Grosse Pointes

Retired GP teacher honored for charity work in Kenya

By Robin Ruehlen
C & G Staff Writer

GROSSE POINTE — A retired Pierce Middle School teacher was to be honored for her work with orphaned and abandoned children in Kenya at a special ceremony this week.

From 2007-09, Sue Ozar and her husband, Bud, of Grosse Pointe worked as teachers and counselors for orphaned children in poverty-stricken Meru, Kenya.

Ozar said when she and her husband retired in 2001, they knew they wanted to work in developing countries helping the poor. Through an organization based in Los Angeles, the couple first spent three years of their retirement working in Samoa.

“We came home to reconnect with our children and grandchildren, and eventually decided we wanted to continue with our work, so we were then sent to Kenya,” Ozar said.

In a country overflowing with street children who have lost their parents to disease or violence, the Ozars worked at The Children’s Village to provide every child they could with food, shelter and K-12 schooling. The orphanage also works to rehabilitate children from the dangerous habits of the streets, including substance abuse.

“It was wonderful. It was challenging in some ways because of the material poverty, but those challenges were minor compared to the wonderful experience of working with the children,” she said.

“They were incredible learners, and very grateful and attentive. As a counselor, the stories I learned about their lives were amazing.”

The Children’s Village, founded in 1999 by Father Francis Limo Riwa, is now home to over 750 children, with three schools on two campuses — the St. Clare Girls’ Centre, the St. Francis Boys’ Home and The Hospitality Centre. All the facilities are completely dependent on free-will donations, and food is raised on the Village’s own farm or purchased from local merchants.

When they returned home, the Ozars chose to set up their own nonprofit to continue to serve the needs of the poor — called the Friends of Kenyan Orphans, it is dedicated to feeding, housing and educating orphans. To date, it has raised $500,000 to help expand the St. Clare Girls’ Centre.

Last January, the Ozars also took a group of teachers, physicians and nurses to Meru, and set up a scholarship to Chestnut Hill College in Pennsylvania for a graduate of the school.

On Sept. 1, Ozar was to be honored with the National Retired Teachers’ Association’s With Our Youth! International Outreach Award. Ozar said she was nominated by one of her former English students at Pierce Elementary.

Vice President of NRTA Megan Hookey said it is an honor to recognize Ozar’s extraordinary work.

“Retired educators keep giving, even after leaving the classroom. Thanks to the dedication of these volunteers, multiple generations benefit and go on to contribute to society,” Hookey said.

Ozar said she was pleased to receive the award, and called it “a very nice recognition.”

“I’m hoping that if people hear about the award, they will be motivated to help us help these children,” she said.

“We’re just all about the people there.”

To donate or to learn more about Friends of Kenyan Orphans, visit http://friendsofkenyanorphans. org, or write to Friends of Kenyan Orphans, 920 Berkshire Road, Grosse Pointe, MI 48230-1822.

You can reach C & G Staff Writer Robin Ruehlen at rruehlen@candgnews.com or at (586)279-1105.