NGO Status:
Formed in 2002 as the Charity Buckner Orphan Care International Africa (dba Buckner-Kenya)
Primary Office:
Baptist Association of Kenya, Joogoo Road, Nairobi
Program Sites:
Nairobi, Busia, Kitale
Buckner began operations in Kenya in 2002 with the assumption of the Baptist Children’s Center (BCC) located in the Njiru location of Embakasi Division, Maili Saba Village. In 2001, Arms of Jesus requested Buckner assume responsibility for operations of BCC. Actual ownership of the campus remained with the Baptist Association of Kenya as it does to this day. The Manager’s house and cafeteria buildings were added in the same year. They were followed by the girls’ and boys’ dormitories in the following year and in 2004 the first two education buildings were added with one for the preschool and kindergarten while the other for the technical training program. In 2006, construction was initiated for expansion of the BCC school with the goal of expanding through the 8th grade. Completion of the 1st through 4th grade building was finished in 2007.
Buckner services and country support include:
• Operation of the Baptist Children’s Center in Nairobi (BCC) which comprises residential care, a school and a medical clinic.
• The medical clinic at the BCC serves people through HIV/AIDS and malaria treatments.
• A Foster Care program serving over 100 children.
• Financial assistance for each foster family caring for a child in Busia and Nairobi. The assistance is for food, medical care and school scholarships.
• Operation of a Child Development Center in Busia which comprises a school, humanitarian aid assistance, a water well and a medical clinic.
• Ongoing humanitarian aid through volunteers traveling to Kenya on mission trips. The aid includes shoes, school supplies and medicine.
Residential Ministries:
• Baptist Children’s Center in Nairobi. Included on the campus are a school (K-4th grades), health clinic, vocational training program (sewing) and a community water well. Two additional school buildings were added to the BCC campus in 2007 with the goal of adding a third building in 2008. By the end of 2008 a fully operational K-8th grade campus will be in place.
Foster Care Ministries:
• Foster care in Kenya more resembles Kinship care than traditional foster care. Extended families are recruited to care for their family members and receive services such as financial support, food, school allowance, health care, and case management. In 10% of the homes, care is provided for children not related to the family (Good Samaritan Care).
Church and Community Ministries
• KidsHeart Preschools in the Korogocho slum (125 children) supported by Lee Summit Church in Kansas City, Missouri. Primary to the partnership is the plan for construction of new buildings to replace old, inadequate structures and expand the work to more than 200 children. In addition, the site hosts a technical training center offering woodworking and cosmetology for the local residents. 72 Busia (children) sponsored by Wilshire Baptist Church in Dallas, Texas. The program is located on Kenyan Baptist Association property and includes not only the school but also a water well for the local community. A health clinic is currently under construction with hopes of opening in early 2008.
You can help Kenya in 2008 by supporting:
Seed of Hope Children’s Home in Kitale, Kenya. On January 1, 2008 Buckner-Kenya assumed responsibility of the home located on the outskirts of Kitale. With the assumption of the home Buckner adds 70 children to its residential care program, 200 children to its educational ministry with a K-5th grade school, a health clinic, and church with plans to add another school building increasing capacity to 300 children through the 8th grade.
KidsHeart Preschool in Kitale. The plan is to begin construction of the preschool in early 2008 and open for operations in the fall of 2008. Once fully operational the census will average 50-55. The location will be outside Kitale serving a rural area but easily accessible for mission groups. Kissumu, Kenya (between Busia and Nairobi) is the focus of research and international attention for the number of juvenile headed households as the result of HIV/AIDS. In response we will explore an opportunity, in partnership with the Carris Foundation, to design and implement a “Kinship” care program along with a child development center as part of KidsHeart-Kenya.
