ABOUT j4j
The Beginning
Eight college students from the University of Illinois - Urbana & Springfield - compose the “jump crew,” the leadership team for Jump for Joel.
Shana Stine Amelia Cheshire Jiletta Stine Christie Yopst
Vicky Knoke Kristin Mobley Katie Henderson Mike Mikulski
Jump for Joel was started by Shana Stine in July 2007 after a four-week trip to Kenya, Africa. While there, she volunteered at Gathiga Children's Hope Home (GCHH), an orphanage directly outside of Nairobi. Shana's heart was broken during her trip, especially when it came to the lack of resources at the Home. She didn't understand how they could have so little (1 toilet for 96 kids? Children without shoes? 5 kids to a twin-size bed? Not affording school?), when she had so much (her own room, a shower, a healthy family, a closet of clothes, etc.). So, she came back to the United States and decided to act. It was simple at first, just sharing stories of the kids she met in Kenya. It seemed like every time she talked about her trip, someone would respond with, "How can I help?"
Jump for Joel is the result.
the jump crew
About G.C.H.H.
Gathiga Children’s Hope Home was started in the mid-1990s by Lucy Ndegwa. Around 50 kids (age 3-22) stay at the Home, and an additional 30 children (age 3-9) come during the day for nursery class.
Maggy
Joyce
Who’s Joel?
Joel is a beautiful 8-year-old boy at GCHH. He loves to play games, especially jump rope! J4J is named after him for many reasons - his contagious joy, his energetic personality, and his love for jump rope. Joel, an HIV+ orphan, reminds us all to keep hoping and smiling, even in the midst of brokenness.