Make a Change! Create a Smile Kenya
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Our Kids in Kenya!
https://ourkidsinkenya.org/
https://www.instagram.com/our_kids_in_kenya/
https://www.facebook.com/pg/ourkidsinkenyaofficial
Our Story:
At the end of 2009, Jane Jimono, her daughter Priscilla Chalk and Priscilla’s husband Patrick Chalk saw the problem of homelessness in the Embulul district, especially among the young, even babies. It was an impossible situation to ignore; they knew they had better DO SOMETHING to help! They had very little in terms of resources but decided that between them, they could make a small difference as private individuals and take in 3-5 children in need.
Today, the Foundation has over 40 kids, from the ages 3 to 18, in its care and has the aim to keep helping all in need in the community. Alongside this, it also offers outreach to many children and families in the country.
Our mission is to help homeless young people whenever and, however, we can by providing BASIC NEEDS, COMMUNITY SERVICE, and creating SUSTAINABILITY.
Basic Needs: We provide shelter, food, education, and a sense of family and security to the children.
Community Service: We set an example to the local community and help out through an outreach program.
Sustainability: We create sustainable businesses that can support the foundation and provide employment to our graduates.
We have picked up some fantastic supporters along the way. The board of the society is composed of selfless people with the interests of these children at heart. Any help and support are appreciated!
Our Board Members
Jene Jimo -- Secretary
Patrick Chalk -- Chairman
Priscilla Namata -- Treasurer
Maryanne Mwangi -- Vice Secretary
Ruth Gershberg -- Treasurer and Marketing Director
George Mealy -- Vice Chairman
Our Current Projects
As we work to improve the children’s lives and make ourselves self-sustainable, we have a few ongoing projects.
1. We ensure all our children attend school. Most of our children attend public schools; however, though the help and sponsorship of some volunteers and donors, some of our children are attending private schools.
3. We ensure the payment of bills is covered, especially food, rent, and medical purposes.
2. Through donations and our donors’ support, we started a taxi business. This past August we bought a car. Transportation bills were part of our daily struggles as all our kids needed to take public transportation to get to school. Still, though this purchase, we have been able to take the kids daily to their schools and use the car as a Taxi. While the kids are in school, the vehicle is used as a Taxi generating a monthly income to pay the orphanage bills.
4. In the next few months, we are working to build a good stock of food for the children.
5. We are trying to find scholarships and sponsorship for our graduates in order to help them get to college and give them the skill to build their future.
How you can help Further
DONATE!!!
Although we have been working to make ourselves self-sustainable, we still need financial support. All the donations go directly to the kids! With the contributions, we buy school supplies, food, pay medical bills, and get anything that is needed by our kids.
SPONSOR A KID
Most of our children attend public schools; however, though the help and sponsorship of some volunteers and donors, some of our children are attending private schools. If you want to support and improve the education of our children sponsoring one of our kids is one of the best ways to do it. Through your sponsorship, one of our children can attend a private school or college that will provide him/her with the skill to be successful in their future.
COME, VOLUNTEER :)
We receive volunteers most of the time. If you want to meet our kids, help, and have fun, volunteering is the best option.
Future Goals
As our future goals, we aim to:
1. Get our land and build a permanent home for our kids.
2. We plan to open small businesses that will be managed by our older kids, giving them the skill to learn to work and manage a business.
Help us improve our children’s lives!!!
Story!
The problem is not the problem. The problem is your attitude about the problem.
~ Captain Jacks Sparrow.
This is one of the greatest lessons I have learned while I was volunteering in Kenya, and these words describe perfectly how people face their problems. My name is Ruth, and a few months ago, I returned home after spending two weeks in Kenya, Africa, where I volunteered at an orphanage and a daycare. The orphanage is called Angelica Chalk Children’s Home, where there are currently 20 children living. When I arrived in Kenya, I had no idea what to expect; I was just happy to meet new people and to be able to help. What I have seen is absolutely heartbreaking. I swear that there is no worse thing in the world than seeing the level of poverty a person can live in. I couldn’t believe my eyes.
