Flowers and Vegetable Production and Marketing in Kenya. During her work she attended and organized various exhibitions and shows within the country and abroad in countries like Sweden, Holland, Belgium, Milan-Italy, Britain and the Middle East. She has a wealth of experience in the areas of flower production and marketing, post harvest handling of fruits, flowers and vegetables and marketing of the same.
Alice a married mother of four had a burning desire to touch a child’s heart and therefore choose to resign from formal employment and bring up her children. Since then, she has been involved in running a family business as well landscaping on a minimal scale. She has also undertaken the following courses;-
A diploma in Theology, a Certificate in Information Technology and a Certificate in HIV Management.
Perpetua Wanjiru Gatome
Perpetua Wanjiru Gatome retired from teaching in 1988 after 17 years experience teaching in various schools in Kenya where she rose to the position of Senior Teacher. She thereafter set up a successful business in the oil industry which she has been running for over 15 years. She has now retired from the oil industry and is currently running a business in the motor industry.
Since 1993, she has been involved in working with children’s homes including Bethlehem Community Center, which is a home in Soweto Slums Nairobi with over 250 street children and St Monica’s Children Home which caters for orphaned girls, some who are HIV positive. Within these children’s homes, Perpetua has worked in various capacities from Board member to Chair of the Board and her role involved development projects, education projects, general management of the homes, counselling children and fund raising. She has also chaired five women’s groups since 1994 which have successfully empowered women through various financial, motivational and spiritual projects.
Perpetua has a certificate in teaching from Kagumo Teachers College, Nyeri, Kenya. She also has excellent networking and people skills, leadership skills, fund raising skills, high organisation and planning skills, strong initiative, resourceful, ambitious and highly motivated. She is committed to all projects undertaken which has led to her success in both business and charitable activities.
