Because of You: Stephen’s Journey from Orphan to Teacher

Tuesday, June 10

07:00 am

Dr Daniel & Mary Beth Gilbert

The chalk dust settles on Stephen’s fingertips as he writes an equation across the blackboard. Behind him, thirty students watch intently, their notebooks open, pencils poised.

Stephen, once an orphan at Ebenezer, now teaches high school students in Kenya—proof that education changes lives.

None of them know that their confident young teacher once had nothing—not even hope.

But you do. Because you helped write this story.

The Boy Who Lost Everything

When seven-year-old Stephen arrived at Ebenezer Children’s Home, his small shoulders carried an unimaginable burden.

HIV/AIDS had claimed both his parents, leaving him completely alone in the world. While he miraculously escaped contracting the virus himself—born to HIV-positive parents yet somehow protected—he couldn’t escape the crushing poverty and abandonment that followed.

“Stephen’s family was a victim of HIV and AIDS that killed his parents,” Director Paul Ochieng recalls, his voice softening with the memory. “No one was left to look after him.”

“As a total orphan, his distant relatives took what land would have been his,” Paul explains. “He did not even have anything to go back to.”

Your Compassion Created a Home

When you supported Ebenezer Children’s Home, you didn’t just provide shelter for a desperate child—you created the possibility of a future where none existed.

“Those days we did not have much,” Paul remembers. “We just had mud huts for dormitories.”

Can you picture it?

The simple mud walls.

The tin roof that drummed with rain during storms.

The narrow beds lined up in rows.

Not luxurious by any measure, but infinitely better than abandonment. In that humble space, your generosity provided something priceless: safety, consistency, and belonging.

Each morning, Stephen woke to the sounds of other children—a family created not by blood but by circumstance and compassion.

The simple porridge that filled his bowl each morning—that was your gift. The uniform that allowed him to attend Word Academy with dignity—you helped provide that too.

Your Investment in Education Transformed a Life

In the classroom at Word Academy, Stephen discovered something remarkable: he had a mind built for learning.

The textbooks your donations helped purchase opened worlds beyond his circumstances.

The teachers your support helped train saw potential where others had seen only an orphan.

“Because of determination and the mentorship that we gave him, he was able to excel,” Paul shares, pride evident in his voice.

Each assignment completed, each exam passed, each grade advanced—these were victories you made possible.

When other children might have surrendered to despair, Stephen found purpose in education.

The pencils that moved across his notebooks traced the outline of a future previously unimaginable.

From Orphan to University Graduate

When Stephen completed his education at Word Academy, your continued support helped bridge the gap to secondary school. The uniform, the books, the fees—all made possible by donors who believed that orphans deserve the same opportunities as children with families.

Then came the moment that seemed impossible: university acceptance.

The boy who once had nothing would pursue higher education—breaking cycles of poverty and loss that had defined his early years.

“From Ebenezer and Word Academy, he went to university,” Paul recounts, his voice rising with excitement.

The journey that began in a mud hut dormitory continued in university lecture halls, where Stephen prepared for a future of service and impact.

The Classroom Comes Full Circle

Today, the chalk dust on Stephen’s fingers tells the final chapter of this remarkable story.

The orphaned boy has become the teacher, standing confidently before his high school students.

“He came back and just got a job this year with the government as a high school teacher,” Paul shares.

This is your impact. This is what happens when compassion meets opportunity.

Your Legacy Continues Through His Teaching

When Stephen teaches, he doesn’t just impart knowledge—he embodies hope. Each student who learns from him benefits from the investment you made years ago.

The orphaned boy now shapes the next generation, creating a ripple effect of education and opportunity that will continue for decades.

“He is remarkable,” Paul says simply.

Indeed he is. And so are you—for making his journey possible.

Every time Stephen writes an equation on the blackboard, every time he encourages a struggling student, every time he deposits his teacher’s salary, he carries forward the legacy of your generosity.

Your gift today will help write the next Stephen success story. With your support, another orphaned child at Ebenezer can journey from despair to dignity, from abandonment to achievement. Will you help us continue this vital work?