Caring for Both Vulnerable Girls and Boys of Kenya

Challenge

*Few of Kenya's 2.8 million orphans have adequate food, shelter, clothing or medical services *Over 1,000,000 children are not in school due to lack of uniform, shoes or fees *Only 20% of those in primary school complete all 8 years *Less than half the students eligible for secondary school are enrolled *An estimated 23% of girls in Kenya are married before their 18th birthday *21% of women 15-49 are circumcised. With assistance they can be educated, skilled, competent adults.

Solution

JWHS, our children's home, provides: *a HOME to 8 needy children *assistance to relatives caring for 16 family orphans *24 scholarships for education expenses *counseling, individual assessment, supervision, screening, and referral for 8 children who have undergone trauma *community education *2 scholarships for girl child education as an alternative to child marriage *advocacy and refuge for girls in danger of FGM or child marriage *vocational counseling for needy girl and boy children

Long-Term Impact

At JWHS: *Supportive home living nurtures trust and belonging, with the goal of reuniting extended families with 8 orphaned children *Direct assistance creates opportunities for education among rural, low-income students *Education eradicates poverty and is a powerful channel for peace and confidence *Community education results in child-friendly practices *24 educated girls and boys improve and strengthen their communities *Responsible adults form a new generation of child/community advocates

Additional Documentation

This project has provided additional documentation in a PDF file (projdoc.pdf).

Resources

• http:/​/​www.exop.org
• When Imam works, he often stops to sing.
• Children at JWHS on a Sunday drive break into song
• A day in the life of JWHS
• The organization's facebook