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Meet Janet Odambo of Big Dream Vision Orphans DFW

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Today we’d like to introduce you to Janet Odambo, Director of Big Dream Vision.

Janet, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
At the age of eight years old, I became an orphan, which is pretty common in Kenya. This made things so tough more-so because I was the first born child, and my siblings looked up to me for support. At a young age,  I was forced to help mum who was earning a salary of just (35,000 Shillings) or $35 USD per month which was barely enough to feed my family of five. It was really tough as I remember a day’s meal was simply luxury, and it was the best day we could hope for. This led me to get married at a young age. God faithfully placed me in a position where I am able to touch the lives of orphans and needy children on a daily basis. Currently I host disadvantaged children, orphans, and people who are in need of shelter.

My struggle as a child has strengthened me to always take care of children and not to see none of them suffering. Working at coffee plantation trying to pay for my school and also take care of my siblings was really tough and I have always stay focused to achieve the best in my life. God came to bless me with a wonderful family of three girls Pauline, Isabel and Suzane and two wonderful boys Glen and Andy. I love my children and I always encourage them to never give up in life. My husband Sam Odambo has been supportive in all my dreams to change the lives of orphans and I indeed love him for always standing with me for better or worse.

Struggling as an orphan child in a third world country encouraged me to want to do all that I can to prevent other children from suffering the hardships I had previously went through. This led me to Big Dream Vision (BDV), a 501c3 nonprofit that actually caters to needs of children who have been through similar struggles like myself. I met with the founder of BDV, Ishmael Omondi, and through our collaborative efforts we serve around 500 students each year with clothing, athletic skills camps, college applications assistance, career guidance abroad, and overall support in Kenya and also in the United States. Most people don’t realise that orphan children often need support when they leave home for college as well. This is a service that I believe sets BDV apart from the rest of all children organizations, as our support is received from an infant to a young adult. With there being nearly 100,000 orphan children living in just the Kibera slums alone, the largest slum in Africa, BDV is continuing its efforts to touch as many children as possible.

Most recently one of our BDV scholarship award recipients, Stephen Taban a refugee living in Kenya but from South Sudan, received a scholarship to play basketball and attend a private high school in Texas. Stephen has siblings but his family is not financially stable. With the support of BDV behind me I mentored Stephen and provided him with the necessary tools to succeed in school and support the family he has left in Kenya. I recently received news that Stephen recently got accepted to a Preparatory school in Boston?! James is also a student from Sudan that we helped to secure a scholarship. Our two children who we are trying to help at the moment Ricky Omondi and Kjellan Oduor are ready to follow on the same journey and accomplish their dreams. We urge orphaned children to follow BDV activities so we may be a light in their own lives.

Big Dream Vision is a faith based non-profit that’s been operating for over six years; it was established in 2012 and has touched lives of over 50 children annually, with 20 of them on full scholarships globally. We also teach the word of God to our children where we have managed to reach out to 50,000 children through Christ Salvation which is their source of hope for eternity and assurance of their dreams becoming Valid.

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It has not been an easy path and the challenges are bigger each day as we see more and more orphans coming into our Orphanage in Kenya and this requires more finances. Fundraising is a challenge but through my faith God has always provided and I see his will being fulfilled each day. The hardest thing is to see children who are suffering from sickness that require surgery like tumor. Our Director Nancy Ngonga identified a child with a tumor that needed cure. We have had difficulty to raise funds for the procedure and it has been not easy. Basic needs for the children has been another challenge but I make sure I provide for this children with my own funds. My faith has been strengthened and I know that God will always provide.

Through our product sale of our athletic outerwear (mudaxpro.com) we make sure that 10% of each product sale goes towards the orphans and this is another way we try to raise funds for our non profit so we can be able to provide for this children.

No, challenges have always been there, but our approach to our challenges has been positive since it led to our growth directly or indirectly. Finances has been one of the challenges we have experienced; this is because we can always stretch financially to a limit individually and as an organization, in many cases, strategic partnerships with like-minded organizations and institutions has helped us cushion this and we have moved forward.

Please tell us about Big Dream Vision.
The mission for Big Dream Vision Orphans is to help orphaned kids individually through counseling, mentoring and assistance of needs that would help them to pursue their dreams and accomplish their purpose that God has placed in their hearts. We believe that if orphans thrive they would be able to give hope to others and being a testimony themselves of the wonderful journey Christ has taken them to run the race of life.

