Monday night, Jonathan and I watched this wonderful documentary called Building Hope. It’s the story of journalist, Turk Pipkin, who, after visiting Mahiga in rural Kenya, decided to help them build a high school. After the movie, we started talking about what our family could do to help. Inspired and motivated, we came up with an idea.

Why a high school? 

While the children in the area have access to a primary education, none of them have access to a secondary education. In other words, their education stops at eighth grade.

Why do they need secondary education?

Just like in America, without a high school education, you can’t go to college in Africa. And even if you choose not to go to college, ending your formal education at eighth grade, greatly hinders your ability to succeed in work or even provide for your family.

Why should you care?

There are countless stories around the world about the needs of the less fortunate. Each one as heartbreaking as the last. Each one pulling at our strings of humanity. Yet, once the story is told and we walk away, it seems too big to conquer on our own. And so we move on with our lives. But this story has hope. This story shows that one person can make a difference. That there really is something you can do. Something we can all do that will make a big difference.

What can you do to help Mahiga?

1. Grab a book off your shelf, any book, pre-K through 12th.

2. Write a note on the inside cover to make it special. Something like: “Here is To Kill a Mockingbird, one of my favorite fictional stories. A story of triumph and the victory of truth. I hope it brings you as much enjoyment and enlightenment as it has brought me. Love, Sarah from Austin, Texas”

3. Mail the book to:

It’s that simple. Just one book. Or as many books as you want to send. We are working together with Turk Pipkin and the Bazaarvoice Foundation to ship them directly to the school.

From now until July 4th, we will be collecting books. Our goal is to gather 100 books to send to Mahiga Hope. If we band together, we can have the books to the students by the start of their fall semester.

Will you join us? Will you help us build an even greater library of hope for the students of Mahiga Hope School?

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This post is linked to Try New Adventures at Alicia’s Homemaking and Things I Love Thursday at Diaper Diaries.