Dear Friends, Greetings from all of us at Ageno Special Learning Center in Kendu Bay, Kenya! As we look back over the first half of 2026, our hearts are filled with gratitude. Every milestone we have reached has been possible because of God’s faithfulness and your generous support. Thank you for believing in our mission of providing love, education, dignity, and hope to children with special needs. Celebrating Our Ageno Stars Every day we witness incredible progress in the lives of our students. Children continue to gain confidence, develop communication skills, learn academics, build independence, and grow socially. These victories may seem small to some, but for our families they are life-changing. Our school continues to be a place where every child is valued, encouraged, and given the opportunity to reach their God-given potential. Learning Beyond the Classroom This year our students have enjoyed many memorable experiences together. We celebrated birthdays with families, welcomed special visitors, participated in church activities, learned practical life skills, cared for our school garden, and strengthened friendships through play and shared meals. Our students also continue learning vocational and daily living skills that prepare them for greater independence.

Growing Our Sustainability Projects God has continued to bless our efforts to become more self-sustaining. This year we have: *Successfully hatched several batches of chicks, including one hatch of 33 healthy chicks. *Continued developing our poultry project to help generate income for the school. *Expanded practical agricultural learning opportunities for our students. *Continued growing vegetables and strengthening other income-generating activities that support our ministry. These projects not only provide learning opportunities but also help us move toward long-term sustainability. Strengthening Our Facilities We continue improving our school facilities to create a safe and welcoming environment for our students and community. Our vision includes completing additional spaces that can serve both our students and the wider community through training, meetings, conferences, and after-school programs. Every improvement brings us one step closer to creating a center of excellence for children with special needs in our region. A Growing Challenge While we celebrate many successes, we are also facing one of our greatest challenges. Transportation has become the biggest barrier preventing children from attending school. Several families live too far away for their children to walk safely, and many children with physical disabilities cannot travel by motorcycle. As a result, some students have had to stop attending simply because they have no reliable transportation. Our Greatest Need: A School Bus Our most urgent need today is a wheelchair-accessible school bus. A school bus would: *Bring children safely to school each day. *Allow children with physical disabilities to attend regularly. *Increase enrollment by reaching families who currently have no transportation. *Reduce absenteeism. *Enable educational field trips and community participation. *Help more children experience the love, education, and opportunities they deserve. A school bus would do far more than transport children—it would open doors to education, inclusion, hope, and brighter futures. Looking Ahead As we continue serving children with special needs, we remain committed to providing quality education rooted in Christian values. We believe every child is uniquely created by God and deserves the opportunity to learn, grow, and thrive. Thank you for standing with us through your prayers, encouragement, financial support, and friendship. You are making a lasting difference in the lives of our Ageno Stars and their families. Please continue praying for our students, staff, families, and especially for God’s provision of a school bus that will allow many more children to access the education they deserve. With sincere gratitude, Lydia Owallah Founder & Executive Director Ageno Special Learning Center Kendu Bay, Kenya “Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” — Matthew 5:16

We are delighted to share a moment of great pride and hope for our community. We recently had the honor of welcoming H.E. Governor Gladys Wanga for the official opening of the Ageno Special Learning Centre, also known as Ageno Community—a landmark achievement for the families we serve and everyone who has supported this journey. The opening of the Ageno Community Centre marks more than the launch of a building; it represents opportunity, dignity, and a shared commitment to empowering children, parents, and the wider community. In her remarks, Governor Wanga emphasized the importance of community-driven spaces that nurture education, wellbeing, and social development—values that are at the heart of Ageno’s mission. News of Ageno Community’s impact in the lives of children with special needs spread like wildfire across Kendu Bay and the wider Homa Bay County. This growing recognition caught the attention of the Governor, who expressed a strong desire to see the work of Ageno for herself. On the day of the opening, despite having a Governors’ meeting scheduled, Governor Wanga made the deliberate choice to attend and officially open Ageno Community. During her speech, she shared that she had made the better choice by coming to Ageno—a moment that deeply affirmed our mission and work.