We specialize in creating a self-reliant youth through our programs for them and exposing them to programs that train them and change their lives into self-reliance as I did with Ishmael Omondi just to mention a few. Ishmael was an orphan that I helped and shaped while he was going through challenges and difficulty and I knew God has a purpose for his life. The pride I have is having impacted Ishmael’s life to the extent that he got impacted to impact through starting the organization BDV that has ended up reaching out to hundreds of thousands of lives, and am humbled by this each new day. Whatever sets me apart is the ability of desiring and wanting my successors to succeed in order for me to be classified as a successful human being. In the process I ask them to do the same to others and creates a ripple effect of happiness and Ubuntu for a better society and community.

We hold basketball tournaments every year in parts of Kenya and other Africa countries to find talent to give orphan and children opportunities and give them exposure to the world. Our aim is to encourage this kids and above all give them hope that anything is possible in their lives. We remind them that they should always come back and continue the work with other orphans if they attain success. As Big Dream Vision we want to make sure the cycle to touch the lives of orphans by other orphans who benefit through our program do not stop at all. We focus on community building and give children tools that they need in order to be successful.

We hold orphans accountable and push them towards education. Through our partnership with Trine University in Indiana, Angola, we encourage our children to work hard towards their education in order that they may be eligible for scholarships. Germaine Odhiambo, Director of Sports and Education in BDV make sure that all our orphans are eligible and ready to attain sports and academic scholarship.

Our emblem for Big Dream Vision is ‘Touch one Bless one’ to challenge people to stand up for the children and make a difference in their lives as they are the next generation.

Our work in Dallas Fort Worth metroplex in the United States is made possible by our directors in the Dallas are Ishmael Omondi, President, Sheila Okatchy, Director of Relations, Rev. Phyllis Johnson, Director of Spiritual Fulfillment of our you of Harvesting Of Souls Ministries and Ashley Omondi, Director of Orphan Relations. Our other members who help Big dream Vision accomplish its mission is Oscar Oguta, Director of Sports Relations in Atlanta, Georgia and Dan Akeyo, Director of Orphan Basketball in Boston, Massachusetts and Evelyn Afulukwe, Director of Children Affairs in London, United Kingdom

Members of Big Dream Vision are dedicated to this mission and they are tasked to see a change in the lives of Orphans and Children globally

Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
From my childhood I remember when I was at school and the kids were being sent home due to lack of school fees. We were supposed to pay 5,000 shillings ($50) to pay for the fees. My uncle had indeed promised me that he will take care of it and I was very excited. Needless to know I was among the ones to be called at the bursar office for not paying the school fees. ‘My uncle paid all the fees and this is a misunderstanding’ I exclaimed. “Little girl, your uncle only paid $3!’’ The bursar said smiling.’ Pick your bags and go home!’ he continued. I was so embarrassed in front of all my friends and instead of tearing up I just went out to my dormitory took my things and had to walk for 10 km. Life was so hard and I had to do all kind of work to get myself through school. I took a job at a coffee plantation and I had to come up with the money to pay the rest of the fees. It took me almost a month and this tough labor really made me to always want the best not only for my kids but for the children in Kenya and the globe. My prayer was to never again see children going through suffering and missing school due to lack of school fees.

As a child I lacked all the basic needs that most children enjoy in their families and I felt neglected and my education was so challenging due to lack of tuition fees. At times I went to school hungry but my love for God and strong will made me to always keep my eyes on Jesus. Since I was young my faith has grown tremendously and I thank God for everything in my life. I grew also to become a successful entrepreneur tending to government contracts and selling clothes.  Business is the key to wealth and I encourage all women to continue to pursue their dreams and to keep their heads up always.

For all the children and orphans I tell you! “Put God First, Never stop! Pursue your dreams! I love you and am here to push you Forward! Backwards Never!’’

Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
Sam Odambo– A great husband and I continually thank God for him.

Ishmael and Ashley Omondi -A great family that will always be part of my life

My Kids- My lovely kids Pauline, Isabel, Suzane, Glen and Andy are the love of my life.

Benta Otieno- A great friend whom we have been working together in different avenues and to touch lives of children here in Kenya

Emma Oudia- A mother who has always encouraged me never to give up and always be the best

Festos Wasuna- Festos Wasuna is a spiritual father and a mentor who took me in who has always been in my life and has strengthened my faith each day as I go through life.

Rosemary Obare- A great friend who has always been on my side encouraging me to accomplish my dreams and contributed to get to where we are today.

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Image Credit:
Ishmael Omondi, Germaine Odhiambo.

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