Our Kerus Journey

Kerus founders author curricula and training programs for a worldwide HIV/AIDS prevention initiative with CRU. Traveling to over 40+ nations, Kerus founders, with volunteer facilitators, implemented 4-day training conferences for key leaders and reached over 3 million children with the Life at the CrossRoads curriculum.

Kerus as an organization begins under the International Foundation.

The It Takes Courage! Resource Guide is published, initiating the launch of a multi-tiered character-development and life-skills strategy including curricula, radio programs and training conferences reaching over 2 million youth and 20,000 health and education professionals worldwide. Government agencies throughout Africa and organizations such as Samaritan’s Purse, TWR and World Vision are trained to use the program to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS.

Kerus, with South African and Swiss partners, build the first of three orphan care centers reaching 300+ orphans. The Kerus Go Amogela Orphan Care Center is a place of love and safety to over 130+ orphaned children and their grannies/caregivers, in one of the poorest communities in South Africa. This lifesaving center provides food, assistance with homework, spiritual enrichment, counseling, health support, and interaction with a loving staff who cares for them like parents.

Officially called Kerus Institute for Training and Coaching (KITC), this entity became Kerus’ official presence on the continent of Africa. All of Kerus’ social and ministry programs filter through this entity. Kerus also offers leadership training and coaching for business leaders in South Africa as an income-generating endeavor to assist with funding for Kerus orphan care and education projects.

The It Takes Courage! teen center was built as a special meeting place for the older children at the Kerus Orphan Care Center. The space is used for support groups, academic assistance, spiritual enrichment and a place to meet with friends in safety. On Sundays it is used by a local church as a Sunday School space.

Kerus founders become certified consultants with Birkman International, using the Birkman Method assessment for career selection, talent management, and personal and team coaching. Kerus is Birkman’s connection to training consultants on the African continent. Kerus uses the tool to train private and public sector leaders in Africa and the USA.

The academic enrichment center is a space for training and academic advancement. Students at the center are offered a unique space to focus on their academics including a computer lab. Grannie’s benefit through education workshops for parenting skills, literacy development, and other practical skills. The space is also used by local professional organizations for specialized training.

Kerus purchased and renovated a 10-bed house to serve as a place of rescue for young girls who have been or are likely to be sexually abused or trafficked due to their life circumstances. With a loving foster mother to care for them these precious girls are able to stay in school, begin to heal, learn life skills and be part of a loving family environment who will guide them until they can be healthy and independent.

In a joint project with Safe House Projects, Kerus launched a community-based training initiative, Courage to Care, to prevent the exploitation and sex trafficking of children throughout Africa. Local leaders connected to the It Takes Courage! programs are mobilized to train in schools and churches across the continent.