The work of Buckner Kenya has flourished under the leadership of Dickson Masindano over the past 10 years. Dickson is a graduate of Hardin Simmons University (a University in Abilene, Texas affiliated with the Baptist General Convention of Texas) and was recognized as Outstanding Alumnus of the year in 2010 by HSU. Hardin Simmons, in cooperation with Buckner, has produced an outstanding leader for our work in Kenya.
Dickson shared his story of how he came to Buckner 10 years ago. He had just graduated from HSU with a Masters Degree in Social Work. He was ready to get back to Kenya to be reunited with his family when one of his professors in Kenya, also an HSU/Logsdon Theological Seminary alumnus, suggested he look into Buckner as a place of potential employment. His HSU roommate introduced him to Mike Douris, VP for International Operations, who had been planning and praying about starting work in Buckner under Dr. Ken Hall’s leadership. Buckner leaders quickly met with Dickson and interviewed him, offered him a position with Buckner, and asked him to stay for 2 weeks of orientation before he returned to Kenya.
The rest of the story has become what we are celebrating after 10 years of outstanding work.
In 2010, Buckner Kenya provided Residential Care Services, Foster/Kinship Care, Vocational training, Formal school programs, and Community Services in four Kenyan cities. Residential Care serves 99 orphans for a cost of $2,373 for each child annually($6.50 per orphan per day); Foster and Kinship Care serves 176 vulnerable children and orphans at an annual cost of $1,144 for each child ($3.13 per child per day); Vocational training is provided to 30 individuals at an annual cost of $580 per student per year ($1.59 per student per day); Educational Services are offered to 879 school-aged children at an annual cost of $106 per student per year ($.29 cents per student per day); and Community Services such as medical care, health clinics, water, and humanitarian aid is provided to 3,276 individuals at an annual cost of $20 per person per year. The total cost of all these programs in Kenya for 2011 is $612,000 in order to impact 440,000 lives through these programs ($140 per person per year). Since we do not have an endowment for international work that produces needed resources for ministry in Kenya, we depend 100% on the generosity of friends, donors, and churches that provide time, talent, and treasure to serve the least of these in that country.
We believe that good stewardship provides accountability to our donors and excellence in the delivery of services. Communicating our work in terms of impacting over 440,000 lives annually is a hallmark of the Buckner way. Pray that we continue to seek the Lord’s vision for the work there and the faithful stewards will be moved to provide the provision needed to continue this work.
Click here to view more photos from our Buckner Kenya 10th Anniversary Trip
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