h.o.w?

We're working with a small group of 30 women in rural Kinangop, Kenya, to help them change their lives. And they're changing ours. See how far they've come!

Construction is complete for our new h.o.w? Ministry Women's Empowerment Center in Kinangop! A dedication ceremony was held in January 2018 with our mission team and the women.

The new center has a large gathering room, indoor bathrooms and plumbing, a storage room and an office, as well as plenty of surrounding land for outside activities (where the women gathered recently to learn how to shear sheep, card the sheep's wool, dye it and spin it into yarn for weaving).

Many thanks to our supporters and donors. Your donations helped make this possible!

h.o.w? is a non-profit ministry based in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, committed to improving the quality of life for African women and children living in extreme poverty.

Many of them are also dealing with health challenges from disease, HIV/AIDS and malnutrition. We help women learn how to support themselves so they can pay for their children’s or grandchildren’s food, clothing and education. We also support several children's institutions in the region.

h.o.w? is also the sponsor of the annual ARISE Women's Conference in Kenya each January, an event we have put on for 4 years to date. At the conference, women learn about budgeting, running a business, HIV, and other topics. They also experience enrichment activities in the arts, enjoy meals together, and have the opportunity to bond with mission trip participants. In 2018, they learned about shearing sheep, carding the wool, and dyeing it and spinning it into yarn for weaving.

The photo above shows participants at the conclusion of our 4th Arise Women's Conference in January 2018.
What's New: We have BIG plans in store for our h.o.w? widows of Kinangop, Kenya, and their workshop space, as we expand our vision and mission.

h.o.w? Ministry conducts mission trips to Kenya several times each year. While our participants work hard to fund their trips, we are always in need of additional donations. Our next trip will take place in June 2018.

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h.o.w?'s president is Michelle Outman, of Cape Girardeau, Missouri. Adoptive mother to twin boys from Ethiopia, she knows first hand the enormity of the orphan crisis in Africa. Having spent months working in the African countries of Ethiopia, Kenya, and Swaziland, she has seen the injustice and desperation women and children face because of inequality and oppression. Michelle has dedicated her life to empowering women and children through faith and service to God and each other, entrepreneurship and education.

Our Kenya coordinator, Keziah Murugi Kariuki, is the bridge and glue that connects the USA and Kenya ministry. She oversees and coordinates the h.o.w? jewelry ministry, our projects with partnering children's homes and visiting mission teams from the USA. Keziah provides our widows physical, emotional and spiritual support.

Save the date! Register now for our 2018 5k run/walk on April 21

Registration is now open for our 2018 5K run/walk to benefit h.o.w? Ministry missions in Kenya. Register now!

2017 virtual safari soiree - giraffe Photo by Katie Treadway on Unsplash

Announcing our second Safari Soirée: This time, it’s virtual!

Help us expand our women’s empowerment program in Kinangop, Kenya, where our new headquarters will offer vital support and training.

Going up! Our new h.o.w? Ministry headquarters in Kinangop

Our 2016 Safari Soirée raised $30,000, enough for us to begin construction on a new building that will serve as our Kenya headquarters for h.o.w? Ministry and a place for our women to gather for prayer and fellowship. It will also be a working entrepreneurial facility.

h.o.w? comes alongside women living in poverty and invests in their lives by providing job opportunities, creating awareness and uniting women in Africa with women in North America. Currently based out of Kenya, h.o.w? jewelry has 30 women making jewelry and other crafts. They are widows living with HIV/AIDS or caring for children orphaned by HIV/AIDS. h.o.w? and a team of volunteers travel to Kenya twice a year to deliver donations, visit the widows and projects, and provide support.

Our headquarters in Cape Girardeau is a visual tapestry of African artistry and crafts, and the perfect place for your group or organization to become familiar with the h.o.w? Ministry (by appointment only - contact us). Watch our latest video about our mission in Kenya then browse our colorful shop filled with hand-beaded bracelets, necklaces and earrings, hand-woven scarves, baskets and bowls, purses and T-shirts, keychains and ornaments, wall decorations and more.