This project will educate and feed 22 vulnerable orphans in Kilifi County, Kenya. Kilifi County is one of the poorest counties in Kenya, with one of the highest rates of illiteracy and unemployment. Orphans are particularly vulnerable in such an environment. Secondary schools charge $500 per student per year. Most families cannot afford to feed and educate their children. By feeding them and supporting their education, Upendo will help lift them and their families out of poverty.
Access to formal education in Kenya has proved to be a challenge. More than 1.2 million primary-school-age children do not attend school (UNICEF, 2020). Most of these children are vulnerable orphans who cannot afford school fees. Although the Kenyan government introduced free primary and secondary education in 2003 and 2008 respectively, schools still charge levies to meet their ever-increasing costs.
The project will feed and provide educational scholarships to 22 orphans by paying their school fees and learning materials. It will also mentor them across their academic journey so that they can achieve their goals. This will enable them obtain quality education thereby increasing their employability, entrepreneurship and ability to become independent and self-reliant citizens. This will also enable them to support their families, thus helping alleviate their local community of poverty.
The education of 22 local students in Kilifi County under the long-standing Upendo Orphan Support Program will continue to build community capacity to overcome poverty. These 22 students will become role models to other orphans, and inspire further community support to assist the most vulnerable during their childhood years.
This project has provided additional documentation in a PDF file (projdoc.pdf).
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