Kenya

Kenya is a republic in East Africa, home to 38 million people belonging to more than 40 different tribal groups. It is a beautiful country, but also a place of poverty, disease, HIV/AIDs and many risks for children.

The Problem
• More than 2.3 million children are orphans in Kenya; 1.5 million are orphaned due to AIDS.

• Nearly one-fourth of the population lives on less than $1/day.

• Approximately nine out of 10 children in poverty never complete basic education.

• About 40% of children aged 6-16 are part of the labor force.

What Buckner is Doing
Buckner began operations in Kenya in 2002 when the Baptist Children’s Center in Nairobi became part of the Buckner family. Today, Buckner Kenya is led by Dickson Masindano who is supported by more than 50 staff members across the country. Buckner works to improve the lives of children and families in Kenya through the following programs:

FAMILY PROGRAMS
• Residential Care Services - The Baptist Children’s Center in Nairobi cares for an average of 37 children, ranging in age from 5 to 20 years old. The campus includes a school (K-8th grade), a health clinic, a vocational training program (sewing) and a community clean water well.

Seed of Hope Children’s Home in Kitale is home to 70 orphans and three house families. The campus includes a school, a clinic, a church and a number of community services.

• Foster Care Services - Buckner provides foster care services in Nairobi, Busia and Kitale. In most cases, foster care is really kinship care – where extended families are recruited to care for children whose parents have died or abandoned them. These family members receive financial support, food, school allowance, health care and case management from Buckner staff. About 10% of our foster families are not related to the children they care for.

EMPOWERMENT PROGRAMS
• Vocational Training - Vocational training gives children and young adults opportunities to gain employment and provide for their families in the future. In Nairobi, Buckner provides a vocational training program with an emphasis on sewing and computer skills.

• Schools/Child Development Centers - Buckner offers three formal school programs in Kenya. The Busia Cornerstone School teaches children in pre-school and kindergarten, serving about 73 children annually. The school at the Baptist Children’s Center campus in Nairobi offers K-8th grade classes to orphans living at the center and also to children in the community. This school serves about 286 children each year. In Kitale, the school at the Seed of Hope campus serves about 326 children annually; about 71 children attend at the Kitale Child Development Center.

HEALTH AID AND SUPPORT PROGRAMS
• Medical Clinics - There are medical clinics located at the campuses of the Baptist Children’s Center, Seed of Hope in Kitale, and the Community Development Center in Busia. These clinics provide care for the children participating in Buckner programs through immunizations, minor medical procedures, testing for diseases (HIV/AIDS and malaria) and referrals to larger medical facilities. These services are also available to the general public at nominal costs.

Humanitarian Aid
Through humanitarian aid support and distribution of new shoes, Buckner is helping to prevent future disease and infection in children. Many diseases enter the body through the feet when a child walks through mud and filth without shoes. The gift of a new pair of shoes not only protects their feet, but keeps their entire body from being subjected to a number of diseases. Buckner has sent more than 29,848 pairs of shoes to Kenya to date.

How You Can Help:
• Pray: Make a commitment to pray for the children and families of Kenya who live in desperate circumstances and need to know the Lord.

• Give: Make a donation online to support any of the programs listed above or call 214-758-8050 to make a donation by phone.

• Be an Advocate: Share the needs of children in Kenya with your church, community, family and friends.

• Take a Mission Trip: Buckner organizes church mission trips to Kenya to provide much-needed education, medical support and children’s activities.

• Collect Shoes: Host a shoe drive or give a pair of shoes to help orphans in Kenya. Learn more at www.ShoesForOrphanSouls.org.