NG04931 Ritah was born in poverty to a mother who often had to leave her with other relatives because she was unable to care for her. When she was eleven, Ritah and her half-sister were taken to live with their uncle who was an alcoholic and drug addict. She describes this as the hardest time of her life, going without food, doing her best to take care of her younger sister, and enduring abusive treatment from her uncle. “Our uncle would sometimes come back home very drunk and beat us, not because he hated us but because he was high on drugs.”

Eventually, Ritah and her sister were taken to be raised in a children’s home. The founder of the children’s home knew about Africa Renewal and had her registered into our program, and she received a sponsor. Through the program, she has grown mentally and spiritually over the years. Not only has she received skills training that will help provide for her physical needs, but through discipleship and Bible classes, she has come to know Christ. Now Ritah views every good thing that she has received in her life coming as a gift from God through the sponsorship program. Ritah’s family was never able to provide anything for her finically or even to help her emotionally, but she thanks God for his provision through sponsorship and through the local church that has been a family to her and given her life stability.

Because Ritah was able to graduate from high school and has been recognized as a leader in her community, she was able to attend Africa Renewal’s Transformational Leadership Training. This was a life-changing experience for her. Being taught to “imagine life from scratch” has given rise to new creativity in Ritah’s life. She sees the faithfulness of God in her life through the way He became her hope when she was hopeless and gives Him all the glory. In her community and in the project, Ritah has a natural caring and nurturing gifting. She often leads other by serving and loving those younger than her, making them feel seen and heard.

In Ritah’s own words: “I want to get some children that I will help in life after my studies so that one day they too will glorify God for who they will have become. It may be one child or two, but I will show a child mercy and compassion the way God has showed me mercy and compassion.”