Imagine living in a one-room house with your siblings and parents. You are HIV positive along with your father and stepmother. Your parents struggle to provide for your family’s basic needs as neither one has a stable source of income. 

Your parents don’t seem to be concerned about your whereabouts. You miss school and no one follows up. At 14 years of age, you are forced to go back to the dumpsite (where you’ve worked off and on since the age of six) and pick through trash for recyclables. It’s the only place where you are sure you will get some income, and after all, it is much needed for food. 

Then one day a team member at International Samaritan hears about your story and sends you to a boarding school so you can learn and have your basic needs met. When the term ends you return home, but then you can’t find anyone who will take you back to school. You contact International Samaritan, and not only will a team member help transport you back to boarding school, they’ll also support you with counseling and mentorship programs. 

Now, stop imagining. 

This is Nicholas’ story. He’s a 14-year-old boy who has had to deal with the challenges of hunger and neglect. He has seven siblings and five step-siblings, and he’s being raised by sickly parents and an alcoholic father. 

Our local team saw potential in Nicholas and chose to intervene. At boarding school, he has his own bed and three complete meals every day. In the past few months, his school performance has greatly improved.

Here in Kenya, the proceeds from the Samaritan 5K race will ensure that students and families, like Nicholas and his parents, get much-needed mental health support. 

Our scholars experience different mental health challenges as a result of the harsh atmosphere in which they were raised, or are currently in. In our program, we have 23 students whose parents or guardians are suffering from terminal diseases. We also have 13 students who come from huge families of between 7 and 13 family members all living in either a single or double room.

Along with counseling, we help parents and guardians with psycho-social economic empowerment programs. In these programs, parents are given start-up capital to supplement their income and food on a monthly basis. When parents are supported and empowered, we’ve seen great improvement in how our Samaritan Scholars relate with their families. 

Donations to Team Kenya in the Samaritan 5K will go to support our scholars who carry the mental and economic burden for their families. For Nicholas and many other scholars, parents, and guardians, the race funds will be an answered prayer. 

International Samaritan is a Christ-centered organization built on Catholic Social Teaching. Our mission is to walk hand-in-hand with people who live and work in the garbage dumps of developing nations to help them break out of poverty.

We provide holistic scholarships for students from kindergarten through college, and we’re currently supporting 950 scholars in Central America, the Caribbean, and East Africa.

Would your church or school group like to partner and travel with us? Learn about our Learn, Serve, Grow program.

Empower our scholars to change their lives. Become a monthly supporter.

Esther Muhia, Country Director

Esther’s education is in sociology, communication, and gender and development studies. She has worked in several leadership roles in Nairobi, Kenya, including at the Catholic Medical Mission Board. She has worked with NGOs and community and global organizations. Esther has successfully implemented various programs, including family and parent skills development, school-based mentorships and scholarships, economic empowerment, psychosocial support, and gender-based violence prevention programs.

Ready to Race?

We hope you pull out your tennis shoes and run or walk with us in this year’s Samaritan 5K!

October 12 / 10 a.m. / Ann Arbor

Races will be held in Ann Arbor, Detroit, and simultaneously with our Samaritan Scholars in Central America, Jamaica, and East Africa.

This year, you can select a country to run with. You’ll learn more about that community and the funds you donate and raise will go to their specific health and wellness needs. Each country is raising money for a project close to their heart. You can choose to run and support:

Team Ethiopia: Medical Care ($28,000)
Team Guatemala: Urgent Needs ($33,000)
Team Honduras: Food Support ($28,000)
Team Jamaica: Food Support ($21,000)
Team Kenya: Mental Health Resources ($20,000)
Team Uganda: Rebuilding after Kiteezi Landslide ($20,000)

Register to run or donate to a team: intsam.org/samaritan5K.