Project 82 Kenya

A life well lived

The dark clouds of mourning has this week engulfed Project 82 family with the sad news of the sudden
demise of Hannah Wanjiku, one of our guardians in our Molo Community in Kenya. She died yesterday
morning at Molo district hospital, where she had been hospitalized; after being rushed there to seek
medical attention, but later succumbed after her heart failure.

She was one of the pioneers guardians in Molo, whose insghts always reflected rays of wisdom that
greatly helped to defend the cause of the orphans and vulnerable children in Molo. She was the
grandmother to Mary, Elizabeth, Josphat, Caroline, Catherine and Susan who are in our sponsorship
program. We applaud the good work she has done in bringing up her grandchildren in the ways of God.
Her dedication to serve God and humanity was exemplary.

So today let’s all take a moment of silence to mourn, honour and celebrate a life well lived. Let’s also
remember her family in prayers in this difficult time of mourning, that God may comfort them. It is in
moments like this that we come together as Project 82 family and support those who are mourning by
offering a shoulder to cry on. Let’s be the pillar of support to her family that is mourning her loss.

Though she is gone, her memories lives in our hearts.
Our heartfelt condolences to the family and friends. May our words of solace be your pillar of strength.
TILL WE MEET AGAIN HANNAH! SHINE ON YOUR WAY HOME TO GLORY!

2018 Day of the African Child

The International Day of The African Child was celebrated in an event that was characterized with pomp and colour. Some of our children at House of Hope together with our staff took part in this big celebration that was held end of last week in the beautiful town of Naivasha, Kenya.

The June 16 annual event honours the memories of students who were massacred in Soweto, South Africa, in 1976 for protesting against education injustice and inequality in the apartheid regime. It was designated as Day of the African Child in 1991 by the African Union and every year events are organized to promote children’s rights. The Day of the African Child is a great day for all children in Africa and the world; it brings to life most commitments undertaken by African countries to fulfill the targets of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030.

One of the aims of the Day of the African Child is to highlight the plight of the African children that is a threat to their bright future and also put measures in place to safeguard their future. This is done each year through coming up with a theme; this year, the theme was “Leave no child behind for Africa’s Development.” For this to be realized, education remains a key pillar for African children to thrive and actively get involved in development of this great continent.

According to a recent survey: The children of African women with at least five years of schooling have a 40 percent higher chance of survival. This is why we have heavily invested in the educational needs of our children. That not withstanding, we have also equipped our children on spiritual and life skills. We believe education is key, but with dignity and having relevant skills; they have a bunch of keys that will help open many opportunity doors for them.

We also wish to take this opportunity to reflect on the contribution of our donors, partners, board, staff and other institutions that have walked with us in this journey of empowering our children with education, so that they can thrive and be actively involved in the development agenda. There is a great need to enroll more children in school in Africa and keeping them in school to safeguard not only their future, but also the future of Africa and the world at large.

We all have to uphold, advocate, and defend children’s rights. Education is one of the basic rights for children in Africa and remains to be the beacon of hope for many African children. Join us today in the cause of defending the weak and fatherless by supporting a child’s education in Kenya and be part of the change you want to see in the world.

 

“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” – Nelson Mandela

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Molo House Fire Update

Last month, fire razed down our boy’s dormitory at House of Hope in Molo. We are grateful for the fervent prayers,
care, support, contributions and love expressed to us during this tragic period. Your unwavering support
has made it possible for us to stand firm at this weak point in life and be able to rise from the ashes. [Read more…]

Grace’s Heart

On any given Saturday Grace is surrounded by children. They love for her to come to the P82 Saturday program, giving back, working with students, teaching the little ones how to read, and encouraging those still in school. It’s not that much different from how she spends the rest of her days, either. Grace is a first year teacher at Tayari Winners Academy in Molo. To see her, you would never know the challenges she faced growing up without her parents. [Read more…]

Statement on the Molo House Fire

To our dear friends, partners,donors and sponsors.

Around 9:00 pm last night Kenyan time, our boys home in Molo was lost to fire. Angels protected your children as all 16 of our boys and our staff escaped safely.

We thank God that everyone was safe and the fire did not spread to other buildings on the property.

We would also like to thank the Kenya Red Cross, our partner church, the AIC Church of Molo and the greater Molo community who have all  stepped in to offer support.

You, our partners in this ministry, have been so incredibly generous and supportive of the work God is doing in Kenya. Many have asked, how they can help. You can visit our website and make a small donation to replace the boys clothing, personal items and school supplies.

