Fr. Tom's Kids

Located on the other side of the hedge behind the boy’s dormitory are the graves of Fr. Tom and Fr. Lewis, two Dominicans who lived here at the compound and were involved in the school.  The Dominicans founded a sponsorship program, The East African Children’s Fund, later named in memory of Fr. Tom (“Fr. Tom’s Kids”) that seeks and provides sponsorship for children to attend school and gain an education; an opportunity some of the students would not otherwise have. All the students at Our Lady of Grace are funded through Fr. Tom’s Kids. Therefore, the school would not exist without the organizations sponsorship. Many of the sponsors for these students live in America or the UK and provide what they can for individual students. The organization also funds students who have graduated from high school and have the grades to attend university. In Kenya, all 12^th graders take what is called the National Exam. If boys receive an A- or higher or girls receive a B or higher the Kenyan government will pay for them to attend a university. If students do receive grades even just below this mark they must find their own private funding for their education. Students loans are also not something that really occur in Kenya so it is often very difficult for qualified, hard working kids who have done well in school but just miss the mark on this exam to go on to higher learning. Fr. Toms Kid’s (FTK) helps provide for those kids as well. This organization, however, is in dire need of funding. Much of what we are doing here in Kenya is gathering information to create presentation to give upon our arrival in the US to help FTK and OLG get funding to continue providing for their students.With God's grace our efforts will be fruitful.