As a young child, May was sponsored by Dave and Kathryn from Florida, a connection that helped him survive the challenges of growing up in the Nairobi slums.

Now, at 17, he’s finally getting the chance to meet them face to face – and share how he wants to pay their kindness forward.

Growing up in the vast plains of Kajiado County, young Joseph Ole Lenku spent his days herding goats and cows. His childhood was defined by the rhythms of pastoral life, where tending to livestock was a way of life.

Amidst the expansive landscapes and traditional Maasai practices, access to modern education was a distant dream for many, including Lenku. “Us Maasai were among the last communities to accept modern education in Kenya. In fact, my father allowed me to go to school only because someone else (ChildFund) would pay my fee and upkeep,” recalls Hon. Joseph Ole Lenku.

But for Ole Lenku, the path to a brighter future began with an opportunity that would change his life forever—ChildFund’s sponsorship program.

Hope in Maasai land

In the early 1970s, ChildFund arrived in Kajiado, bringing with it a sponsorship program aimed at transforming the lives of vulnerable children in the community. The program provided more than just financial support; it offered a chance for children to pursue education, gain life skills, and grow in safe and nurturing environments. Ole Lenku was one of the first beneficiaries of this initiative. Sponsored by a compassionate donor from abroad, he was able to access quality education and healthcare services, which were out of reach for many children in his community.

“I remember receiving my first letter from my sponsor,” recalls Governor Lenku. “It was more than just a letter; it was a symbol of hope, a promise that someone cared about my future.”

Education as a pathway to leadership

With the support of ChildFund’s sponsorship program, Ole Lenku attended primary and secondary school, where he excelled academically. He was an eager learner, driven by a desire to bring positive change to his community. His sponsors’ letters, filled with words of encouragement, fueled his ambition and inspired him to dream beyond the constraints of his environment.

The financial support from ChildFund covered his school fees, uniforms, and learning materials, and general upkeep, allowing him to focus on his studies. He went on to attend the prestigious Utalii College, where he pursued a degree in Hotel Management. With education as his stepping stone, Ole Lenku developed a keen interest in leadership and governance, recognizing the importance of inclusive development and community-centered policies.

Rising to Leadership

After his university education, Ole Lenku’s career took off as he ventured into public administration and later served as Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for Interior and Coordination of National Government. Throughout his career, he remained deeply connected to his roots in Kajiado. His experiences growing up in a community supported by ChildFund shaped his vision of leadership—one focused on social equity, community empowerment, and sustainable development.

In 2017, Joseph Ole Lenku was elected as the Governor of Kajiado County. His journey from a sponsored child to a renowned leader shows the transformative impact of ChildFund’s sponsorship program. Under his leadership, Kajiado has seen remarkable progress in education, healthcare, water access, and infrastructure development.

Transforming Kajiado through compassion and vision

Governor Ole Lenku’s administration has prioritized education by improving school infrastructure, increasing access to learning materials, school feeding programs and financing livelihood progams. He is passionate about replicating the opportunities he received, ensuring every child in Kajiado has access to quality education and healthcare.

“Many children are born into difficult circumstances, where their families struggle to provide even the basics—food, clothing, shelter, and education. For these children, hope for a better life can feel out of reach, leaving them trapped in a cycle of poverty and despair.

This was my reality, alongside my siblings. Our father had to retire from his job as a welder and fabricator in his mid-thirties due to health issues, and life quickly became a struggle. But thanks to sponsorship programs from the Rang’ala Family Helper Project, run by the Kisumu Development Programme in partnership with ChildFund, and later through the Starehe Boys’ Centre and School, my life took a different path.

I lost my father when I was just four years old, and two years later, my mother passed away. Our family disintegrated, and my siblings and I were sent to live with various relatives. We never got to share our childhood together. Life was incredibly tough without the love and care of my parents.

For a time, I dreamed of becoming a professional footballer, even imagining myself playing in Europe. I tried to join the military six times, but each attempt failed. It wasn’t until my late twenties that I discovered my true passion—communication.

I often wonder what my life would have been like without the chance to go to school, a chance I received through the Rang’ala Family Helper Project. With their help, I joined Standard One at the prestigious Starehe Boys’ Centre and School in Nairobi. Over the next 12 years, I completed both my primary and secondary education there, without ever paying a single shilling in school fees. All of this was possible because of the sponsorship I received through the school. Meanwhile, my aunt, who took care of me after my mother’s death, continued to receive financial and material support from my ChildFund sponsor.

What amazed me most was that my sponsors were not wealthy. They sacrificed the little they had just to ensure that a boy like me got a second chance at life.

These interactions sparked in me a deep curiosity and a desire to see the world beyond my circumstances. Today, I am blessed to have visited at least 24 countries around the globe. Looking back, I am profoundly grateful for the life-changing opportunities I received through these sponsorship programs. They helped me reclaim my life and rise above the difficult circumstances of my childhood.

It is truly in giving that we receive. I hope you will find it in your heart to be a cheerful giver and change someone’s life, just as mine was.”

~ Nelson Opany, Manager, Communications and Partnerships, World Organisation of the Scout Movement (WOSM).