In the orphanage, most of the kids go to public schools; still, they lack school supplies and textbooks to be able to learn. Sometimes the kids were even sent home from school as they weren’t able to pay for test fees, a problem that is still ongoing. The living conditions I saw here are far worse than I ever imagined. The children have to take cold bucket showers, they don’t have a proper bathroom, and most of the chores are done by themselves. They cook whatever food is available from the donations they sometimes receive, most of their clothes are ripped, their shoes are without laces and in some cases have holes on them, and they have just one school uniform for the whole week. One of the biggest struggles is to get water. As there is not enough clean water and there is no money to buy bottled water. Due to this, the children can only clean on the weekends, and they are used to only take 1 to 2 cups of water to drink each day.
Despite all of their problems, the children and the people who work in the orphanage are the HAPPIEST human beings I have ever meet. They are happy all of the time, they work together as a team, respect each other, and help each other. Throughout my time in Kenya, two of the most important life lessons that I have learned are:
• There will always be problems in your life, but still, life continues, and each day is always a new day.
• Life never stops you decide how to confront your problems, with a positive attitude or a negative one.
The people I have met never stop giving their best, they live and confront their problems as they need to, but always with a smile on their face.
I got to be close with three kids at the orphanage. Their names are Marcy, Kelvin, and Shirlyn. Marcy and Shirlyn are two wonderful, smart girls that are always helping with the house duties. They are lovely girls that like to read, make braids, dance, and play. Kalvin is a brilliant guy that loves to play football and do acrobatics. He is really sweet and always takes care of others.
I’m fundraising money to send these three incredible kids to school for three years before they enter high school. Each school year costs around $1500; therefore, the total amount that is needed is $13,500. My goal is to fundraise $16,000.
We have picked up some fantastic supporters along the way. The board of the society is composed of selfless people with the interests of these children at heart. Any help and support are appreciated!
Our Board Members
Jene Jimo -- Secretary
Patrick Chalk -- Chairman
Priscilla Namata -- Treasurer
Maryanne Mwangi -- Vice Secretary
Ruth Gershberg -- Treasurer and Marketing Director
George Mealy -- Vice Chairman
Our Current Projects
As we work to improve the children’s lives and make ourselves self-sustainable, we have a few ongoing projects.
1. We ensure all our children attend school. Most of our children attend public schools; however, though the help and sponsorship of some volunteers and donors, some of our children are attending private schools.
3. We ensure the payment of bills is covered, especially food, rent, and medical purposes.
2. Through donations and our donors’ support, we started a taxi business. This past August we bought a car. Transportation bills were part of our daily struggles as all our kids needed to take public transportation to get to school. Still, though this purchase, we have been able to take the kids daily to their schools and use the car as a Taxi. While the kids are in school, the vehicle is used as a Taxi generating a monthly income to pay the orphanage bills.
4. In the next few months, we are working to build a good stock of food for the children.
5. We are trying to find scholarships and sponsorship for our graduates in order to help them get to college and give them the skill to build their future.
How you can help Further
DONATE!!!
Although we have been working to make ourselves self-sustainable, we still need financial support. All the donations go directly to the kids! With the contributions, we buy school supplies, food, pay medical bills, and get anything that is needed by our kids.
SPONSOR A KID
Most of our children attend public schools; however, though the help and sponsorship of some volunteers and donors, some of our children are attending private schools. If you want to support and improve the education of our children sponsoring one of our kids is one of the best ways to do it. Through your sponsorship, one of our children can attend a private school or college that will provide him/her with the skill to be successful in their future.
COME, VOLUNTEER :)
We receive volunteers most of the time. If you want to meet our kids, help, and have fun, volunteering is the best option.
Future Goals
As our future goals, we aim to:
1. Get our land and build a permanent home for our kids.
2. We plan to open small businesses that will be managed by our older kids, giving them the skill to learn to work and manage a business.