Most important, please pray for healing from this traumatic experience for our children and staff.
“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” Isaiah 41:10

Not a Baby Hatch…. An Infant Rescue Ministry

Baby Hatches have been set up recently in many countries to combat an overwhelming number of abandoned babies. Babies are placed inside to keep them warm and sheltered before they can be taken to a police station. However, at the Neema House, we aren’t a baby hatch. [Read more…]

Not Just Child Sponsorship… Community Empowerment

Child sponsorship is an excellent way to help a child in poverty have enough to eat, clothes, and an education. The hope is that one day they will be able to overcome a cycle of generational poverty. But at P82, we don’t want to wait for a future to begin. We know that empowering the adults in our communities means stronger families. Stronger families can overcome poverty in this generation. We aren’t a child sponsorship ministry.

Never Age Out

Some child sponsorship agencies only allow children in their program, and once those children become teens they are asked to leave, whether they are able to care for themselves- or not. The children in our program graduate higher education, such as college or trade school. They become independent, self sufficient adults, able to care for themselves and eventually their own families. But they stay part of our P82 Family and Community. The first young men to graduate higher education have returned as mentors and role models to the younger children. We are seeing generational change in the community.

 

Job Training

Independence is an important part of adulthood. We can’t serve the children in our community without caring for their families. Families in poverty have little opportunities and generational poverty kills any hope that children have. By introducing programs that teach sewing, baking, farming, and soap making to the Guardians, we are giving them the tools needed to be independent.

 

Family Support

Child sponsorship helps children have opportunities and a future, but family strengthening gives children opportunities here in the present.

Not an Orphanage … A House of Hope

My daughter was adopted at age 2 from a large orphanage in Asia. She was one of 800. She lived with 16 other children, all with the same special need. They slept in 16 cribs crammed into 4 rows of 4. They had a small playroom where they spent their days. Lastly there was a bathroom with sinks to bathe the kids and changing tables for diaper changes. Two staff members cared for the sixteen infants. She had never been outside. Although the orphanage was large and held about twice the number of children that it was built for, it was an award winning place. There were toys for the children. It was kept clean. There are far worse places.

At Project 82 Kenya, we know that large orphanages can not take the place of families. Studies have shown that children who live in large institutions can have serious side effects such as attachment disorders, low self esteem, low weight, late or no ability to talk, walk, and failure to thrive.

 

Family Strengthening

Instead of taking children out of their family unit to live in a large institution, we strive to help families before abandonment happens. For many families, this means helping pay school fees for their children. Other families need help with job skills to become self sustaining. Some families need assistance with food, shelter, or water for a short period of time.

Community Placement

Whenever possible, children are placed within a community member called a Guardian. Guardians 

 

are community members who are able to care for themselves and additional children. We provide job training and child care training. For example, Dorcus at 87 years old,  is our oldest guardian in our program. Her two foster sons have grown into nice young men and are living away at a prestigious boarding school. They come home to her on the holidays and always know that Dorcas is their loving mother. In addition to being a foster mother, Dorcus is a mentor and encourager to many of the younger guardians.

House of Hope

Children who can not live with their families and can not be placed within the community come to live at the House of Hope. They live together as a family with a House Mom who lives with them. Additional staff come to help during the day. The children eat together family style. They have chores just like a regular family. The children walk to school together and attend church together.

 

We believe that all children should be raised within a family, whether it is their birth family, an adopted family or a family specifically designed to serve orphans. These settings provide children with family members who love and care for them and will always be part of their lives. A child never ages out of his or her family. A family is forever.

We are not an orphanage. We are a home for children and we are #hereforgood.

 

Esther’s Joy

To honor great milestones made by women, March 8th has been set aside as International Women’s Day. Today, we want to honor Esther for her leadership and resilience. Before Esther joined our guardian’s empowerment program, she lived in abject poverty. She was a widow and unemployed, with two young children to take care of.

Esther joined our first Sewing Program for Guardians, begun in 2016. The goal in all our guardian programs is to empower the women of the community to become self sustaining and able to care for their families. She graduated last year and began sewing and selling her garments in the marketplace each Saturday.

Today, Esther’s and her children’s life has been totally transformed! She is able to care for her children with her new skills, but more than that, she has become a leader and an inspiration for other guardians. She sparked a revolution the day she first stepped on her sewing machine and inspired other guardians to use their sewing skills as a tool to fight abject poverty.

Esther’s life is a testament to God’s goodness. Nowadays, her face always glows with joy when she is narrating to everyone how God used Project 82 to transform her life. Esther would never have imagined that she would be able to care for herself and her family with her own business. Her agility to bounce back and having control over her life shows the importance of empowering women. When women can care for their families, they can break the cycle of poverty for themselves and for their children. Education and job training is the key. Project 82 proudly stands with woman worldwide who are fighting to change their lives, their families lives, and their children’s futures.

Defend the cause of the weak and fatherless; maintain the rights of the poor and oppressed.

Psalm 82:3

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