Perhaps the most powerful symbol of the day was seeing our stars—our children—seated with the Governor on the podium, visible, celebrated, and heard loud and clear. This is something that would not have happened before. It was a profound statement of inclusion and dignity. Ageno Community has given children with special needs a platform to be recognized as valued members of society, not hidden, but honored. This school will serve as a safe and vibrant hub for learning, mentorship, parental engagement, and community programs. For our children, it is a place to grow and dream. For parents, it is a space for support and connection. For the community, it is a symbol of what can be achieved when partnerships and goodwill come together.

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to Governor Gladys Wanga for her leadership, humility, and encouragement, and to our donors, partners, parents, and friends whose generosity and belief made this vision a reality. Your support has laid a strong foundation—one that will positively impact lives for years to come.

As we look ahead, we invite you to continue walking with us. Together, we can expand programs, reach more families, and ensure that the Ageno Community Centre remains a beacon of hope, inclusion, and transformation. Blessings, Lydia

To God Be the Glory

I can hardly believe that just one year ago, we opened the doors of Ageno Community to welcome our very first students with special needs. From the very beginning, I have called them stars—because they shine so brightly and continue to teach me more than I could ever imagine.

Over this past year, our stars have blossomed. They have made friends, built meaningful relationships with God and with others, woven beautiful mats, cooked, cleaned, laughed, made soap. Most importantly, they’ve enjoyed the gift of simply being children. Watching their joy and growth has been a blessing beyond words.

Ageno’s program has been offered to parents free of charge, and we thank God for His faithfulness. Through your prayers, encouragement, and generous financial support, we have seen the hand of God guiding us each step of the way. Truly, we would not be here without people like you standing with us.

But Ageno doesn’t just cater to the stars. We go above and beyond to understand both our children and their parents. We carry out home visits, because we believe knowing a child means knowing their family story. Teacher Joyce and I recently visited one of our stars’ homes, and not long after, we returned with two mattresses and a comforter set. We took the opportunity to bless this family, and it reminded us that Ageno is more than a school—it is a community of love and care.

As we celebrate one year, we also look forward with hope and excitement. We know there is still so much room for growth, and we trust that the best is yet to come. Please take a moment to Click Here and enjoy this short video we’ve prepared—and as you do, may you be reminded that He is Lord, the One who gives hope. In the Luo language, “geno” means hope, our stars can proudly say Ageno – I Hope!

Our stars are back—excited, energetic, and ready to shine! This term is short, but there’s so much to cover as we wrap up the year.

Before lessons began, we held a wonderful parents’ meeting to connect, plan, and pray together for our children’s success.

We also took time for training on important tools like the gait belt and others—equipping ourselves to serve our learners even better.

We are truly grateful for the generous donations from Angie, Carter, Sherri, Hellen, Cyndy, Gina, Sidney, and Dorothy Oloo. God bless you all!

Our prayer is for a fruitful, joyful, and successful term ahead! Would you pray with us?

Saying goodbye to my grandsons was so hard—we played, read, swam, cycled, learned, and sang together. We did it all! But duty called, and it was time to come back and prepare our stars for school.

When I returned, I called teacher Joyce, and together we drove right into work. And as we worked, I couldn’t help but thank God for one thing that has truly transformed our space: our perimeter wall.

I remember how exposed our children with special needs once were. Strangers would stop and stare, and our little ones felt shy, fearful, and vulnerable. We prayed and prayed for a wall that would give them the safety, privacy, and dignity they deserve.

Then came a team of angels—Robin, Tim, Steve, and Rob from St. Michael and All Angels, Dallas TX—who turned that prayer into reality.

Today, our stars play, learn, and grow without fear. We work late into the evening with peace of mind. And the gift of privacy and protection has become priceless to us.

From our hearts—thank you for building more than a wall. You built a safe haven.

I once read, “God doesn’t always show you the details when He gives you an inspiration. But He lights the path—and calls you to follow by faith.”

Opening and running Ageno Community has been nothing short of a journey of faith. What began as a spark in the heart has grown into a vibrant, thriving space that continues to amaze me. The growth has been so fast, I sometimes find myself in awe of what God is doing right before our eyes.

