Flights are bought! Ish just got real! I am leaving for Kenya on January 21st. I really wanted to share more details about the center and exactly what I will be working on when I get there. A number of people have wanted me to give more details and I hope this answers some of your questions, but feel free to email me or ask a question in the comments section.
Background
The community of Kisumu has twice the HIV/AIDS infection rate compared to the rest of Kenya. In addition, Kisumu has one of the highest rates of food poverty in Kenya. These issues beget other vulnerabilities and in particular among the children of this community. Anastasia, a Kenyan woman, and the direct of OLPS (Our Lady of Perpetual Support), a medical treatment clinic, came up with the idea and began fundraising for the rescue center in 2006. Her fundraising purchased the land and the foundation for the building. However, funding ran out leaving the center unfinished and unfunded. Mama Hope took on this community's project in 2011 and began by building walls, the roof, and door. We are nearing the end of the construction for this center with some tiling left, the need for a well and plumbing, furnishings, and a secure perimeter fence.
The Rescue Center
The center will function as a transition home for children mostly girls (because of their increased risk) who have been adversely affected by HIV/AIDs. In more depth, these children are neglected, physically, mentally, or sexually abused due to the fact that their parents are sick, dead, or are facing extremely difficult socio economic circumstances. This center will not act as an orphanage and that is one of the unique and faith restoring features of this center. This center is a new beginning, restoring the natural progression of life which is to move forward rather than to dead end. This is not to say that orphanages are not important because they are, it is to say however, that there is not much in this world that can replace family, parental guidance, and guardianship. These children can move forward and grow through the provisions of the center including shelter, food, clothing, health care, psycho- social support, education, and skills training. In the end they are reconnected with their families or safe members of the community who are willing to support them.
The Impact
This center will serve a community of 10,000 plus by taking in 20 plus children at a time. In addition, OLPS has provided support to over 3,000 children through their orphans and vulnerable children program. This may not sound like a lot to some, but even helping one child to become a productive member of their community with an education, good health, and a safe place to call home is an accomplishment. That child now grows up to give and be more for their future children helping promote well being for generations to come. "First, have a definite, clear practical ideal; a goal, an objective. Second, have the necessary means to achieve your ends; wisdom, money, materials, and methods. Third, adjust all your means to that end." –Aristotle
The interesting thing about our "end" is that it really isn't an end at all. The rescue center is just the beginning for so many children.
I am greatly looking forward to going there and sharing with you all some of the stories of the types of children who are benefiting from the center. However, my reality is still a very cold upstate new york and I can't leave you without a visual.
Background
The community of Kisumu has twice the HIV/AIDS infection rate compared to the rest of Kenya. In addition, Kisumu has one of the highest rates of food poverty in Kenya. These issues beget other vulnerabilities and in particular among the children of this community. Anastasia, a Kenyan woman, and the direct of OLPS (Our Lady of Perpetual Support), a medical treatment clinic, came up with the idea and began fundraising for the rescue center in 2006. Her fundraising purchased the land and the foundation for the building. However, funding ran out leaving the center unfinished and unfunded. Mama Hope took on this community's project in 2011 and began by building walls, the roof, and door. We are nearing the end of the construction for this center with some tiling left, the need for a well and plumbing, furnishings, and a secure perimeter fence.
The Rescue Center
The center will function as a transition home for children mostly girls (because of their increased risk) who have been adversely affected by HIV/AIDs. In more depth, these children are neglected, physically, mentally, or sexually abused due to the fact that their parents are sick, dead, or are facing extremely difficult socio economic circumstances. This center will not act as an orphanage and that is one of the unique and faith restoring features of this center. This center is a new beginning, restoring the natural progression of life which is to move forward rather than to dead end. This is not to say that orphanages are not important because they are, it is to say however, that there is not much in this world that can replace family, parental guidance, and guardianship. These children can move forward and grow through the provisions of the center including shelter, food, clothing, health care, psycho- social support, education, and skills training. In the end they are reconnected with their families or safe members of the community who are willing to support them.
The Impact
This center will serve a community of 10,000 plus by taking in 20 plus children at a time. In addition, OLPS has provided support to over 3,000 children through their orphans and vulnerable children program. This may not sound like a lot to some, but even helping one child to become a productive member of their community with an education, good health, and a safe place to call home is an accomplishment. That child now grows up to give and be more for their future children helping promote well being for generations to come. "First, have a definite, clear practical ideal; a goal, an objective. Second, have the necessary means to achieve your ends; wisdom, money, materials, and methods. Third, adjust all your means to that end." –Aristotle
The interesting thing about our "end" is that it really isn't an end at all. The rescue center is just the beginning for so many children.
I am greatly looking forward to going there and sharing with you all some of the stories of the types of children who are benefiting from the center. However, my reality is still a very cold upstate new york and I can't leave you without a visual.