What began as Mark's passion for wildlife conservation and sponsoring orphaned elephants through the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust unexpectedly evolved into something much greater.
During a visit to Kenya, Mark witnessed the immense poverty of Korogocho from the roadside. That single moment stayed with him long after he returned home. Rather than simply reflecting on what he had seen, he chose to act.
Through a chance connection with Florence Wambora, a young woman who grew up in Korogocho, Mark became involved in an emerging community organisation that Florence had established following a tragic incident involving a young child in her neighbourhood. Her vision was simple but powerful: to provide education, protection, opportunity and hope for vulnerable children.
Together they created Keep On Creating Hope.
Unlike many aid organisations, KOCH is entirely community-led. Every member of the leadership team grew up in Korogocho and understands first-hand the challenges faced by local families. This local knowledge ensures programs are built around genuine community needs while maintaining trust, accountability and long-term sustainability.
When Mark first became involved in 2024, around 120 children attended the Saturday education and mentoring program. Today, more than 550 children regularly participate, with attendance recently reaching over 600 children.
The organisation now provides:
- Weekly education and mentoring programs
- Child protection education
- School supplies and learning resources
- Scholarships for secondary education
- Food programs providing meals every Saturday
- Technology, media and creative learning opportunities
- Career and employment pathway development
One of the most inspiring aspects of the evening was hearing about the scholarship program. For approximately AUD $370, a child can attend a full year of secondary school, opening opportunities that would otherwise remain out of reach. In a community where many families must choose between food, rent or education, that support can change an entire future.
Mark also explained that he and his wife personally fund the administration costs of the organisation, ensuring that donations from supporters go directly towards programs benefiting children and families.
The club was touched by Mark's generosity when he presented Rotary Club of Mt Eliza with the lifetime sponsorship of an orphaned elephant, allowing members to follow its progress while supporting conservation efforts that first inspired this incredible journey.
Meeting Chair Carol Allen thanked Mark for his inspiring presentation, reflecting that Rotary is uniquely placed to create meaningful change through partnerships like these.
She also shared a simple story that perfectly captured the evening's message:
A young girl was walking along a beach covered with stranded starfish, throwing them back into the ocean one by one. When someone told her there were far too many to save, she picked up another starfish, threw it into the sea and replied, "It made a difference to that one."
That simple philosophy perfectly reflects the spirit of Keep On Creating Hope.
Mark reminded us that none of us has to change the entire world. We simply need to choose to change someone's world.
Sometimes, that's where real hope begins.