Our shining stars—our “why”—are flourishing in an environment many of them never dreamed possible. I see their confidence bloom daily. Their joy and sense of belonging radiate, and it’s deeply rooted in the love they receive from our dedicated staff and supportive parents.

Just recently, Ageno was honored to host a wonderful team from Saint Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church in Dallas, Texas. Thank you Rev. Robin, Steve, Robert, and Tim for spoiling our stars with love and for blessing us with something we’ve long prayed for: a perimeter wall that now protects and gives our stars the privacy and safety they deserve. Your impact will be felt for generations.

Only two weeks later, another beautiful surprise arrived—Teachers Without Borders from Sweden.

They came to conduct workshops on special needs education in over 20 schools around Kendu Bay.

After visiting Ageno, they were so impressed that they chose to bring visiting teachers to observe and learn from what we do here. What a testament to the excellence and heart behind our work!

At Ageno, our vision has always been to shift the narrative and break the myths surrounding children with different abilities. Though we’re not even a year old, the impact is already enormous.

• We now have a two-story building, giving us more space to run meaningful activities.
• We have a fishpond with 400 tilapias and our children enjoy healthy meals grown right here in our gardens and greenhouse.
• Most importantly, our children are growing not just physically or academically, but spiritually. They know the love of God. Just recently, they reflected on the story of the widow in 1 Kings 17:13–15, who shared her last meal—and experienced God’s abundance. What a powerful lesson in faith and sacrifice!

And now, we invite you to be a part of continuing the Ageno story.

Soon we will be launching a new strategic fundraising program called “ProVi$ion”. This is a big step towards creating sustainability and consistency for our beloved stars and their future. Whether you’ve walked with us from the beginning or are just now discovering Ageno, this is your opportunity to join hands with us and help shape a world that believes in every child’s potential.

It is my prayer that you will be part of this journey. Together, we can light more paths—by faith.

With gratitude and hope,
Lydia Owallah
Founder, Ageno Community

I’m beyond thrilled to share some truly exciting news from Ageno Community here in Kendu Bay!

God has done it again — our incredible partner, Coventry Reserve, has blessed us with a generous financial gift that will help us complete several of our ongoing projects. We are deeply touched by their generosity, and we truly appreciate their unwavering support from the very start.

While working at Coventry Reserve, I had a vision. A vision to create a program and a space for children with special needs that was as nurturing and enriching as the one I was fortunate enough to be a part of at Coventry. Today, I can proudly say that dream is now a reality here at Ageno Community, and I couldn’t be more excited!

The love, laughter, and joy that fills our building every single day is beyond encouraging. It’s nothing short of amazing to witness how our children are thriving in an environment that truly honors their unique abilities. Parents have shared wonderful feedback, telling us how they’re seeing real changes at home — their children are becoming more organized, responsible, and self-aware. I truly believe that this growth is a direct result of the supportive, structured environment we’ve worked so hard to create here at Ageno.

Integrating Fun with Learning

One parent shared how much they appreciate our integration of brain-building activities with academics. These activities are not only fun for the kids but also help them develop essential skills like coordination and focus — all of which play a vital role in their overall growth and well-being.

A Foundation of Faith

But for me, one of the most special parts of our daily routine is the time we spend in prayer and reflecting on our verse of the day. We begin each day by connecting with God, setting a positive and intentional tone for everything that follows.

Our verse of the day, Psalms 127:3 — “Children are a gift from the Lord; they are a reward from Him” — has become a cornerstone of our community. It serves as a powerful reminder that every child here is a precious gift from God. For many of our children, they are miracles — answers to their parents’ prayers. And it’s such an honor to help them grow both in their relationship with God and in their personal development.

A Journey of Growth

I am so deeply grateful for the opportunity to walk alongside these families and children, seeing them grow stronger, more confident, and filled with joy. This is truly the dream I had, and I’m so excited for what the future holds as we continue to nurture, uplift, and support one another in this beautiful community.

Thank you all for being part of this incredible journey with us. The blessings continue to pour in, and I can’t wait to see all that God has in store for us!

Loving,
Lydia

September 2024 Ageno opened it’s doors to serve children with special needs in the Kendu Bay region of Kenya. Enjoy this video about the first weeks.