Our Story
Linda Gouldsmith is the pioneering Founder and CEO of Access Hope Inc., a Christian non-profit organisation dedicated to delivering holistic care and lasting change to the most vulnerable communities in Kenya, South Sudan and Nigeria. Under her leadership, Access Hope has established itself as a dedicated provider of safe housing, education, and guidance for children and young people in need, with a history rooted in a deep commitment to service.
A Vision Born in Kenya
Linda’s commitment to global humanitarian work was catalysed in May 2011 during a pivotal field visit to Kipsongo slum in Kitale. She was confronted with the critical vulnerability of approximately 4,000 internally displaced families and children uprooted by inter-tribal conflict and drought. Observing the profound destitution and the plight of minors, Linda recognised the urgent need for a dedicated safe place. Driven by an unwavering, faith-based conviction to serve those in deepest need, she committed to taking action to establish a sanctuary for the children.
The Mission: Access Hope Children’s Home
Linda’s resolve led to the swift establishment of the organisation’s flagship facility. Just three months after her initial visit, on August 1, 2011, Access Hope opened Kwetu Nyumbani (Swahili for ‘Our Home’) Children’s Home. The facility began by sheltering twenty destitute and vulnerable children from the Kipsongo slum community. This initial project served as the foundation for Access Hope’s ongoing operations and demonstrated the power of conviction in humanitarian response.
Our Holistic Commitment
Today, Access Hope continues its vital work, primarily focusing on providing a safe, stable, and nurturing environment for double-orphaned children. Access Hope Inc., under Linda’s strategic direction, is guided by a comprehensive model of care. This holistic approach ensures that every child receives essential support, access to vital education and healthcare, and the guidance necessary to break the cycle of poverty and hardship to build a life of empowerment.
Expanding Our Community and Global Reach
Since Access Hope was founded, we have expanded our capabilities to deliver a deeper and broader impact, both within Kenya and internationally. Our organisation now manages five distinct ongoing programs, and we are still growing!
Community Impact Programs
Children’s Home
Through the commitment of our sponsorship network and the generosity of our partners, we currently provide comprehensive residential care for 39 children at our home. This core program continues to grow, serving as a stable and nurturing environment for the most vulnerable minors.
Community Based Care (CBC) Program
Through sponsorship, the organisation provides vital essentials—including food, medical care, and full educational support ( school fees, uniforms, textbooks)—to vulnerable children in the community.
Prison Training Program
This initiative provides inmates at Kitale Main Prison with training and certifications in computer and administration skills to aid future employment and reintegration. The program is delivered by professional trainers and integrated with the established Prison Chaplain network. It is underpinned by social work expertise, ensuring a comprehensive scope of rehabilitative development.
Global Impact Programs
Igniting Ministry & Impact in Nigeria
Access Hope Inc. is fueling a powerful movement on the front lines in Abejukolo, Nigeria.
Missionaries Godwin and his wife, Dorcas, are dedicated to evangelism and discipleship within this community, reaching some of the region’s most remote villages. Prior to our partnership, their critical ministry faced significant constraints.
The breakthrough came in September 2024. Since receiving crucial ministry support from Access Hope, the scale and reach of their work has expanded dramatically. Their impact is immediate and undeniable: Godwin now ventures deep into Nigeria’s interior to preach and teach God’s Word, and is able to provide essential educational assistance for the children of vulnerable widows. As Godwin reports, “Our joy knows no bounds,” a testament to the tangible change your support creates.
We need your help to sustain this momentum. Join Access Hope today to empower more dedicated missionaries like Godwin and Dorcas, enabling us to reach the poor and needy and ignite lasting spiritual and social change across Nigeria.
Empowering Education and Hope in South Sudan
Access Hope is privileged to partner with a vital initiative in South Sudan, transforming lives through education and faith.
Gabriel, the dedicated Head Teacher at Living Word Pre Primary School, leads a beacon of hope in a community deeply scarred by conflict. The children he serves are among the country’s most vulnerable, many having lost one or both parents to the tragic consequences of war.
Despite facing immense challenges—with classrooms often reduced to mud huts or shaded trees—Gabriel is passionately committed to lifting these children out of poverty through the power of education and faith in Christ.
His commitment goes even further: Gabriel is known to personally use part of his own modest salary to assist other teachers with their expenses, ensuring the school can continue operating and fulfilling its mission.
Your support directly sustains these heroic efforts, enabling dedicated leaders like Gabriel to provide stability, learning, and spiritual growth where it is needed most. Join us in championing the next generation in South Sudan.