Impact Kenya-Eldoret, a program started in 2008, focuses on orphans and underprivileged children cared for by the Shangilia Children's Home, the Tumaini Children's Home, and the King's Highway School.
Background: Kenya
Kenya has been devastated by the HIV/AIDS epidemic. For more than two decades, orphaned children were generally cared for by their extended family. However, as many of these relatives have succumbed to the same illness, the number of completely orphaned children is suddenly increasing. In the Vihiga region of 22,500 people, more than 5000 are orphans.
The Shangilia Children's Home - Located in a small village outside of Kisumu, the Shangilia Children's Home (SCH) is the only orphanage in the region. It cares for, feeds, educates and teaches the love of God to about 50 children aged 2-18. Thousands more are on a waiting list for such a facility - they survive in the streets, with a tragically uncertain future.
Francis and Florence Ranogwa began the dream of Shangalia in 1998 as AIDS was increasing. Francis and Florence took 24 children into their house. Out of this experience, the Shangilia Children's Home was born.
The orphanage, now home to almost 50 children, provides students with love, shelter, a sense of family, as well as their own uniform and school supplies. Water and septic capacity has been increased and thanks to generous donor contributions, a new two-story girls dormitory is nearly finished. Plans are underway to provide much needed upgrades to the existing boys dormitory and to build an additional residence for the older boys. The achievement of this project will bring the capacity of the home to it's goal of 100 spaces for needy children.
The King's Highway School - Florence Ranogwa is the director of the two campuses of the King's Highway School (KHS) in Eldoret, a community that was caught up in the violence of the recent political conflict of 2008. Up to 160 pre-school aged children through to 8th grade attend the school. It is a valued source of education in the area. This school receives no government funding.
In addition to providing an education, KHS was providing its students with one healthy meal per day. At present, this project has been suspended and funds are needed to reinstate this work by the beginning of 2011.
The Ranogwas believe that education is the key to changing the cycle of poverty, sickness and unemployment in the area. Although the Ranogwas, the school staff, the community and the church are 100% supportive of the school, they are unable to fully fund it. The King's Highway School is in need of new facilities and educational supplies such as books, blackboards, printed maps and posters. There is also a great need for trained teachers who will take on longer-term positions at the school.
International Teams' Involvement
International Teams supports the KHS with funding for staff and school supplies. Plans are in the works to upgrade facilities at the KHS city campus and to reinstate the lunch feeding program at the KHS rural campus. A two-story dormitory for 60 girls is near completion. International Teams provides funding for a neighbourhood medical clinic for SCH orphans and locals. Business management and micro-enterprise training and funding has been made available for local widows. International Teams also assisted with the completion of a septic system at SCH.
The Tumaini Orphanage - This small local orphanage is located in Jua Kali. It was started by Joyce Anzema, one of the original Shangalia staff. The home provides food, shelter, love, and an education to eleven children who have all lost their parents to AIDS/HIV.
Impact Kenya
