DRAPER — When Sharyle Karren gets off the bus in Kenya this month, the people will most likely be singing a Swahili song translated to mean "We can see the hands of God" — something they have done each time volunteers from Africa Is Life Changing visit.

But for this trip, on top of ensuring single mothers can sustain themselves, the Utah-based organization will be bringing the children more than 700 dolls, designed and crafted by Utah students.

Karren, who is principal of Willow Springs Elementary in Draper, had each of her students make the dolls for the children in Naivasha, Kenya, since it would most likely be their only toy.

And though there are hundreds of dolls, not one is the same. Some sport Nike gear, while others wear traditional tribal garb, all created by the students.

For many it was a tough send-off once the dolls were finished. Karren said many of them hugged the dolls and told them goodbye, after spending days working on them.

"I want the students to understand that they can make a difference in the world and that they truly have an abundance," Karren said.

While this is the first trip for Karren, volunteers from Africa Is Life Changing have visited Kenya a number of times in efforts to support women who have been diagnosed with AIDS/HIV.

"We want to nurture the value of women and children in Kenya and put smiles on their faces — the burden is all put on women over there, but they have no voice," said ShoSho Nielson, founder of the organization. The people of Kenya gave her the name ShoSho.

Women who have AIDS are ostracized from the community and have few ways to support their children — let alone educate them. Thus they are trapped in poverty, said Gloria "Sana" Terry, co-founder of the group.

Africa Is Life Changing forms co-op businesses among the women by establishing chicken coops. One coop can sustain an entire village.

Terry said an average family makes about $40 a month in Naivasha. But families who have the coops make about $75 a week.

On their trip this month, the group will build the coop with more than $2,600 that the Willow Springs students and families raised to help the women of Naivasha.

About 25 volunteers will roll up their sleeves and construct the coop, along with purchasing 100 chicks. The women then nurture the chicks until they can produce eggs they are able to sell.

"We train them to be self-reliant — it elevates the community, and they can feed themselves and provide an education for their children and break the shackles of poverty," Terry said. "They are able to do something they never thought they could do."