The Kenya Initiative: From Street To School

In 2009, a Kingston, Ontario family spent the summer in Kijabe, Kenya, working in the Bethany Kids wing of the local hospital and helping in the community.

The purpose of The Kenya Initiative: from Street to School is to provide educational support to disadvantaged Kenya youth to help them overcome obstacles and reach their full potential. When they returned to Kingston, art gallery owner Raymond Vos had a conversation with them and learned of the relationships they had formed with some of the people they had encountered. Once aware of the situation

of these individuals, Ray was moved to begin art fundraisers to help provide for their educational and housing needs. He and his friends formed The Kenya Initiative: from Street to School. One of the individuals Ray heard about was John Njane. A former gang member, John was discovered by a benevolent couple in Kijabe and helped to turn his life around. He began to rescue homeless boys from the hard-living town of Mai Mahiu. These boys, aged 12-16, were largely orphans or abandoned children of town prostitutes, and were living on the streets. In 2012, John rented a house for them and began providing full-time care, including tutoring in basic literacy and math so the boys could enter school. The Kenya Initiative supported John and the boys from 2009 until 2018. Since the Initiative began, enough money was raised to enable twelve street boys to live with John and his family on a parcel of land donated by an American church. The boys were well fed and clothed and entered either in high school or learning a trade. Ray also learned about two young men living in the town of Kijabe. Isaac and Caleb worked at odd jobs and general labouring for the going rate of about $3 a day. Both boys were leaders in the community and strong students who had graduated from high school and wanted to attend university. But they had no prospects because their father died in 2007 of complications from chronic asthma. Their widowed mother Elizabeth, a teacher at a nearby elementary school, was unable to provide them with the opportunity to continue their education. The Kenya Initiative raised enough money to send Isaac and Caleb to Daystar University in Nairobi, Kenya. They have now graduated and have establishing their lives. The focus of educational support by the Kenya Initiative is now on sponsoring young boys and girls through primary, high school, college and university. Ray has now made four trips to Kenya himself, in 2013, 2016, 2018 and 2022 and has spent time with John and many of the students sponsored by the Kenya Initiative. During these trips, Ray also met a number of grandmothers that John is helping to support with food packages and guidance in farming practices. These widows are caring for grandchildren whose parents have died or are unable to support them. The Initiative contributes funds for food, medicine, and other necessities to help these families survive and, when possible, to enable some of these grandchildren to go to school. Our Motivation: True religion, according to the biblical book of St. James, means to take care of widows and orphans. If that is so, then Kenya is a place where true religion is desperately needed. John Njane knows what true religion means. He has remarkable passion, energy, and commitment to help his people in Kenya. Formerly he worked repairing small engines, often using his own income to help others. Now all his time is spent in enabling and overseeing the support efforts for young people and grandmothers. An American administrator at a mission school in Kijabe who has worked with John has remarked about him, “There is simply no one else like him here. His reputation is spotless.” When Raymond Vos first found out about Isaac & Caleb and the work John Njane was doing, it broke his heart. He believes compassion is love that is practical, and he realized that he could use his business as a vehicle to raise money and genuinely make a difference. Helping others to come into their potential, to give them a future and a hope is what moves his heart. By purchasing the photographs on display at Gallery Raymond, you will be helping provide education for young girls and boys. You will help give them a hopeful future by providing the care and education they need. You will also be assisting the families of these young people, including grandmothers caring for their orphaned or abandoned grandchildren. And that’s true religion.

Photos from The Kenya Initiative: From Street To School's post

02/03/2026

We celebrate because donated funds bring three new students through high school through The Kenya Initiative: From Street To School! Welcome Jane and Trizah and Morris!!! Thank you John Njane for your help!

01/21/2026

The students are beginning a new year in school. Your support matters and enables them to begin or continue their studies! Please consider supporting the empowering work of The Kenya Initiative: From Street To School! I will continue to share my photos of Kenya. Why do I take so many photos like this on my trips to Kenya? Because I want to tell stories of my friendships with the wonderful people there. I want to tell their story. I want to create awareness so others can contribute to make their lives better, to give them a future and a hope. And lastly to frame and sell the framed photos to help finance the work of The Kenya Initiative. Please consider buying a favourite to support the work being done! Contact me!

12/06/2025

WOW! Just received this generous donation for the Harambee Art Fundraiser by: Jordan Hicks--Light Snow (Acrylic 10 X 10) Contact me if you are interested. All funds go to The Kenya Initiative: From Street To School

11/27/2025

Just one week left in our Our Annual Art Fundraiser called a HARAMBEE--The community pulls together." Featuring a Silent Auction Table, Charcuterie Boards and the back gallery filled with Kenya Photographs! Come and take a peek! All proceeds go to The Kenya Initiative: From Street To School!

11/21/2025

I love portraiture! I will continue to share my photos of Kenya. Why do I take so many photos like this on my trips to Kenya? Because I want to tell stories of my friendships with the wonderful people there. I want to tell their story. I want to create awareness so others can contribute to make their lives better, to give them a future and a hope. And lastly to frame and sell the framed photos to help finance the work of The Kenya Initiative. Please consider buying a favourite to support the work being done! Contact me!

11/20/2025

Lots of donated art and goods on our Silent Auction table for The Kenya Initiative: From Street To School!--Sarah Hunter--Road Home (Encaustic 14 X14) FR.

11/19/2025

Lots of donated art and goods on our Silent Auction table for The Kenya Initiative: From Street To School!-- Karen Fox--Harvest Time in Scugog (Oil 18 x 24) Framed.

11/15/2025

Over two dozen Charcuterie boards for sale with all proceeds going to The Kenya Initiative: From Street To School! Part of our Annual Art Fundraiser called a HARAMBEE--Swahili for "The Community Pulls Together"

11/14/2025

Our Annual Art Fundraiser begins today called a HARAMBEE--The community pulls together." Featuring a Silent Auction Table, Charcuterie Boards and the back gallery filled with Kenya Photographs! Come and take a peek! All proceeds go to The Kenya Initiative: From Street To School!

02/28/2025

"Wait for me!" Kenya Elephants I will continue to share my photos of Kenya. Why do I take so many photos like this on my trips to Kenya? Because I want to tell stories of my friendships with the wonderful people there. I want to tell their story. I want to create awareness so others can contribute to make their lives better, to give them a future and a hope. And lastly to frame and sell the framed photos to help finance the work of The Kenya Initiative. Please consider buying a favourite to support the work being done! Contact me!

02/27/2025

I am truly thankful for the partnership with John Njane--our man on the ground for The Kenya Initiative. Without him the life-changing support and care for the students simply would not happen. Thank you John from the bottom of my heart!

02/04/2025

One of my very favourite Kenya photos--their happiness makes me feel happy! I will continue to share my photos of Kenya. Why do I take so many photos like this on my trips to Kenya? Because I want to tell stories of my friendships with the wonderful people there. I want to tell their story. I want to create awareness so others can contribute to make their lives better, to give them a future and a hope. And lastly to frame and sell the framed photos to help finance the work of The Kenya Initiative empowering students through education . Please consider buying a favourite photo to support the work being done! Contact me! https://www.thekenyainitiative.com/
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Website

http://www.thekenyainitiative.com/

Address

334 Princess Street
Kingston, ON
K7L1B6

Opening Hours

Monday	9:30am - 5:30pm
Tuesday	9:30am - 5:30pm
Wednesday	9:30am - 5:30pm
Thursday	9:30am - 5:30pm
Friday	9:30am - 5:30pm
Saturday	10am - 5pm