Friends of the Valley Wins “Shaping the Destiny of Kenya” Award

Friends of the Valley, a charitable program sponsored by United Charitable Programs (UCP), was recently recognized for their humanitarian efforts in Kenya by the Embassy of the Republic of Kenya.

Burtonsville, MD (I-Newswire) October 25, 2012 - Imagine not having clean drinking water available to drink, or to water the plants in the fields. That’s the heartbreaking reality that nearly 17 million people face in Kenya today. However, Steve Sergon, a former Kenyan resident and current Program Manger of Friends of the Valley, is trying to change that.

On October 7, 2012, Sergon’s Program “Friends of the Valley” was recognized by the Republic of the Kenya Embassy at the 2012 Kenya Diaspora Conference for positively impacting Kenya’s development. “Shaping the Destiny of Kenya” was this year’s theme at the conference. The Friends of the Valley program was chosen from among 20 other projects that vied for the award.

The mission of Friends of the Valley is to promote community participation in eradicating poverty in Kenya through the building of dams for clean drinking water and irrigation; promoting food security; and encouraging the use of renewable energy sources such as solar and wind. Sergon says, “It’s the current generation that will shape the future of the people of the Kiboino community and give hope and dignity to them.” Honorary Advisory Board Member, Dr. Kipkoech Arap Sambu, added that they should be praying for more than just rain; they should be praying for the Kenyan people to become more educated as well.

Sergon wants to strengthen the relationship between Kenyans and their government by identifying worthy community projects. One project, the Chebuskech-Kasskwaneet Dam, assists a 50-acre dam in a small village in Kenya. Providing clean drinking water in this area will affect the lives of more than 15,000 people.

Having grown up in Kenya, Sergon now lives in the United States. He feels that it’s his duty to help those back home in Kenya. Sergon is a part of a team of intellectuals who participate weekly on an educational radio show that has more than 3 million listeners in Kenya.

Winning this award has inspired Sergon and others involved in the program to further help those in need of clean water in Kenya. They feel passionate about their mission and hope to create positive change in Kenya. Although Friends of the Valley was proud to receive this award, Sergon says, "We still have a long way to go."

Friends of the Valley is sponsored by UCP, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit fiscal sponsor of active charitable programs. Through UCP, Sergon is able to focus solely on his program’s charitable mission, rather than on the administrative burdens that an independent nonprofit can have. All donations to Friends of the Valley are tax-deductible. For more information about Friends of the Valley, please visit their website at http://friendsofthevalley.org.

UCP's mission is to empower people to help others by fiscally sponsoring targeted charitable programs that effect positive change through charitable, educational, scientific, or religious actions worldwide. UCP programs vary in size, budget and scope, but all share the desire to make a difference in the lives of others. For more information about UCP and fiscal sponsorship, please visit www.unitedcharitableprograms.org.