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We are pleased to announce the appointment of our new director of Sam’s Place, Paul Musanya. He brings a wealth of experience in education and ministry, with a Diploma in Biblical and Religious Studies, a Bachelor’s Degree in Education, and a Master’s Degree in Education. He is joining us from The King's School International in Bujumbura, where he held the position of Deputy Head Teacher. Paul’s mission is to build capacity, employ as many deaf teachers as possible, and prepare our students to face the world with confidence. He plans to work closely with the Sam’s Place Foundation to expand our reach—not just across Kenya, but throughout Africa and beyond so that more children with hearing impairments can receive the strong start in life they deserve. Through it all, his belief remains simple: God is the ultimate factor in every human endeavor. His life, his work, and his family are living testimonies to His grace.
Paul’s wife, Hellen, is also joining the Sam’s Place team. Hellen is a highly accomplished educator with a diverse background, including professional development from the Pearson Training Centre and multiple language certificates from the Goethe Institute. Her career at Bujumbura International Montessori School was marked by outstanding success, including leading her students to achieve the top worldwide score in Pearson Edexcel International Mathematics in 2023. She is serving as the Director of Transition and Post Secondary Students at Sam's Place, where she helps guide students toward successful futures through higher education or vocational careers.
Paul and Hellen have been married since 2005 and are the proud parents of three sons. They are dynamic team dedicated to education and ministry, and we are so excited for this next chapter with them leading the way!
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We are overjoyed to share that four children, Venessa, Velina, Esther, and Hillary Clinton, have recently found refuge, hope, and family at Sam’s Place. All four come from dire circumstances shaped by poverty, abandonment, and social stigma against deafness. Venessa, Esther, and Hillary, all six years old, were living in conditions unfit for any child, without access to food, shelter, or medical care. Velina, only four, due to her mother’s inability to support her, had been left in the care of individuals who were unable to care for her well, leading to dangerous situations that put her at risk.
Thanks to the watchful eyes and compassion of local community members and the generosity of supporters like you, these children have now been rescued from cycles of neglect and placed into a loving, safe environment. At Sam’s Place, they are receiving education, healthcare, and stability. Your donations are not only transforming lives, they are saving them! Click their names below to learn more about them.
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Our children just finished their competition at the national music festival! We had a choral group make it to the national competition level, as well as two solo verses by Mercy and Jeddy! With some fierce competition, Jeddy placed third, Mercy placed eleventh, and the choral group placed tenth. We are so very proud of these students for their hard work and dedication!
It is also sports competition season. Mercy, Beatrice, and Felister were selected for the national handball and netball teams!
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Here is a look at many of our graduates and their little ones! They have started families, and many are business and shop owners. We are so very proud of them! They persevered through discrimination, language barriers, and late starts to their education. Through your support, they have become successful adults with careers and families.
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Our student, Alvin Mogaka, is the first deaf student to be admitted to Zetech University, a leading technology and entrepreneurial university in Nairobi, Kenya. Alvin is studying Computer Technology to eventually earn a Software Engineering degree. The Zetech staff has been incredible as they work through providing Alvin and future Sam’s Place students the tools they need to succeed, including developing picture-in-picture for the interpreter for online classes. Alvin can bring up his class video and interpreter at the same time.
Alvin has the privilege of an exceptional interpreter, Michael Sinijiri. Michael is a great interpreter and even better role model. Alvin, Zetech teachers, and staff highly respect him. All of the teachers and administration have been very receptive and open to changes that will be more accommodating to deaf students. Alvin is an avid soccer player and is now playing soccer for Zetech. Alvin is also doing well socially and has hearing friends. It is incredible for Alvin to be accepted at this level by the hearing students due to the stigma around being deaf in Kenya.
A fellow Sam’s Place student, Joshua, will be joining Alvin in September, majoring in Culinary and Hospitality Management. We thank Zetech for taking a chance on change by accepting our students! We look forward to a long partnership with Zetech.
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Sam's Place Foundation has no paid staff. All officers and staff are volunteers.
Sam's Place Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. To contribute to the ongoing work, contributions can be donated on our website or sent to "Sam's Place Foundation" at 1617 Morrow Lane Abilene, TX 79601.
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