Crossing Thresholds Inc

OUR MISSION IS NOT SIMPLY TO BUILD SCHOOLS. CROSSING THRESHOLDS PARTNERS WITH GRASSROOTS LEADERS TO CREATE HEALTHY AND HOLISTIC LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS THAT OFFER CHILDREN A MEANINGFUL CHANCE TO BREAK THE CYCLE OF POVERTY. OUR SCHOOLS ALSO INCLUDE FEEDING PROGRAMS, MEDICAL CARE, AND MUSICAL EDUCATION.

IN ADDITION TO THE FOUR PRIMARY SCHOOLS THAT CROSSING THRESHOLDS HAS BUILT 1) FAFU-FACING THE FURURE, WHICH FEEDS AND EDUCATES 375 STUDENTS, 2)GARDEN OF HOPE WHICH FEEDS AND EDUCATES OVER 465 STUDENTS, 3)DRUG FIGHTERS ORPHANAGE/PRIMARY SCHOOL FEEDS AND EDUCATES 280 STUDENTS AND SERVES AS A PERMANENT RESIDENCE FOR 50 ORPHANS, 4)CENTER OF HOPE WHICH FEEDS AND EDUCATES 175 STUDENTS, WE BUILT A NEW SCHOOL FOR COMMUNITY PILLARS, WHICH FEEDS AND EDUCATES 160 STUDENTS. IN 2021 WE PURCHASED LAND TO BUILD A PERMANENT SCHOOL FOR CENTER OF HOPE, WHICH CURRENTLY RENTS THEIR SPACE. WE PLAN TO BUILD THEIR NEW SCHOOL IN 2022.

OUR HIGH SCHOOL, WERU,WHICH OPENED IN 2016, IS 100 MILES NORTH OF NAIROBI.IN 2021, WE FINISHED ADDRESSED THE ISSUES OF EROSION/DRAINAGE AND THE BUILDING OF A RETAINING WALL. WE ALSO ADRESSED A FIRE IN THE DORMITORY AREA.

IN 2021 WE DID NOT RUN ANY TRIPS.

STUDENT SPONSORSHIP/MENTORSHIP PROGRAM -IN 2020, OUR STUDENT SPONSORSHIP / MENTORSHIP GREW IN POPULARITY AND SCOPE. NEARLY 150 NORTH AMERICANS SUPPORTED A STUDENT IN ONE OF OUR PRIMARY SCHOOLS FOR THE SCHOOL YEAR. THE PROGRAM IS A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE A SIGNIFICANT RELATIONSHIP WITH ONE OF OUR 6TH, 7TH OR 8TH GRADE STUDENTS. THE DONATION COVERS THE COST FOR SCHOOL FEES, TEST FEES, TWO MEALS A DAY, AND MEDICAL CHECKUPS FOR AN ENTIRE YEAR. IT ALSO GIVES MENTORS AN OPPORTUNITY TO CONNECT WITH THEIR STUDENT ON A DEEPER LEVEL. FOUR TIMES A YEAR, MENTORS ARE ABLE TO SKYPE WITH THEIR SPONSORED STUDENT TO OFFER WORDS OF ENCOURAGEMENT AND ADVICE. NEW PROGRAMS AND INITIATIVES: IN 2020, EVERYTHING CHANGED ON THE GROUND IN KENYA. DUE TO THE PANDEMIC, SCHOOLS SHUT DOWN IN MARCH, AND DID NOT REOPEN UNTIL NOVEMBER. IN KIBERA, THE SHUTDOWN (ECONOMIC AND OTHERWISE) WAS CATASTROPHIC. IT LEFT HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF ADULTS OUT OF WORK (AND FOOD INSECURE), AND HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF STUDENTS OUT OF SCHOOL. IN THE ABSENCE OF INTERNET ACCESSIBILITY, THIS MEANT NO LEARNING FOR CHILDREN. IN RESPONSE TO THE CRISIS, CROSSING THRESHOLDS LAUNCHED AN EMERGENCY RELIEF FUNDRAISING CAMPAIGN TO ADDRESS THE SITUATION ON THE GROUND. IMMEDIATELY, WE TURNED OUR SCHOOLS INTO FOOD BANKS AND DELIVERED FOOD STAPLES TO EACH SCHOOL BI-WEEKLY FOR THE BALANCE OF THE YEAR. FOOD DELIVERIES GUARANTEED RICE, BEANS, AND MISCELLANEOUS OTHER ITEMS TO STAVE OFF HUNGER. IN TOTAL, WE PROVIDED FOOD FOR MORE THAN 1000 FAMILIES. IN ADDITION TO OUR FEEDING PROGRAM, WE PURCHASED HIGH-TECH PRINTERS/COPIERS FOR OUR PRIMARY SCHOOLS. THIS INITIATIVE ALLOWED TEACHERS TO PREPARE AND HAND OUT TAKE-HOME ASSIGNMENTS TO OUR PRIMARY STUDENTS. THEREFORE, THE OLDER STUDENTS WERE ABLE TO CONTINUE LEARNING AND HAVE MORE STRUCTURE IN THEIR DAILY LIVES. IN SUMMARY, CROSSINGS THRESHOLDS WAS ABLE TO ADAPT AND REMAIN NIMBLE. WE KEPT OUR STAFF AND TEACHERS EMPLOYED WHEN MANY ORGANIZATIONS HAD TO LAY OFF EMPLOYEES. WE KEPT OUR STUDENTS ENGAGED WITH LEARNING WHEN MANY OTHER CHILDREN HAD LITTLE OR NOTHING TO OCCUPY THEM. AND PERHAPS MOST IMPORTANTLY, WE KEPT MORE THAN 1000 FAMILIES FED DURING PRECARIOUS AND UNCERTAIN TIMES.