Our Team
Michael Hobbs
Michael, a former professional rugby player from New Zealand, is the founder of the Blessed Hope Project (“BHP”). The idea started after he spent 5-weeks volunteering in Kenya in 2016 and then came to life during his studies for an MBA at Stanford University. Michael and his wife, Aly, are based in Austin, TX with their four children and he oversees all of the operations and fundraising.
Elsa Atieno
Elsa started the original Blessed Hope school in 2012 and is the school's principal. She has an unrivaled amount of love and compassion for the children at our school and is an integral part of BHP. Elsa and her husband, Shem, live just outside of Kibera and she is a proud member of the wider Kibera community.
Kenny Vaccaro
Kenny is a former first round draft pick and Safety in the NFL playing for both the Tennessee Titans and New Orleans Saints over an 8-year period. After traveling to Kenya with Michael in 2018, Kenny joined the team and has used his platform to raise money for BHP. Kenny and his wife, Kahli, are based in Austin, TX with their four children.