Grace was born and raised in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and East Africa in a Christian family where her education began with learning of God’s love through her parent’s powerful example of love unto others. Her father is a pastor who spreads the hope of Christ by sharing the Gospel of Jesus with the people of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and other East African countries.

Grace and her family lived in different refugee camps in East Africa, the DRC (also called Congo – Brazzaville). In those camps, Grace began learning about other cultures and she grew to love people she did not know, sharing her gift of singing with other children and in the church. In every place she lived, Grace continued to see and experience the power of simple generosity as those experiences became constant reminders of God’s love to her and her family.

Eventually, the family moved to Kenya, where Grace studied Accounting at Daystar University in Nairobi. Grace’s father could not afford tuition, but the Lord had given Grace a great desire to go to school as she was hungry to learn. As she attended class, despite not having the money, Grace prayed and believed that God would provide the money for her education. Soon, God provided the funds through the generosity of unknown donors from the United States to pay for her tuition in full. God used his people to fulfill Grace’s desire for education. 

African Girls Hope Foundation (AGHF) was founded on the power of God’s love for the world, which empowers us to share that same love with our communities and nations. AGHF seeks to make a difference by cultivating hope for the “least of the least” by transforming lives for better futures through the power of education.

In 2008, Grace immigrated to the United States as a refugee.  She did not forget how God provided for her college tuition and she began to pray for ways to be a blessing to others.  God gave Grace her passion for education, and she knew He was calling her to share the blessing she received with others.  In 2009, Grace began supporting girls throughout Africa by paying for their school tuition.

The following year, God called Grace to serve at Samaritan’s Purse, an international relief organization, in the Operation Christmas Child project. As Grace served with this organization, God taught her how He uses simple gifts and generosity to bring hope to people around the world. He continued to remind her of the passion He had given her to be a blessing to African girls who could not afford an education, and Grace started the African Girls Hope Foundation.

Grace now has a Master’s degree in Global Organizational Management, which she completed in 2014, and is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Global Human Services, which she is expecting to complete in 2019. Grace is a wife to Denis Horaho and mother to 3 daughters (Deborah, Elsa, and Neza). Grace continues to see the tremendous impact of providing girls in Africa education and her passion to see girls receive this opportunity to grow. As Nelson Mandela said, “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” With the help of God, Grace believes the African Girls Hope Foundation will open doors for African girls to become future leaders in their countries.

“And if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed then your light will rise in the darkness and your night will become like the noonday.” – Isaiah 58:10