Program areas at Empowering Lives International
Kenya ELI strategically works alongside gifted national leaders to break the cycle of poverty with the purpose of "IgnitingWorld Changers." Our unique ministry model centers around being collaborative, decentralized, and multiplicative. As families and orphans are equipped with life skills, deepening relationships with God, and communication/leadership skills, real change is taking place in villages around East Africa. Because life skills,income-generating ideas, and agribusiness are dynamically integrated with the Gospel, real change is taking place from the inside-out within a person, then a family, then a neighborhood, community, and village! Additionally, ELI operates two orphanages which serve as homes for over 330 orphans, as well as a school that offers a primary education to over 200 children from the orphanage and local community. Empowering orphans (the ultimate victims of poverty) and other vulnerable children to become World Changers is critical to ensure that the future generation is empowered to make Godly and life-giving decisions that positively influence communities. South Sudan For the people of southern Sudan, war has been a way of life for over 20 years. With the establishment of the new country of South Sudan, ELI provides life-changing skills through extension training to help empower this new nation. ELI also helped establish a Christian school in 2005 which is 20 miles from Bor, near the upper Nile River. The elementary school is now managed by the local leadership and community and averages around 200 children from kindergarten through 8th grade. All programs for South Sudan are now financed through programs in Kenya as South Sudanese community leaders are trained, equipped, empowered, and commissioned through ELI's International Extension Program based out of Kenya.
Tanzania For the majority of people in Tanzania, the daily struggle for water impacts every other area of life. Where there is water, it is often contaminated with bacteria and parasites which lead to debilitating sicknesses and drains people's energy and life. ELI is addressing this major problem by drilling and establishing fresh water wells in communities and schools around the Lake Region. With a training base in Ramadi,ELI staff build relationships with suffering communities and work with the Mighty Men Drilling team to research and provide the best locations for a clean and safe water source. The ELI Extension Training Program complements the water drilling program with short workshops in business, agriculture, and spiritual growth to help suffering families gain access to poverty-breaking knowledge and better utilize the clean water source for holistic transformation.
USA/General Fund The US-based staff do more than administrative work. They are active participants in ministry. Whether it be through their advising, consulting, and overseeing work in Africa or communicating with sponsors, partners, and donors in the USA, the ministry is fueled by the dynamic staff and relationship building that happens domestically. Some staff hours are spent processing donations and engaging what many would consider admin functions. However, the majority of US human resource time is spent directly investing in, participating in, and advancing the impact in Africa and in the hearts and lives of the wonderful partners who help to finance this special and unique ministry.
DR Congo In this war torn nation - ELI's established the Empowering Lives Christian Academy located in the Keredi slum in the heart of the bustling city of Bukavu. The school provides a Christian education and lunch to over 650 children (K-12) who would otherwise not have access to any education or nutrition. The ELI Extension Training Program complements the school program with short workshops in business and agriculture to help suffering families gain access to poverty breaking knowledge.