On Thursday, November 16th, HALO held its HALO Thanksgiving for our kids at the Tony Aguirre Community Center. Throughout the course of the evening, there was food, fun, and festivities galore. Local volunteers gathered and provided delicious turkey, casserole, and desserts. After a hearty meal and mingling, our kids went to the adjoining gym to enjoy some basketball, rock climbing, …
#HumansofHALO Meet Twebeze
Many HALO members and graduates attend Uganda’s Ekitangaala Transformation High School, a school that seeks to curate a rising generation of leaders and change seekers. I had the opportunity to visit their school and join in the classroom conversation encompassing the topic of “integrity.” I saw a group of dedicated, inspiring, and humble individuals who attentively and genuinely sought to …
Meet Sharifa #HumansofHALO
Sharifa Nansamba has been living in the Mengo home supported by HALO since 2008. Her two parents separated while Sharifa was very little and she was not able to continue living with her mom. After their separation, her dad remarried and Sharifa’s new stepmom abused her and denied her the opportunity to attend school. She spent two years out of …
Chinna Wins Gold in Rope Skipping Competition
We are proud to announce that Chinna, one of our HALO kids in Ashirvad, has won two gold medals in his local inter-district rope skipping competition. He’s also been selected to represent his state team in the State Competition, held in New Delhi January 2018. We are extremely proud of Chinna and his accomplishments. HALO is rooting for him and …
The Steadfast Integrity of a Mother’s Love
HALO Founder Rebecca Welsh writes: “Oh, sweet baby Rosalie, if I say one thing to you, it is that you are loved. When your mama found out she was pregnant with you, she made the decision to put your life before her own. She gathered up every drop of strength she had inside her to quit taking drugs so you …
Marjai Gives Back Through Teaching and Sharing Her Passion
The Kansas City Learning Center came full circle this week when long-time HALO youth, Marjai, helped HALO staff lead a workshop on empathy for local youth emergency shelter teens. Marjai has been a part of HALO since she was 10 years old. Now 17 and a junior in high school, she continues to foster her childhood passion of writing novels …
Alice had the Confidence to Dream
HALO Founder Rebecca Welsh writes: “It was a little over 10 years ago. Freshly pumped with vaccines, I shoved all the art supplies, clothing, and granola bars I could into my dingy backpack. I lie there in my bed, eyes wide open, and sure of only one thing – I was being called to Africa and India. 3 flights and a …
I Am More
HALO Founder Rebecca Welsh writes: “Dignity is the state of being worthy of respect. We are all born with it. It is that voice inside us that tells us are worth more than we sometimes think we deserve. Many times for our kids, their dignity is all they have. Its the voice inside of them whispering that the way they …
#HumansofHALO “Dream Home”
“My dream home feels like an actual family. I haven’t grown up with a so called family. I’ve grown up with no one eating dinner together, we all go to our rooms, arguing, no family time, my dad’s always at work. My stepmom is always on her phone. My little brother is the number one priority. My older brother doesn’t …
HALO Places Kansas City Homeless Youth Center Stage to Shine: “What does home mean to you?”
For Immediate Release Contact: Nicole Gerken July 24, 2017 913.548.8875 (cell) HALO Places Kansas City Homeless Youth Center Stage to Shine “What does home mean to you?” Kansas City, Mo. – HALO and the Kansas City community are recognizing the outstanding achievements of its local homeless and at-risk youth, bringing them center stage at the HALO Summer Showcase Celebration …