Meet two strong women who stood by their faith and their desire to help bring up their village’s children out of hunger, poverty, alcoholism, and hiv/aids.

Jeni Shayo is the teacher for the nursery school. She has been helping Mama Mrina since the beginning in 1996. Her husband became abusive to her and her two children, and was locking them out of the house. She left him after he threatened to kill her. In 2003 she moved in with her mother. Her first-born finished primary school and is now a housegirl, living with a family and doing chores for them. Her other child is Shedrack,

She thanks God for the ability to serve as a teacher. She loves to see these children come to know God. It makes her happy to see visitors who come with words of encouragement and small things that help the kids, such as story books, picture books and jump ropes. Her work is starting to be recognized: by people in the community who see these children learning and smiling; and by teachers in the government schools, where many of her former students are doing well.  

That recognition reflects the biggest change she has noticed in the last 10 years. As her former nursery students progress through the primary school system, they can see that their scores are above average and improving. They've also noted that the children's spiritual growth is good, even with the challenges of food, fees and HIV/AIDS.

Jeni attributes some of the spiritual growth to Glory Church, which happens every other Saturday. This is a church for kids that is run by kids. They have pastors and deacons and evangelists and even a board. On the days they meet, the children fast until noon. Even on the Saturdays they don't meet, many of them fast because they want to sacrifice. They pray for each other's lives and problems, such as those who don't have clothes to wear. Recently they were given some clothes, which strengthens the kids' belief that God answers prayer.

Jeni's job comes with difficulties, too. The school has virtually no supplies. It meets in a shed made of wooden planks with a iron-sheet roof. The blackboard is a jagged fragment, the remnants of a board eaten by termites. There are no desks or chairs. Wooden pews are dragged up the hill here from the church, about 400 meters away, for the nursery students to sit on. The only water source is about 500 meters down the hill from here. The only books are a few that have been donated. The nursery class operates with no budget and no funding. Jeni is not paid for her work.

Her lack of income makes it impossible for Jeni to help her daughter finish school. The hardest part of her job, she says, is going home at the end of the day. She's given her life to God. She has no salary. There's no food at home. There's no money even for soap. “It's hard to go home and face reality,” she says.

This job has changed her. She sees herself gaining experience. “Every class has a different challenge, and I learn from facing them,” she says. “Each class comes with a different face. Some children's families give them backgrounds that are hard to deal with.”

She worries about the nursery students being looked down upon when they start government primary school because they come from a poor nursery. She wishes they had something official looking, like uniforms. She lists her needs as a teacher to include uniforms and basic supplies.

Jeni's prayers:

• For my children, I pray to see them grow up, get a good education, and do good in their lives.

• For my job, that I could get a little support, even soap, for my work.

• For the school, that the kids who come from far could get transport to come here and learn.

• For Mwika, that God may save the people.

A humble vision can change lives. When Mama Mrina recognized that, she put a plan in action to help the children of her village.

She is pictured with her husband, a Pentecostal pastor.