Hope Runs is a non-profit NGO working in Kenya and Tanzania, using athletics, education, and social entrepreneurship to empower AIDS orphans. In 2006 Lara Vogel and Claire Williams, two Stanford graduates, were nearing the end of their around the world tour when they arrived at the Tumaini Children’s Center in Nyeri, Kenya. Right away they noticed that this place was different and had a true devotion to community building and welfare. Lara and Claire were so inspired by the kids at Tumaini that they knew they had to do something to maintain its committement to the health and wellbeing of these children even while the center was struggling financially. As recently converted runners, Lara and Claire knew that running could be a perfect way to bring freedom and joy into one’s life; therefore, they decided that partnering with Tumaini through a program based on empowerment through running was the perfect way to insure the type of sustainable self-support Tumaini needed. From this “Hope Runs” was born. In its first year, 22 Tumaini marathoners trained for 4 months and then competed in the Mt. Kenya marathon and the entire orphanage also held its first annual Hope Runs 5K and 10K race with over 150 participants. Furthermore, Hope Runs realized the inspirational impact these shildren could have on the world if given the right tools. So, the children started blogging. From that grew an online video series, which became a computer class, which then led to a business program to help the kids in work towards their own prosperity. Claire and Lara saw so much success come out of the program that they have since returned to the US to formalize and grow their organization. To learn more about the innovative Hope Runs model and other successes please visit their website.
