IMPACT STORIES
Every family that walks through our program carries a story of transformation. Here are just a few...
STORY 01
FINGERPRINTS TO PARTNERSHIPS
From Struggle to Strength — Ife's Story of Resilience
Ife is a single mom full of spirit, grit, and determination. She's walked through some incredibly hard seasons, but she never gave up. When Ife first joined our program, she couldn't read or write. She signed her name with a fingerprint. She had no knowledge of saving, no bank account, and the idea of a business plan was completely foreign to her. But recently, Ife returned — now a proud graduate of our November 2024 class — to speak to the current moms in our program. She stood before them and said something we'll never forget: 'When I started, I didn't believe in the program. But I still saved. I did my homework. I started a business.'
With her savings and matching funds from Because of Kennedy, Ife bought 80 chickens and feed to launch her poultry business. She was thriving — until tragedy struck. The feed she purchased with her fifth matching fund turned out to be bad. It killed 95% of her chickens. She had saved, borrowed, and worked so hard — and now, everything was slipping away.
This is a woman who showed up to every literacy class, every training workshop. She gave it her all. When it looked like she was going to lose everything, Because of Kennedy stepped in. We helped her purchase a sheep and a few chickens — not enough to replace what she had lost, but enough to begin again.
Her resilience is paying off. Her business has grown. Now Ife has fifteen sheep, 55 chickens, and 3 bulls. In fact, her progress caught the attention of local government officials — and they've now offered to partner with her to help grow her business even more. What a testimony of faith, perseverance, and hope!
"Today I'm here all dressed up. But if you come to my home, you'll find me in old clothes, working hard every day to care for my animals that has helped me provide for my children."
— Ife, Program Graduate
STORY 02
LETTER THAT CHANGED EVERYTHING
She was dumpster diving, but not anymore — Aster's Story
After two and a half years with us in our BoK Empowerment Program, everything changed. For the first time, she walked into a store and bought food for her children — just like everyone else. It's hard to even process that she went from dumpster diving to store shopping to feed her family. She went from despair to having hope, dignity, honor, and respect restored.
What changed everything for Aster was a letter she received from our supporters at BoK. For the first time, she heard that God knows her personally, cares deeply for her, and sees her as beautiful. With the training, counseling, and savings matching provided by Because of Kennedy, Aster started a used clothing business in her community — and she is already making plans to expand it.
Aster's transformation began with a single letter — written by a donor in the United States who chose to speak truth into a stranger's story. That letter crossed an ocean and changed everything.
"Because of Kennedy is a light in the darkness. God is revealing our shared humanity and uniting worlds. A simple letter from the US transformed not only one woman's life in Ethiopia but those of us she shared it with. I will always be grateful to Because of Kennedy, that connection strengthens me in ways I may never fully realize."
— Raeann Mendoza, Monthly Donor
YOU changed Aster's life. YOU are the reason she and other Ethiopian families are breaking the cycle of poverty, embracing their worth, and building new futures filled with hope. You have empowered them to create lasting change for themselves and their children. God Sees You, God Sees Aster! He loves you and cares deeply for you!
"I realized how much BoK cares about me, how God sees me as beautiful and loves me, and I feel ready to change my life. For the first time I am able to purchase basic and essential food items for my family because of this program."
— Aster, Program Graduate
STORY 03
A HOUSE FOR MAMA
From breaking a lock to owning her own home — Mulu's Story of Resilience
Despite living with a significant asthma condition, Mulu is a remarkably resilient woman. She hasn't let her health challenges stop her from pursuing life change. When Mulu joined the program she was living in an illegal settlement. With no place to live, Mulu and her two young boys broke the lock on a shed and lived there for several years until the government forced them to relocate; all homes in the area were being destroyed to develop the land.
While in the program, Mulu contributed to the required savings, attended all trainings, and worked hard with the staff to plan and dream. After Mulu completed the chicken husbandry training, with her savings and matching funds she received from BoK, Mulu bought 22 chickens. Six months later she sold most of the chickens to purchase a sheep. With her remaining savings at that time she added another sheep to her flock. She continued to work hard, graduated the program, and almost a year after graduation her health is good — she sold her sheep and now owns a cow.
In less than a year after graduating, Mulu purchased a cow — and her two boys, inspired by her example, joined a local savings group called Equb. Together, they were able to buy a home for their family. Mulu's hard work not only transformed her own life but also set a powerful example for her sons. With faith, training, determination, and your support — Mulu has turned her dreams into a reality.
"I am grateful for the opportunity. Thanks to BoK, I am good now! Saving is my life. If God wills it, I hope to have sheep, goats, and cows in the future, as well as to start a dairy business, sell milk and other products."
— Mulu, Program Graduate
TESTIMONIAL
Our partners are at the heart of our mission.
"Because of Kennedy is a high in the darkness. God is revealing our shared humanity and uniting worlds. A simple letter from the US transformed not only one women’s life in Ethiopia but those of us she shared it with. I will always be grateful to Because of Kennedy, that connection strengthens me in way I may never fully realize.
— Raeann Mendoza, Monthly Donor, Mission Trip Team Member
Give Today — Help Write the Next Story
Every gift funds a real family's journey — from fingerprints to flourishing, from despair to dignity, from darkness to life in Christ.
