I AM HESHIMA
ABOUT US
Lexis Beattie
Fouder and CEO
I see potential in tiny humans.
Creating systems & a team which empowers kiddos to see it within themselves is what I live for.
#iamheshimaorg
Denise Benison
Board Member
I got involved with Heshima in my university years, and now, just about 11 years later, I am still amazed at the accomplishments this grassroots organization & the youth participants have achieved together.
As a board member, I am able to offer insight into child development and social impact.
#iamheshimaorg
Tammy Beattie
Board Member
We are a grassroots organization where our small donations are making a huge difference in a child's life.
Education is essential, without is there not much hope. I am Heshima = Hope & so much more.The kids best interests always come first. I am a true believer in Heshima's philosophy.
#iamheshimaorg
Christine Arbe Halkano
Project Manager
Coming Soon
#iamheshimaorg
Kristina Touzenis
Advisory Board
"I am honoured to have joined I am Heshima! The first time I spoke to Lexis and the team I was struck by how much they have been able to do concretely on the ground with little resources.
But what struck me the most was probably Lexis’ sense of wanting to and having created a team she trusts and who trusts her. I love the vision behind I am Heshima and how this is translated into actions which have a direct and very tangible impact on the children we serve."
#iamheshimaorg
Elizabeth Hawthorne
Advisory Board
I believe that children everywhere deserve to be loved and nurtured. I Am Heshima is doing this in Kenya one child at a time.
The work I Am Heshima is doing to protect and educate is impressive and I want to help it grow and expand its reach.
#iamheshimaorg
Fernanda Huerta
Advisory Board
I am a strong believer that education is the key to unlocking the potential in children everywhere.
I have worked with different vulnerable communities to guarantee their access to education and have witnessed how giving them a fair opportunity allows them to thrive.
#iamheshimaorg
Richard Priest
Board Member
I'm proud of I am Heshima and its accomplishments!
I have been involved in this movement since its beginning and my most important contribution has been to support people that have such a passion and talent to accomplish our goals.
#iamheshimaorg
Amanda Maier
Board Member
I was privileged to witness I am Heshima rise from nothing but a dream for this world to be better for those who had no access to the education they longed for.
As a health care provider who is committed to life long learning, I truly believe that we grow the most by helping those around us.
#iamheshimaorg
Paul Issaurat
Community Outreach Manager
Greetings! I’m Paul, a French McGill Political Science and International Development graduate. I chose to volunteer at Heshima, first and foremost because I want to help children fulfill their dreams, a mission the charity achieves through education and love.
When I met Lexis, I discovered that not only does Heshima have compelling and inspirational foundations, Heshima has enormous potential. I realised that I can contribute to Heshima's growth, especially by fostering community and student engagement at McGill and Montreal more broadly.
#iamheshimaorg
Jessica Mills
Advisory Board
"I am looking forward to assisting ‘I am Heshima’ in surpassing their missions to better children’s educational needs through innovative and strategic ways."
Jessica is a Chief Legal Officer, upcoming Author and the founder and Managing Director of Bona Fide. She takes pride in assisting causesthat positively impact communities and society. She has a keen fixation on helping businesses and charities in corporate law and corporate social responsibility while maximising their business goals and philanthropic missions.
#iamheshimaorg
OVER A DECADE AGO,
I took a journey that would forever change the course of my life.
I was 19 years old, I got on a plane and went to Kenya for what was meant to be a 3 month contract teaching English in an orphanage with a big international organization. After paying way too much $ to volunteer, with no one to pick me up at the airport for hours, being dropped off at a someone's house in a slum with no water, food or blankets, I realized very quickly that I fell into a lucrative voluntourism trap. After that 3 month stint, I went back for another 7 months, leading to the unexpected creation of a team and the birth of I am Heshima.
You see, every single volunteer promises to go back when they leave the first time. The reality is, very few ever do and their words fall onto the deaf ears of children who are used to broken promises.
Well, I kept my promise and went back. In full confidence, a child, followed by many others, whispered to me: “Lex, get me out of this hell”. Those words from that child’s mouth are those that led to the creation of I am Heshima.
This ‘hell’ the children spoke of looked like this: These children were products to sell the very profitable image of the typical ‘African child’ to a national and international market. Their everyday hell: Having rooms full of food and not being fed well leaving them hungry, having bags full of clothing but wearing rags, being sick and not getting the care they need. Being sold to locals for sex. Being raped, impregnated, and abandoned by the owners meant to protect them. Packing in children at triple their capacity. Being physically tortured and verbally abused with varieties of “You are here because nobody loves you”. The orders to the children were simple: if you tell anyone the truth, we are going to kill you.
We had 2 choices, to go home to our freedom with pretty pictures and go on to live our individual lives, or to help lil’ ones find their freedom.
We chose the latter of the 2.
After tracking down families, children started to be rescued through escape plans and brought back home. There was a price put on my head, we were spied on and had to run for our lives constantly. I was 19 and fearless. Led by the ONLY 3 investigators ‘un-bribable’ by the orphanage, when enough children were rescued and safe, they started speaking out & exposing the truth. The community protested in the streets to shut down the orphanage and protect their children. After 4 years, with enough evidence, the orphanage was finally shut down and justice was served.
The worst part? These vulnerable children were successfully recruited by the orphanage with one unanimous selling point “Your child will get an education”. These children suffered all of this irreversible damage because they wanted to go to school.
This is WHY I AM HESHIMA was born. To protect and empower vulnerable children & youth by actualizing their biggest dream & their basic human right: providing EDUCATION & LOVE.
We started with ONE child in 2008.
