Did you know that Africa has the largest concentration of young people in the world? We are thrilled to share that through our Sister Parish, Holy Cross Dandora in Kenya, we provide vital relief and expanded our support for students and young adults. 

Since Msgr. Torgerson made his first trip to Nairobi, Kenya in 2002, our community has played an important role in our Sister Parish in Dandora, a poor neighborhood of the country’s capital. While we could not visit this year, we have done our very best to support those most in need: since the beginning of the pandemic, we have sent over $20,000 to Dandora thanks to your generosity! 

Relief Efforts for Our Sister Parish

The pandemic hit Africa especially hard, with an already high unemployment and pervasive challenges to deliver aid where it’s most needed. Holy Cross Africa Ministry [HCAM], through a close partnership with the Holy Cross Mission Center in Notre Dame, did not miss a beat. We have provided relief where it was most needed:

• Deliver food support to 220+ families in small Christian communities between August and October
• Provide food and rent support to 50 youth members between August and December 2020
• Supporting the Holy Cross Parish & School with salaries for teachers and staff
• Providing assistance to the community of sisters (the Daughters of St. Theresa of the Child Jesus)
• Expanding our food program through Veronika’s Place between September and November
  
  

Continuing our Scholarship Reach

While students are out of session this year, we continue to maintain our support with full scholarships, while also providing support to teachers and staff at the St. James School. We are committed to funding scholarships for 20 primary school students, 17 high school students, and 6 tailoring school students. Your support ensures we can provide for these scholarships.

Empowering the Local Youth

In the last year, the Youth have inaugurated two important initiatives: a renovated basketball court, which helped the team grow to nearly 200 members (from 50 last year!), and the completion of upgrades to the Church’s music equipment that allows the community to celebrate Mass, while ensuring physical distancing. The youth are now exploring an idea to start a local café – modeled after Holy Grounds – and your support will allow us to keep empowering them!

Be Part of Our Outreach

Our work would not have been possible without dozens of generous donors from our parish who have made all of this – and more – possible. We thank those that have continued to support this vital ministry for our brothers and sisters in Kenya, and there are still ways that you can make an impact! Whatever you can give during our 2020-2021 Africa Education fundraiser will go a long way to support students, youth, and educators in our sister parish in Nairobi, Kenya. 

We continue to offer our prayers for our brothers and sisters in Kenya, that we may be able to make a small impact, with prayer or generous donations, to the cause of education and empowering the youth in our global community. 

-Monica Fernandez, Theresa Haley, Jakub Hlávka, Mary McLoughlin

HCAM Education Committee

Click Here to Donate to the HCAM Education Fund!

For more information, contact Delis Alejandro:  or (310) 566-1530.