Empowering Students Through Family and Faith: Annual High School Goal Setting & Review Initiative

Across all of the Kenyan communities where high school students receive sponsorship, the recent annual Goal Setting and Review Exercise brought together 130 students and 130 parents for a powerful time of reflection and planning. This transformative initiative created space to evaluate progress and chart a meaningful path forward in academics, faith, and personal development.

Shared Goals, Shared Growth

Specific goals of the initiative were beyond just academics, the exercise was designed to:

• Review academic performance and set goals for the upcoming academic period.

• Assess spiritual development and involvement within the church and community.

• Evaluate social growth, including discipline, relationships, and character.

• Engage parents as active partners in their children’s holistic development.

A collaborative approach was used to encourage open dialogue and shared responsibility between students and their parents:

• Student Reflections: Each student presented their report card and discussed achievements, challenges, and areas for improvement.

• Spiritual & Social Check-ins: Students shared about their faith journey, church involvement, and peer interactions.

• Parent Engagement: Parents offered insights into home dynamics, academic support, and personal challenges.

• Goal Setting: Together with Expansion International Africa staff, families crafted realistic goals for academic excellence, spiritual growth, and social responsibility.

Growth in Every Dimension

Academic Progress: Most students showed steady improvement, with some exceeding expectations. A few faced setbacks due to financial strain, limited resources, or peer pressure, prompting parents to commit to closer monitoring and support.

Spiritual Milestones: Faith remains central to our mission. Many students demonstrated strong spiritual engagement, and three students made the life-changing decision to follow Christ throughout the initiative.

Social Growth: Students are increasingly embracing discipline, teamwork, and positive peer relationships. Minimal cases of indiscipline underscored the importance of mentorship and parental involvement.

Parental Role: Parents valued the opportunity to engage deeply in their children’s development. Some acknowledged the difficulty of balancing work and family time, but expressed renewed commitment to being present and supportive.

The initiative not only deepened the partnership between students, parents, and the organization, but also fostered a culture of accountability through intentional goal setting and personal reflection. Parents became more actively engaged in their children's academic and moral development, while the initiative reaffirmed the organization’s commitment to raising well-rounded, faith-driven leaders equipped to impact their communities.

This year’s Goal Setting and Review Initiative was a heartfelt success, filled with meaningful conversations and shared commitment. By bringing students and parents together, it laid a strong foundation for lasting transformation. One that nurtures young people to grow into responsible, Christ-centered, and community-minded individuals, equipped to lead with purpose and compassion.

Thank you for your unwavering support. It’s because of you that life changing projects and programs like this are possible. Thank you.