IT ALL BEGAN WITH TWO SIMPLE QUESTIONS...

"What about the animals? Can animals help us to help people in need?"

Sandy Hoekenga (pictured above with some of her seven Nigerian goats) would pose these two questions at the conclusion of every missions' board meeting at Microboard, the high-tech electronics manufacturing company her late-husband Craig T. Hoekenga had incorporated in 1983. From its founding, Microboard and the entire Hoekenga (and later Russo and Mackiewicz) family, had engaged in humanitarian giving to programs working in the world's poorest regions. This shared commitment grew steadily over the years until it included relief projects in more than 30 countries in the world impacting millions of lives. The programs Microboard supported encompassed providing clean water in Sub-Saharan Africa and India, educational programs for at-risk children, refugee care, vocational and literacy programs for women, and food and nutritional aid. But it was Sandy who kept insisting that animals could be a vital part in building bright futures for women in all of the areas where Microboard was involved. 

In the summer of 2021, a few months after Craig's passing, the idea for Sandy's Helpers was put into action. Collaborating with Peter and Miriam Fretheim, and Gloria Samdi-Puldu in Nigeria, seventeen widows or single mothers were selected. Each women was helped to start small animal farms with goats, pigs, chickens, bees, etc.. With administrative assistance from Peter, Miriam, and Gloria the women began to care for their animals and generate income for themselves and their families. Veterinary care was provided by Dr, Ikita and his amazing team to make sure all of the animals were healthy and loved. Craig had always believed that the way to build solutions was to build people's capabilities to care for themselves and become self sufficient - and not rely on a constant flow of aid. This was proven to be dramatically true, as all the women quickly discovered this way to achieve economic stability and a sense of self-worth. Sandy's Helpers caught on in ways no one could have ever imagined possible. As the numbers grew, the women were able to form collectives and begin sponsoring other women and even entire villages. 

Today, Sandy's Helpers has spread across Nigeria and into other countries in Africa, such as Kenya and the Democratic Republic of Congo, with thousands of women participating. Its mission is clear - to empower women to support themselves and their families, and build futures and dignity where once that would have seemed like an impossible dream. From two simple questions a life-saving, life changing mission was born.