Help us improve our children’s lives!!!
Story!
The problem is not the problem. The problem is your attitude about the problem.
~ Captain Jacks Sparrow.
This is one of the greatest lessons I have learned while I was volunteering in Kenya, and these words describe perfectly how people face their problems. My name is Ruth, and a few months ago, I returned home after spending two weeks in Kenya, Africa, where I volunteered at an orphanage and a daycare. The orphanage is called Angelica Chalk Children’s Home, where there are currently 20 children living. When I arrived in Kenya, I had no idea what to expect; I was just happy to meet new people and to be able to help. What I have seen is absolutely heartbreaking. I swear that there is no worse thing in the world than seeing the level of poverty a person can live in. I couldn’t believe my eyes.
In the orphanage, most of the kids go to public schools; still, they lack school supplies and textbooks to be able to learn. Sometimes the kids were even sent home from school as they weren’t able to pay for test fees, a problem that is still ongoing. The living conditions I saw here are far worse than I ever imagined. The children have to take cold bucket showers, they don’t have a proper bathroom, and most of the chores are done by themselves. They cook whatever food is available from the donations they sometimes receive, most of their clothes are ripped, their shoes are without laces and in some cases have holes on them, and they have just one school uniform for the whole week. One of the biggest struggles is to get water. As there is not enough clean water and there is no money to buy bottled water. Due to this, the children can only clean on the weekends, and they are used to only take 1 to 2 cups of water to drink each day.
Despite all of their problems, the children and the people who work in the orphanage are the HAPPIEST human beings I have ever meet. They are happy all of the time, they work together as a team, respect each other, and help each other. Throughout my time in Kenya, two of the most important life lessons that I have learned are:
• There will always be problems in your life, but still, life continues, and each day is always a new day.
• Life never stops you decide how to confront your problems, with a positive attitude or a negative one.
The people I have met never stop giving their best, they live and confront their problems as they need to, but always with a smile on their face.
I got to be close with three kids at the orphanage. Their names are Marcy, Kelvin, and Shirlyn. Marcy and Shirlyn are two wonderful, smart girls that are always helping with the house duties. They are lovely girls that like to read, make braids, dance, and play. Kalvin is a brilliant guy that loves to play football and do acrobatics. He is really sweet and always takes care of others.
I’m fundraising money to send these three incredible kids to school for three years before they enter high school. Each school year costs around $1500; therefore, the total amount that is needed is $13,500. My goal is to fundraise $16,000.
This will be used for school fees as well as school supplies. All the remaining money will be used to help pay the rent of the orphanage, buy food, and provide school supplies for the other kids.
I will be as transparent as possible, always updating on how the money is used. 100% of the donation will go directly to benefit the kids and all of their needs. I will personally return to Kenya hopefully this upcoming Spring break to give the donation and pay for the kids’ schooling. Any donation is highly appreciated! Please help me provide these kids with proper education. With your help, we can change their lives! If this goal is achieved, I will try to send more kids to school or help them to improve their living conditions. The cost of helpings a child’s future can be great, but we need to start somewhere. I know that with everyone’s support, we can achieve this and more.
Thank You
XOXO
If you have any questions you can contact me at:
[email redacted]
I will be as transparent as possible, always updating on how the money is used. 100% of the donation will go directly to benefit the kids and all of their needs. I will personally return to Kenya hopefully this upcoming Spring break to give the donation and pay for the kids’ schooling. Any donation is highly appreciated! Please help me provide these kids with proper education. With your help, we can change their lives! If this goal is achieved, I will try to send more kids to school or help them to improve their living conditions. The cost of helpings a child’s future can be great, but we need to start somewhere. I know that with everyone’s support, we can achieve this and more.
Thank You
XOXO
If you have any questions you can contact me at:
[email redacted]
Organizer
Ruth Gershberg
Organizer
Winter Park, FL
