What we do and the desperate need
Aids/HIV has ravaged Africa, cutting through communities and families alike. In Kenya, in the late 1990s, about 1 in every 10 adults is believed to have suffered from Aids/HIV, with women having a much lower life expectancy than men. This has left a whole generation of very poor children without loving parents to provide a home and encourage them through school and the African village we support is a typical example.
Our Frontline Work – Partnering with the Local Community
Operating in a suburb of the Kenyan city of Kisumu, our charity works with one specific community, Tieng’re, a very poor African village indeed. We support a government primary school of 850 pupils. Here we have now built 4 new classrooms and have drilled a bore hole, with plans to help local school families in setting up a school kitchen and irrigating fields where the local volunteers, working in partnership with us, will cultivate, harvest and cook food for school lunches – reducing malnourishment, thus raising learning.
We also run a children’s home for 72 orphans and disadvantaged girls and boys aged 5 to 18 – all referred by the local social services in order that we might provide a loving, caring home for them. This is usually because no family member is able or willing to care for them. Run by a well-qualified set of local trustees and staff, the home is classified by inspectors as ‘Grade A’ and also provides vocational skills training such as market gardening in our polytunnel. The home is also a base for local government-run training of children and youth workers.
Our Promise
We promise to provide love, care and support through education or training for all our children. This includes our children resident in our Home and also a growing number of ‘Community Children’ who are able to remain with their families. These have been identified by school staff or local authority. Presently this is over 72 children or young adults in school or training. Support is also offered beyond school, for higher education or vocational training and is growing each year as we are able.
Aside from our partnering with Tieng’re Primary School, specific children have been identified for targeted support by the school staff.
Two Trusted Sister Charities – Accountable Management
Our two charities, Kisumu Children Trust, Tonbridge and our sister charity in Kisumu, Kenya work together for the sake of the children in our care. The UK team is led by the accomplished statistician, Dr Peter Brierley, who, along with other trustees, visit each year at their own cost. In Kenya, we are overseen by patrons such as Dr Stephen Mbogo, International Team Leader, African Enterprises, Kenya.
Read more about what we are working on as an International Development Charity in that region and the difference it makes >>
