Meet Anthony (A Compassion Success Story)

19 posted on March 19, 2010

POSTED IN: Blog Posts, Compassion, Kenya Trip

While I was in Kenya last week as part of the Compassion Bloggers Team, I learned a lot about Compassion that I didn’t know before. For example, one question I always wondered was what exactly happens after a student is done with the Compassion sponsorship program? Are there any additional resources or options for that student to continue their education?

Many of my questions were answered when I met Anthony Njoroge. Anthony stopped by our hotel and hung with our team for the evening where I was able to talk with him and hear his story.

Anthony’s story was especially exciting for me because he grew up in the same project at the same slum where my sponsored child Ivon lives.

After being released from the poverty of the third-largest slum in Kenya through Compassion sponsorship, Anthony applied for and joined the Compassion Leadership Development Program (LDP). The LDP program enabled him to receive valuable education and leadership training. After graduating from University (paid for through his LDP) he went on to start his own computer consulting business. Anthony now sponsors 3 children of his own through Compassion and volunteers every week at the same Compassion project he grew up in.

When I talked with Anthony it was hard to believe that this sharp, well-spoken young man – a small-business owner like me no less – grew up in the poverty of the Kawangware slum. Not only that, he already sponsors more children through Compassion than I do!

These are the stories that get me excited about Compassion. When you look at that photo of your Compassion child on your fridge (I hope you have at least one up there), don’t just see them where they’re at right now, see them for where they will be in 10 or 15 years because of your sponsorships. You’re sponsoring a future Anthony or Maureen. You’re investing in their future.

“Once your heart is changed, your mind changes, your body changes and definitely the environment around you changes, and that’s what it means to release a child from poverty in Jesus name.

For poverty is not only a lack of basic necessities but more so a lack of hope. It’s times like this when I look back at my life and the places I have come from and thank God for having brought Compassion International into my life and the way God has used the relationship with my sponsors not only to show me that I can make it, but that where I came from doesn’t matter and that I am not defined by poverty.” – Anthony Njoroge

Click here to sponsor a child through Compassion ($38/mo)
Click here to sponsor a Compassion LDP Student ($300/mo)

We set Anthony up on Twitter while we were there. Follow him at @moggaless.
You can read some of Anthony’s guest posts on the Compassion blog
You can also read the story of another LDP Student named Maureen on Kristen’s blog
Read more about the LDP Program on Compassion’s Blog

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This entry was posted on Friday, March 19th, 2010 at 11:06 am and is filed under Blog Posts, Compassion, Kenya Trip. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

7 Comments

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March 19, 2010

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1 Anthony Njoroge said:

This is truly amazing ) thanks alot Brad, I pray this story will enable a child somewhere in the world experience/ have the same chance I got through compassion.

God bless

Anthony
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March 19, 2010

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2 Becky said:

This is awesome! I love reading stories like this!
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March 19, 2010

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3 Sherry said:

Thanks for posting the links to Anthony’s posts at the Compassion blog. Great to hear more from you, Anthony! Keep those cards and letters coming. You inspire us to keep working hard for our Compassion kids.
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March 19, 2010

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4 Juli Jarvis said:

What an impressive young man! I’m so glad you interviewed him so we could hear him tell his own story. The girl I sponsored in Thailand from the time she was tiny is graduating from the LDP this spring, and I hope to be there for her graduation May 11!
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March 19, 2010

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5 Patricia Jones said:

Wow…what a powerful quote by Anthony and in the video his line where he says the first time he ever wore a clean shirt was when he was sponsored….if that does not break a mothers heart I don’t know what will. Thanks for keeping it going. 822 sponsors later.
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March 20, 2010

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6 Christopher Hopper said:

Now that is one of the single most powerful quotes I’ve heard all year. Will go on my life list:

“Once your heart is changed, your mind changes, your body changes and definitely the environment around you changes, and that’s what it means to release a child from poverty in Jesus name.”

Thanks for all you do, Brad.

ch:
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March 23, 2010

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7 Maureen Anyango Owino said:

Brad am touched with the amazing work you are doing for the needy children.
What a powerful and an inspiring quote by Antony
“Once your heart is changed, your mind changes, your body changes and definitely the environment around you changes, and that’s what it means to release a child from poverty in Jesus name.”
AM NOT DEFINED BY POVERTY