Sonoma Academy and Village Hopecore International:
An Enduring Partnership

Since September of 2003, thanks to the support and inspiration of the Wendt Family International Speaker Series, Sonoma Academy students have had the privilege to learn about the transformative practice of business micro-lending, and have developed close ties with the founders and loan recipients of Village Hopecore International, a non-profit organization providing micro-loans for villagers in Kenya. This timeline shows the education and activities that have grown as a result of our partnership.

SA and VIH Partnership Timeline

September 2003

Sonoma Academy begins a partnership with Village Hopecore International (VHI). VHI Founder and President Dr. Kajira Mugambi and Medical Director Dr. Phil Rasori visit the school. They speak to the student body about business micro-loans and how these loans have changed people’s lives in the village of Chogoria, Kenya.

October – December 2003

For their CONNECTIONS project, students organize bake sales and a “pig-kissing” contest, raising $1,000 and inspiring local families to donate additional funds. The total raised during this school year is over $21,000 – enough to sponsor one group of twelve micro-loan recipients, and pay for a computer, printer, digital camera, and video camera for the village.

Head of School, Janet Durgin and Director of Connections, John Durgin

March 2004

Alex Counts, president of the Grameen Foundation (pioneer of small loans to the poor), speaks to SA students, sponsored by the Wendt Family International Speaker Series.

Fall 2004

Dr. Kajira Mugambi and his sister, Mary, visit SA and teach students about life in Chogoria and the benefits of micro-loans. In their CONNECTIONS class, a group of students form the “Kenya AIDS Project” to sponsor a nurse educator who provides AIDS prevention education for villagers, as well as basic medical care for the children of loan recipients.

Peter Naivasha, Community Public Health Nurse, and Dr. Kajira Mugambi, Director of Village Hopecore International. Mr. Naivasha’s HIV prevention and education work with the villagers of Chogoria is funded by Sonoma Academy student fundraising efforts in their CONNECTIONS program.

December 2004

The Press Democrat publishes an article, “Beyond Borders,” on SA students’ work in support of VHI.

January 2005

Three SA students visit the village of Chogoria and learn firsthand about the the families and small businesses supported by their fundraising efforts.

Sonoma Academy students with Alex Counts, President of the Grameen Foundation (center), Dr. Kajira Mugambi, Director of VHI, and Head of School Janet Durgin.

February 2005

A group of 10 students coordinates a fundraising art auction, raising over $14,000 for VHI. These funds are earmarked for education and micro-loans for a new group of 12 entrepreneurs, and to establish a project office.

June 2005

The funds raised by SA students are supporting micro-loans for twenty-four families in Chogoria. A sister school relationship has been established between SA and Chogoria Girls Secondary School and Chogoria Boys High School.

VHI’s Kaimenyi loan group, whose business loans are funded by student fundraising efforts in their CONNECTIONS program.

September 2005

The partnership between SA and VHI promises to be a long-term one as students renew their contact with villagers in Chogoria, tracking the progress of their businesses through email and fax communication.

Village Hopecore International

VHI’s mission is poverty eradication (mental and material) through the strategy of personal development for self-motivation, self-empowerment and self-sufficiency. Revolving micro-credit is provided for micro-enterprise, and vigorous education and training develops business and entrepreneurial mindsetting. Education and training for HIV/AIDS prevention and control is provided as poverty and HIV/AIDS are closely interwoven in poor rural village communities in Africa.

"It is unusual that a global studies program, particularly at a high school level, results in both a unique learning experience for the students involved and a significant benefit to a number of the less fortunate of our human family. It is also empowering to see the caring, committed and inspiring modeling leadership at Sonoma Academy, which has steadfastly and enthusiastically supported the generous spirit of making a difference in those students. In the long run, I can see a day when Sonoma Academy’s international education program and VHI’s vision, mission and objectives contribute substantially to a model of people-to-people diplomacy and to international peace and harmony."
- Dr. Kajira K. Mugambi, Founder and President, Village HopeCore International

Micro-lending is a system that provides low- or no-interest credit in the form of small loans (typically $50 - $400) to poor individuals or families so they can start a sustainable business.

To learn more about Village Hopecore International or to make a donation, please visit http://www.villagehopecore.org/index.htm