Three groups of Kansans are preparing to head half-way around the world for ministry efforts in Kenya through the auspices of Kansas to Kenya, or K2K. The K2K effort offers opportunities for members of the Diocese of Kansas to be involved with the lives of people on the east African nation of Kenya.

It utilizes the services of Comfort the Children (CTC), and aid agency started by the Rev. Zane Wilemon, while he was a student at the University of Kansas. He made a trip to Kenya in 2000 and returned to the United States committed to finding a functional way to offer support to that nation.

A group of college students from the diocese will be in Kenya May 26 through June 7, the first of the Kansas contingents to make their way to Africa. The first trip designed for college students took place in the summer of 2007.

A medical team heads out next. Led by Deacon Steve Segebrecht, longtime participants in CTC medical efforts, the June 12-22 trip will take healthcare professionals to some of the nation’s neediest areas.

The last trip led by Dr. Bill Hargrove from Kansas State University, will continue work begun last year in helping establish gardens and other sustainable practices to assist Kenyans.

Segebrecht said K2K’s partnership with Comfort the Children means logistical details on the ground already are taken care of.

“By partnering with CTC, the Diocese of Kansas is provided the conduit and opportunity to directly engage in efforts to achieve the Millennium Development Goals in Kenya,” he said. The Millennium Development Goals are an eight – prong effort designed to reduce global poverty and hunger by 2015. The Diocese of Kansas is a supporter of the effort and contributes 0.7 percent of the diocesan budget toward MDG – related projects.

CTC offers a series of programs in which Kansans have been involved, including schools demonstration gardens that increase nutrition, and orphanage, a day care for children with disabilities, production of canvas shopping bags and medical missions.

For more information contact Segebrecht at loaseg@pol.net.

In 2008, gifts of money and time from Kansas have made possible:

• Development of a community garden for grandmothers who are raising their grandchildren because their daughters have died of AIDS – the “Shosho Shamba” (Grandmothers’ Garden)
• Teaching mothers of disabled children how to sew, giving them a livelihood, and providing daycare for their children
• Demonstration of healthy diets and menus for families impacted by HIV/AIDS
• Training for after school environmental clubs
• Improvements at Good Shepherd Orphanage including garden and farming techniques, cookstove that uses less firewood and daily menus that provide nutrition for developing children
• Five free medical clinics caring for almost 1,000 Maai Mahui locals, 1,500 prescriptions, and a safe delivery of four babies
• A survey of women concerning availability and access to food and water, nutrition, and diet; the results will help CTC design programs to address food insecurity
• Mental therapy for women who have experienced abuse, rape, and/or death of children or other family members

James contracted HIV from his mother during breast feeding as an infant.		Gladys, also has HIV and has no family to care for her.
	Sisters, both have HIV. One is a mother, and contracted HIV after being raped by her brother-in-law.

Needs for 2009:

• Combat HIV/AIDS through medical treatment, education, and addressing poverty in Maai Mahiu, including providing a health care worker
• Support mothers of disabled children by marketing bags
• Expand Shosho Gardens; develop a demonstration garden at the Community Center
• Provide support to Good Shepherd Orphanage
• Provide financial support for training and education of CTC community development paraprofessionals

You can help by donating money or purchasing cloth shopping bags. Visit WWW.CTCINTERNATIONAL.ORG to make a donation.