What is the Helping Hands Organisation of Kenya?
The Helping Hands Organisation of Kenya is dedicated to meeting the training needs
of the local community and, specifically, the needs of disabled and disadvantaged
people with limited financial and educational resources.
Helping Hands was begun in 1997 by Dr. Hellmut Mascher and his wife Elise who had
both been working in Kenya since the 1960's. They began the organisation after seeing
firsthand the plight of disabled people who face public stigma and prejudice from
mainstream Kenyan society. In 2005 the couple was joined by their son Dr. Bernard
Mascher and his wife Celia. They then began to launch a series of projects designed to
bring the disabled out of the shadows and provide them with hope for the future.
Initially the Mascher's started a nursery school which aimed to integrate physically
disabled children with regular students. Following this success they plan to implement
vocational training courses for both disabled and non-disabled youths to provide them
with employment and life skills.
Financial Controls and Governance
The Helping Hands Organisation of Kenya is governed by a board made of
men and women of different races, tribes and religious affiliations. The
organisation prepares an annual financial report which conforms with
International Financial Reporting Standards. These accounts are audited
and presented to the NGO Board of Kenya and the Maranatha Missionary
Society of Canada.
Funding for the organisation is raised through local and international
donors and is used solely to support the activities in Kenya. In addition
any profits accruing from projects run by Helping Hands are used to run the
selfsame projects. In this way self-sufficiency can be encouraged throughout.
Helping Hands makes extensive use of volunteers to keep administrative costs
down throughout the organisation. Local personnel are paid a competitive salary
while other staff members, including the directors, do not draw a salary at all.
How You Can Help!
People of good will around the world can help the Helping Hands Organisation of
Kenya in a variety of ways:
- Sponsorship and Volunteers
- Financial Support
- Donations of Equipment and Supplies
Sponsorship and Volunteers
Helping Hands always needs people to sponsor centre participants,
programs and employees to help control costs. In addition volunteers who
bring their expertise and skill to our programs have always been a mainstay
of our success.
Financial Support
Helping Hands is a registered charity and is in considerable need of support
by people who wish to make a difference. The organisation is also registered
with the Kenyan government as a Non Government Organisation (NGO Number:
OP.218/051/97207/1193). Helping Hands is associated with the Maranatha Charitable
Society which itself is certified with the Kenyan government as a charity (No. 19992)
and is also directly accountable to the Maranatha Missionary Society of Canada.
Donations of Equipment and Supplies
Helping hands is grateful for any material aid which will help us provide
a better teaching environment for our students. Our needs include:
- Office and computer equipment
- Woodworking tools
- Supplies for the nursery school
- Any other materials which can be used in the classrooms, workshops and living spaces
Any help is appreciated!
Donations can be made directly through Paypal or by checks mailed to:
Canada
472 Academy Road
Winnipeg, Manitoba
R3N 0C7
Helping Hands - Empowerment through Education!
