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Empowering orphans and vulnerable children through education.

Kenya Keys unlocks the potential of students in impoverished Kenyan communities, raising awareness and bridging cultures to provide education, mentorship, leadership development and girl empowerment opportunities. In the rural Kinango District of Kenya there are many obstacles to education, but there is one organization working hard to remove those barriers for as many young Kenyans as possible. That group is Kenya Keys and its purpose is to unlock the enormous potential of young people in Kenya. Kenya Keys is a vibrant demonstration that one person really can make a big difference. In June 2005, Rinda Hayes and her daughter traveled to the remote village of Bahakwenu in the impoverished Kinango District in Kenya. Rinda was stunned by the extreme poverty she found in Bahakwenu. She was also inspired by the tenacity of the children in the village, who longed to get an education. She had never observed such a single-minded desire to learn. Perhaps no Kenyan impressed Rinda more than Joseph Mwengea, the Headmaster of Bahakwenu Primary School. Joseph is an intelligent and driven man and a determined advocate for his students. As he and Rinda met together during her first visit to his village, he pleaded with her to help him help the students of Bahakwenu. He watched bright and capable students leave primary school with little or no hope of attending secondary school due to their inability to pay the required fees. After her visit, Rinda was determined to share her stories of this community and the people who had so impressed her with her friends in the United States. She believed she could find caring American individuals and families that would be able to provide financial support for top Kenyan students, enabling these students to complete a secondary education. The Kenya Keys sponsorship program began with 14 students. Five years later it became the nonprofit organization of Kenya Keys. Kenya Keys has supported hundreds of students - to secondary school and now into college and university. And that's not all. Kenya Keys' work has expanded to include multiple worthwhile related programs. Kenya Keys works with local communities to improve educational infrastructure and resources, such as libraries, dormitories, classrooms, desks, and more. The Kenya Keys Boards of Directors (one in the U.S. and one in Kenya) also provide financial and other support to grassroots organizations run by local Kenyan community leaders and councils. Each of these components of Kenya Keys' efforts in rural Kenya is described more fully in the following section. Everything Kenya Keys does is guided by its founding principles: First, education is the primary key to unlocking potential, both for the individual and for the community. Second, cultural awareness and exchange is vital and enriching for all participants. We live in an increasingly connected world, and exposure to new cultures and ideas is key to creating understanding and appreciation for one's own culture and for the cultures of others. Third, opportunities, not handouts, are what make a lasting difference. There should be no giving of things that run out or wear out. Giving such things only increases dependency, invites discontent, and isolates the givers from the receivers. Instead, giving should empower the receiver and provide an enduring benefit. Fourth: volunteerism is fundamental to the success of an organization. Nonprofit groups run by volunteers remain strong and dynamic. Volunteerism also connects global citizens in a meaningful way. Fifth, education provides the best defense against the ranges of poverty and hopelessness, and is the greatest catalyst for change and growth. Sixth, all critical decisions should be made by local leaders and councils. Local leaders and community members know their own needs and circumstances far better than any outsider, however well-intentioned. Allowing local people to make key decisions gives them vital ownership and accountability. It also provides the opportunity for these individuals to develop crucial leadership skills. Kenyans will always find the best solutions to the deep-seated challenges in their communities. Finally, education and the development of leadership skills in today's youth is critical to building the future leaders of Kenya.

The mission of Community Partners of El Paso is to assist child protective services in meeting the needs of abused and neglected children and their families in El Paso county.

The mission of Penelope House is to provide safety, protection, and support to the victims of Domestic Violence and their children through the provision shelter, advocacy, and individual and community education.

Freedom for Immigrants is devoted to abolishing immigration detention, while ending the isolation of people currently suffering in this profit-driven system. We visit and monitor 55 immigrant prisons and jails, and we run the largest national hotline for detained immigrants. Through these windows into the system, we gather data and stories to combat injustice at the individual level and push systemic change.

CAPA exists to break the destructive cycle of child abuse and neglect by equipping parents, children and their caregivers with necessary skills, knowledge, and values.

Every child needs someone in their corner. For children and youth facing the complex foster care system, a trusted mentor can make all the difference in the world. Since 1987, Alameda County Court Appointed Special Advocates (ACCASA) has recruited, trained, and supported dedicated volunteers to be the constant in a foster child’s life—a person they can count on for compassion, guidance, advocacy, and information. The unique relationship expands the child’s world through enriching experiences and forges bonds that often last into successful adulthood

Lazarus House's mission is to offer guests connected to St. Charles, Geneva, Batavia and western rural Kane County, Illinois, who are homeless or in need, hope for the future by providing hospitality, food, safe shelter, and education – tools for life. We strive to make certain that all who enter feel the love of Jesus. Goals are to: 1)help the homeless return to independent living with the skills and habits needed for long-term success and 2)offer services and referrals to help those in need in our community in order to prevent homelessness and support the well being of individuals and their families.

Right To Be (formerly Hollaback) is a movement focused on turning the care we have for each other into simple, creative, effective action. We want to build a world that’s free of harassment and filled with humanity.

Focus on Children Now (FCN) is:Driven by the motto, “Breaking the poverty cycle, ONE CHILD at a time” and the mission of helping impoverished children access basic necessities of life; FCN striving to bring health, education, nutrition and hope to disadvantage children by collaborating with national and international organization with similar objectives.

TYTW's mission is to protect girls' rights and end child marriage. Through the use of powerful portraits and short films of child brides, TYTW serves as the bridge, connecting girls' stories to governments, policymakers, and the public. TYTW's Adolescent Girls Photography Workshops provide survivors and girls at-risk of child marriage a chance to heal, tell their own stories, and return to their communities as leaders in the fight against child marriage. OUR VISION IS A WORLD WHERE Every girl can decide for herself, if, when, and whom to marry. Adolescent girls are free to simply be children and can determine the course of their own lives.

Founded on Islamic principles, Resources and Help Against Marital Abuse (RAHAMA) empowers women experiencing domestic abuse through education, advocacy, support, and housing.