Homes For Orphans
Here at Kenya Thriving, we believe that it is every child’s right to be loved and nurtured during their formative years, to live in an environment where they can thrive, and know that they are safe and protected. Unfortunately, not every child has that opportunity.
Caring for orphans within the local community, in foster homes, has always been the African way. For some children this arrangement works well, but for others it is not satisfactory. More recently this is due to socio-economic reasons. Due to the high level of poverty and the fact that HIV Aids is double the national average, there are a very high number of orphans and marginalised children in the Otacho area.
The original aim of this project was to build small houses, each funded by our fundraiser’s cycling challenges.
Each house has become home to ten children, taken care of by a houseparent, who not only provides for their physical needs, but will also be a “Mum” to each child, and each child will be a sibling to each other. In this way a family environment can eventually be achieved, where there is security and love, laughter and boundaries, responsibility and a sense of belonging.
There are now five small houses which are home to fifty one children who each have their own story of heartbreak and loss, but here they find people who care about them and a place where they can feel secure.
Water Harvesting ExpandUntil 2013 the orphanage’s only supply of water was from the nearby river. We were able to improve on this by installing a rainwater harvesting system. The system is simple and one which is adopted in many rural areas of Kenya.
Guttering is installed around the buildings and channelled into water tanks, thus harvesting rainwater. Recently we have been able to upgrade the system on one house by replacing the metal gutters with uPVC.
Kitchen ExpandThe orphanage has a communal kitchen where all the housemothers share in meal preparation and cooking. We have recently begun on a new project to build a combined kitchen and store plus an office space for the orphanage’s social worker.
The new kitchen is still a work in progress. The shell of the building is complete, and we will shortly be installing the windows. As funding becomes available, we will progress this project to completion. It will give a bigger, lighter, and more hygienic space, in addition to being easier to keep clean and providing storage room.
Kitchen Update 2022 ExpandOtacho Christian Children’s Home recently celebrated the completion of this project. Whilst there have been challenges along the way, the kitchen is complete with new stoves, plenty of worktop and storage space, a sink for doing the dishes and separate storage for bulk purchases of maize, beans and rice.
After long years of working in difficult conditions, the houseparent’s are delighted with the new clean and airy workspace.
Home & Medical
Housing each child costs £16.00 per month- A roof over their heads
- A bed
- Personal care
- Essential medication
- Healthcare
- Education
- Support & guidance
- A future
