Blog

My day begins before the children wake, when the surroundings are still quiet and I can pretend, for a moment, that no one needs anything from me.

As the assistant director of Oasis, I often answer calls before I even leave my house.

The phone rings while I help my girls get ready for the day: A staff member is unwell and cannot report to work; the Education Office needs clarification on an urgent matter.

As I walk toward the school compound, I meet children on the road heading to school. In those few minutes, they tell me pieces of their lives—about a night with no electricity, a sick sibling, a parent who left early and hasn’t returned, or worries they carry quietly into the classroom. 

These stories help me understand what I see in class—why a child is distracted, why another is withdrawn, why patience matters more than punishment.

I first check in with teachers then go to the children’s home. Often, I find a house parent who is visibly exhausted or on the verge of tears. I pause, listen, and provide support, reminding them that they are not alone, that what they do matters every bit as much as the children they care for.

These moments are quiet, but they sustain the people who sustain the children.

From there, I get to my office. I check on emails and respond to them. I approve budgets from the two operation managers at both sites. Depending on the day of the week, I attend staff meetings. 

Each evening, I leave the compound knowing the children remain behind. 

I trust the house parents, teachers, and systems we have built together—systems made possible by your support—to carry the children safely through the night.  

On mission together, 

Nancy Soy
Assistant Director of Oasis

P.S. Want to learn more about what it takes to run Oasis? As a member of the Rafiki Table, you get regular invites to tour the Oasis campus via Zoom. Led by a local staff member, each tour allows supporters to see their impact in action as they meet students and staff. 

Learn more about the Rafiki Table and how your monthly support is a tangible expression of God’s love: o4o.org/monthly/