Kenya Kids is a nonprofit that supports students in Kenya’s Kaloleni sub-region through education sponsorships. It is guided by a volunteer board of seven Americans and works in partnership with Touch Africa Child Education Project to expand educational access and opportunity in one of Kenya’s most underserved rural areas.
Meet the Students
Kenya Kids regularly seeks sponsors for children in need of educational support. Want to see an example of the children you could support? We’d love to introduce you to one of the boys and girls currently awaiting sponsorship. These bios reflect the real circumstances of students waiting for a sponsor like you.
| STUDENT NAME | S.C.G. |
| SCHOOL | Kaloleni Sub Region Primary |
| AGE | 11 Years |
| GRADE | One |
| RELIGION | Muslim |
| GENDER | Female |
| PERSONAL AND FAMILY INFORMATION |
| S.C.G. is the fourth born in a family of seven children, one boy and six girls. She comes from an extended family where her mother was the third wife, chosen for her strong skills in caring for livestock. The family had lived well, supported by a large herd of cattle owned by her father. Tragically, a catastrophic drought struck the area, wiping out all the animals and plunging the family into poverty. Their situation worsened when S.C.G.’s father suffered a serious fall from a tall palm tree, leaving him permanently disabled and unable to work. The family now lives in a modest two-room mud hut, and S.C.G. had to delay starting school due to these hardships. Despite these challenges, S.C.G. is a bright and motivated young girl. She dreams of becoming a teacher and excels in Mathematics, English, and Kiswahili. In her free time, she enjoys rope skipping with friends. |
| STUDENT NAME | E.L.Z. |
| SCHOOL | Kaloleni Sub Region Primary |
| AGE | 9 Years |
| GRADE | Two |
| RELIGION | Christian |
| GENDER | Male |
| PERSONAL AND FAMILY INFORMATION |
| E.L.Z. is always smiling. He is the third of four children, with one brother and two sisters. His mother sells fried potatoes in town, earning very little, while his father picks up work as a day laborer at construction sites and occasionally helps cultivate other people’s farms. The family lives in a single rented room, sleeping on mats and often getting by on just one meal a day. Despite these challenges, E.L.Z. is a determined and hardworking student. His teachers speak highly of him and continually encourage him to stay focused so he can one day achieve his dream of becoming a doctor. His favorite subjects are Mathematics, English, and Science, and he loves playing soccer in his free time. |
How It Works
Kenya Kids is a nonprofit education sponsorship program supporting children in and around Kaloleni, Kenya. Founded through Eastwind Community Church in Boise, Idaho, we became our own nonprofit in 2020.
We sponsor students from kindergarten through high school and trade school:
➤ $40/month for primary school
➤ $70/month for secondary or trade school (boarding)
Sponsorship covers tuition, uniforms, meals, medical checkups, and support from local field officers and counselors.
Students attend primary school through 9th grade, then take a National Exam for high school placement. To stay sponsored in high school, students must maintain a C- average or better. Those who don’t qualify can attend trade school to learn skills like tailoring, carpentry, or auto mechanics.
Sponsors will receive report card updates three times a year, plus letters and photos from their child.
If you’re interested or would like more information, please reach out to Gayle at gayleverschoor@kenyakids.us
Our Team
Gayle Verschoor
Executive Director
Gayle Verschoor is the Director of Kenya Kids, an education sponsorship nonprofit serving students in the rural Kaloleni region of Kenya. She began managing the program in 2017 and helped establish it as an official nonprofit in 2020. Kenya Kids is guided by a U.S.-based volunteer board and partners with Touch Africa to expand access to education in one of Kenya’s most underserved areas.
Gayle earned her degree in Secondary Education from Boise State University in 2000, with a focus in History. She lives in St. George, Utah with her husband of 35 years, Steve, and their loyal Great Dane, Stanley. They have two sons: Joshua, 25, an ICU nurse in Salt Lake City, and Matt, 23, a cyber analyst in Seattle. Gayle enjoys pickleball, hiking, and yoga in her free time.
Cathy Batchelor
Board Member
Cathy believes education empowers individuals and uplifts communities. As a sponsor and board member, she’s seen Kenya Kids help students grow into self-sufficient adults. Cathy brings years of experience to the board with past board positions with a Community College, a Taxing District Board, and a Local Non-Profit After School Program.
Her professional work experience include marketing positions with several companies, helping them grow from infancy to large corporations. She has a passion for travel and learning about other cultures in the world and hopes to use her experience to help make Kenya Kids a model for education-focused nonprofits in impoverished communities.
Patty Cole
Board Member
Patty believes “Children are the world’s most valuable resource and its best hope for the future” — John Fitzgerald Kennedy. After visiting Kenya in 2022, she was moved by the impact of the sponsorship program and the dedication of its staff. She became a sponsor to twin girls, Faith and Betty, and later joined the Kenya Kids board.
Patty holds a degree in Communications and Business and is a Registered Cardiac Sonographer with over 40 years of experience in pediatric, fetal, and adult care. She retired in 2024 as manager of St. Luke’s Echo Lab in Idaho, where she led multiple labs across hospitals and clinics. Her firsthand experience in Kenya, paired with her medical background, continues to inspire her commitment to children’s education, health, and well-being.
Sharyl Jackson
Board Member
Sharyl Jackson has been on the board for Kenya Kids since its inception. She has been a child sponsor since 2011 and has visited Kenya twice to see her sponsored child and the rest of the TACEP community.
Sharyl is a retired CPA and Business System Analyst. She now works for event management companies that provide security for all varieties of entertainment and sporting events. Sharyl’s favorite activity is spending time with her children, grandchildren, and friends. When not at home in her garden, Sharyl can be found traveling with her camera or golf clubs.
Jacque Street
Board Member, Treasurer
Jacque Street is the Treasurer of Kenya Kids. She has been working in this capacity since 2022.
Jacque is a CPA and a graduate of the University of Northern Colorado with a degree in Business Administration – Accounting.
Jacque and her husband, Dave, live in Boise, Idaho. They have enjoyed traveling to Kenya where they have met the children and their families that they have sponsored over the years.
Joan Stephens
Board Member, Secretary
Joan Stephens is a new board member and Secretary for the Kenya Kids organization. Joan and her husband Jim have been sponsoring children since 2012 and Joan enjoyed traveling to Kenya in April 2025 to meet the children and their families.
Joan owns a bookkeeping business, Crossroadsabc.biz and has worked with Jim in their businesses since 1986, doing bookkeeping and administrative work. Together they have 4 children and 12 grandchildren. She enjoys spending time with them, playing piano and reading. She has served on several boards including Genesis World Mission, another 5013c, the NARI National board, and the Sandler Franchisee Advisory Council.
Mary Tate
Board Member
Mary Tate became a board member after her trip to Kenya in 2025, to visit the children she and her husband sponsor. She met and hugged her children and their families, was inspired by the Kenya Kids Staff, and returned home with a full heart.
Mary taught for 34 years, with a degree in elementary education, with a master’s in curriculum and instruction. She also served on the board of Boise Public Schools Foundation, which helps teachers expand their students’ learning experiences.
Mary and Jim have been married 50 years. They raised two boys who are married with families of their own, and they are thankfully living nearby. Mary’s favorite time is with her family and friends. She also enjoys hiking, biking, pickleball, skiing and walking their dog. Mary is so thankful for her years as a teacher and hopes that her experience benefits Kenya Kids.
Kenya Kids 