Guest Post by Taylor Davis

Last week, I attended a screening of Building Hope hosted by Citizen Generation. The documentary by Austinites Christy and Turk Pipkin tells the story of their courageous journey to build a high school in Mahiga, Kenya. 

In the community of Mahiga, children stop attending school after the eighth grade because there are no high schools. So, not only are bright and capable children missing out on the right to advance their education, they also miss out on the important interaction with peers that occurs during high school, enhancing their social skills.  Building Hope documents the building of Mahiga Hope High School and Mahiga Rainwater Court from the initial idea through its implementation and ribbon cutting. The challenges were vast. First, the Pipkins’ nonprofit, The Nobelity Project, is comprised of only two staff: husband and wife team Turk and Christy, meaning manpower was limited. Secondly, commuting between Austin, Texas and Kenya to oversee a project of this magnitude was a little more difficult than the typical commute down I-35, so working out logistics in time differences and how to go about shipping hundreds of donated books for the school library took time. But, with the help and determination of the Mahiga community, many invested donors, and other big-hearted people like Greg, the young architect who moved to Mahiga full time for well over a year to build the school, the project was conquered, “one piece at a time.” 

Building Hope is in one word, inspiring. The Pipkin family, the architect, and the people of Mahiga never gave up on seeing this project through, despite the trials along the way. Furthermore, the children that were to attend Mahiga Hope High School were excited at the chance to continue their education; something many of us take for granted. When congratulated and revered at the screening by other viewers, Turk Pipkin was humble, anything but boastful. I am so glad I was able to see this documentary and help promote it on our Facebook page. It reaffirmed my belief that small nonprofits and individuals that truly believe in great causes can make amazing accomplishments. For more info on Building Hope and other endeavors of the Pipkin’s, visit their website by clicking here.

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