God is always inviting us to step deeper into His will and be part of His redemptive work in the world. Last year, we shared the incredible vision that God has given us to turn Maisha Mapya Academy into a boarding school for grades 4-8 and beyond to provide a nurturing and safe environment where more children can grow and learn. You responded generously to help make this vision a reality!
Progress Made in 2024
In the 2024 school year, our main campus in the heart of Gioto, Maisha Mapya Learning Center, educated 325 students in 1st through 8th grade. We are eager for Maisha Mapya Academy, our new 5-acre campus, to be ready to host more classes and students to meet the ever-growing needs of our community.
So far this year, your generosity has allowed us to take important steps in building needed infrastructure to move toward turning the Academy into a boarding school, which includes changes to both campuses:
- We are in the process of adding a second story to the Learning Center to make space for the growing number students and staff there.
- We are building a wall around the Academy campus for safety and security.
- To be good stewards of all this new growth, we have added much-needed new staff and missionaries (both in the US and Kenya).
- To help us develop these properties in a way that best accommodates our vision, we’ve formed a new partnership with Msaada Architects.
New Partnership with Msaada Architects
We are thrilled to share that we have partnered with Msaada Architects to help us with the planning and design of both of our campuses. Msaada, which means “assistance” in Kiswahili, embodies the spirit of partnership in their work. Just as your financial gifts are providing much needed assistance, Msaada is bringing much-needed architectural and engineering assistance.
As professional architects, Msaada works with organizations like ours in the developing world, focusing on projects that improve healthcare, education, and living conditions. Their goal is to give individuals the dignity to live fuller, healthier lives. Msaada’s portfolio includes numerous projects in rural and urban areas where basic human needs are most acute, making them the perfect partner for our mission.
Msaada’s Site Visit
We were happy to host Andrew Ripp, Managing Director and Architect, from Msaada for a site visit of both campuses in Nakuru at the end of September 2024. You can meet him in this video with Dave!
Msaada’s goal is to create plans for the second story of the Learning Center and a campus Master Plan for the Academy, including:
- Programming & Schematic Designs created from the site visit
- Master Plan developed for projects at both campuses
- Construction Drawings, including architectural, structural, electrical, mechanical, plumbing, civil engineering, and surveyor plans
- Assistance in procuring Contractors for construction
- Construction Administration to review progress and quality
We praise God for the architectural and engineering expertise Msaada will bring to our project so that we can solidify the next funding and construction steps needed. Please pray for God’s wisdom to guide Msaada’s efforts. Your prayers can be the first way to support their work toward designing new facilities for the children and families of Maisha Mapya.
Next Steps
There’s much work ahead, and we trust that God’s provision will guide us just as your partnership encourages us. Each new step we take together—from building ministry staff and infrastructure to working with Msaada Architects to securing the resources we need—brings us closer to creating a space where children can thrive in a loving, safe environment.
Thank you for being part of this journey! Your continued prayers and support mean more than words can express. Look for more project updates and opportunities to do even more soon!