Our unique entrepreneurship training and mentoring has equipped community leaders in Kenya to transform thousands of lives. Knowing the need for this education is global, we decided to add another major city…Denver!

Partnering for the “Greater Good”

“Have you heard of the Greater Good Academy?”

That simple question from one of our supporters led to a friendship, and now a partnership, with Richard Eidlin and GGA. Like The 1010 Project, “The goal of the GGA is to provide civic-minded entrepreneurs with the training and financial support necessary to succeed and scale their ventures. The GGA helps to incubate green businesses, strengthen local communities, create jobs and increase economic self-sufficiency.”

As we launch The Global Entrepreneur Academy in Nairobi this fall, we are collaborating with Greater Good for curriculum, mentors, fund-raising, and business partnerships.

Utilizing the latest video chat technologies, our Academies will also collaborate on solutions to the challenges these emerging leaders face.

Get Involved

We are looking for mentors for the Denver academy (starting September 21st), as well as business partners who want to invest “Glocally” (Globally & Locally)! In return your business will connect to our large and rapidly expanding community of supporters. Reply to this email to find out more.

Teach a Woman to Fish
You will receive dozens of requests from worthy organizations that, in the end, will give a woman a fish and feed her for a day. In these tight economic times make a donation that will impact generations to come. Your investment will teach a woman to fish, feeding her, her family, and even her entire community…for life.

Brian Rants
Executive Director
The 1010 Project

This year Standley Lake High School raised $3047 for children at Humble Hearts School, and construction is underway! Humble Hearts offers education to rejected deaf children and their siblings, working to bridge the gap between the deaf and the hearing through promoting and training in sign language.

Beatrice Anuda, founder, said this in her update on the school construction:

(Here are) photos of the up coming building out of funds donated by Standley Lake High School.

Construction is still on(going), I will be updating you with more photos of the same.

We are doing the construction on the first floor just above the boys AC.

We provide business training and capital that generate sustainable revenue for our partners; e.g. computers and sewing machines for Fair Oak College, a vocational school.

In this update Brown Chavaseki (the founder) describes how they are now able to purchase their own computers and sewing machines with the income from the college. This allows them to expand their vocational training, as well as educate and feed 240 children at Fair Oak Academy.

15 Students in Tailoring & Upholstery

The tailoring dressmaking and upholstery department is doing well the number of student has increased to five teen. We hope to increase more machines for training in a near future.

The computer training has become very helpful to the community at the moment we are having forty four students (44). This year we have managed to increase six more used computers because of the increased number of students.

We are going to have graduation for both the computers and the upholstery stundents on July 18^th 2010

44 Students in Computer Training

The fair oak school is doing well when we reported this semester 240 pupils reported. They enjoy the class lessons. We still have a challenge with their classes because they don’t have windows and also we believe that in a near future we should have a toilet that can be used for the school population.

Recently we asked you, our supporters, to send words of congratulations we can pass along to Candlelight School. Thanks to your generous donations, Candlelight has a fully functional computer lab in the middle of the Matopeni Slum. Candlelight used local craftsmen to create a safe and secure facility that now provides essential learning opportunities for students, and a revenue stream as a cyber cafe for the community.

Here’s what supporters said; you can add your voice in the comments below!

From Lisa

To my friends in Matopeni:

Have fun learning about computers! They can be frustrating at times, as I’m sure you’ll find! Though by far the best thing computers have done for us is make it easier to contact friends, and to stay in touch through the years though time and distance may separate us! Good luck!

Ashley Smith expressed her excitement:

How incredible it is to see the power of Christ working through people’s hearts to give in order to support an amazing organization! What a blessing to the Matopeni community to have a such an awesome tool of knowledge at their fingertips. Way to go 1010project family!!

Cathy Cuttrell shared

This is awesome, Brian, to hear about the computer lab providing much greater access to knowledge to solve problems and train for the future….very excited for our Kenyan friends.  Hugs to all

From Kim Koole

Alice – your computer lab looks amazing!  I’m so glad that you’ve been able to continue on that project – and it sounds like a great way to generate additional revenues for the school!  We miss you and pray for you often!

