Mark and Linda run a non-profit foundation in Arkansas called Chicks for Children. They’ve partnered, both physically and financially, with Richard and Helen Makani for many years. Not too long ago they raised money to build a chicken coop and fill it with chickens for the orphanage farm. Their son, Jim, lived with the staff and children at the orphanage for five years. Working closely with the needs of the Makanis, the Coopers have largely been a part of an initiative to build a new, 100-child, all girl orphanage on the farm. This will rescue an incredible number of girls in Kipsongo and Kitale who are in the middle of the most dire and abusive situations.

Last year, Fort Wayne’s own Matilda Jane Clothing Co. (MJC) met the Coopers and came to know both the needs of Kipsongo and the work that the Makanis are doing there. MJC graciously decided to fund the construction of the new orphanage. In November, a group of women from the MJC team visited Kitale and worked with the children at the orphanage and the academy. Since then, construction has officially begun on the new orphanage. Because of the longtime relationship One Lucky Guitar has with MJC, I was insanely fortunate to be able to travel with a second team back to Kitale. The academy carved out a week for us and let our team run a series of activities and exercises with the kids each day.