From Kathy Harvell

How time goes by so quickly and so many changes in just one year!!  Our group from Northside Christian Church in Spring, Texas was in Niarobia last June just before the school and church were demolished.  The Lord has brought you a long way from those terrible and dark days.  From the few pictures I’ve seen, it appears you have made several very nice improvements!!  Praise God!!! The trip to Kenya was a life changing event for me, actually all of us.  You taught us so much about faith and true worship.  It was truly a pleasure to be in your presence and spend time with you and those beautiful children.  I’ll never forget the welcome song and smiles we received from the children and teachers.  I still talk about the trip and think and pray for you often.  I hope I can return someday and spend time with you again.  Did any of the trees we planted survive the demolition?

Sending our love and prayers, God Bless

On June 22nd, our Executive Director Brian Rants and Chair of the Board Melissa Schaap will be joining the Greater Good Academy’s Showcase.

The 1010 Project wanted to be apart of this incredible event because we share Greater Good’s emphasis on the Triple Bottom Line: People, Planet, and Profit. Entrepreneurs who desire to not only be profitable, but also profit their communities are the key to breaking the cycle of poverty.

Join us to get plugged into breaking the cycle of poverty here in Denver!

June 22, 2010 – 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Mi Casa Resource Center, 360 Acoma Street

Click here to register online

How did an orphaned child bride become an honors student in the Korogocho slum of Nairobi?

In this part 2 of our interview with Erastus Omukhango, founder of REHEMA.  If you haven’t already, watch part 1 covers about how it all started with 2 kids abandoned at a church service.

Your investment dollars have helped provide REHEMA with revenue generating businesses like selling eggs from chickens (listen for the squawks!) Invest today to help us continue to provide organizations like REHEMA with the training and capital they need to be self-reliant.

Imagine: a single mother brings in her two kids. After the service she’s gone, and her kids are still there. The police ask the church to keep the kids while they look for the mother…who never turns up.

This is how REHEMA Daycare and School was started, and since then they’ve provided education to over 600 children! Your investment dollars have helped provide REHEMA with revenue generating businesses like selling eggs from chickens (listen for the squawks!)

After you watch this, continue to part 2: “From Child Bride to Honors Student.”

Kelly (in orange) and the Discovery Crew

Article by Kelly Little of Discover Church in Broomfield CO
At Discovery Church we value the reciprocal relationship we have with Fred and Alice Afwai and the work they do in the Kayole neighborhood with Hands with Hope Safe House and also Candlelight school.  We do not see Candlelight School as a charity that we donate to, rather our brothers, sisters and children that we care deeply about and will do everything within our abilities to advocate for them. Through this relationship our church is given the opportunity to cultivate compassion and generosity to benefit our friends.

When we went to Nairobi last fall to visit our friends in person we went with a purpose; to learn more about the life they live, the people they work with, and to have a conversation about how we can serve their vision.  Every day we worked hard and every evening we talked, laughed and cried as we did life together and shared struggles.  One evening Alice called me into her room and showed me piles upon piles of beautiful Kenyan goods that mothers had given to Alice in the hope that their child would be able to go to school.   Alice, having a heart to see every child be able to go to school – regardless of income – graciously accepted these items, even though the items alone would not pay for teacher salaries, supplies or food for the school children.

As we sat on her bed and looked at these piles and piles of scarves, jewelry, handmade bags and aprons, she asked me in a quiet but confident voice, “do you think you could bring some of these items home with you to sell?”

Cooperative Computer Learning

After spending the time to get to know the men, women and children of Kayole there was no way we were going to say no.  We had no idea how much we would be able to sell, but we packed our suitcases full to the brim and trusted that the Lord would provide a way for us to sell these items back home and send all of the money back to Fred and Alice to be used to improve the care and education of children in the Kayole.

Over Christmas and Easter we were able to sell the items to our friends, family and congregation and we raised $3200, with every cent going back to Kenya.

Through the sale of these goods, our church members are able to contribute to the well being of our friends and directly to the Kenya economy at the same time.  When our members are given the opportunity to directly impact real people, the generosity overflows.  We strongly encourage other churches to get to know any of the amazing partners who work with The 1010 Project, have a conversation, and see what you can do to help.