Ngando Universal Center (NUC) in Nairobi, is a non political, non religious & non profit making community organisation offering free schooling & meals to around 350 children per day. It is run by Susan and her 15 staff, a third of whom are volunteers. The Center is dedicated to improving the lives of children & poor families. The Center also teaches basic skills, offers vocational training and helps set up income generating projects for single mothers.
Nearly every child visiting the Center is an orphan or from single parent families, affected by, or infected with HIV/AIDS. Families live in shacks with poor sanitation, small amounts of food and little or no access to education. There is a high instance of early motherhood and domestic violence. These bleak conditions cause more domestic problems, high transport costs and few employment opportunities accentuate the problems and offer very few ways to escape the poverty trap.
The Center offers children free meals and medicines, an education, health care and a place to play and feel safe from violence. It a place for their moms to learn new skills such as knitting and sewing, where they can get financial support for their family, take part in guidance counseling and join community projects that can have a direct impact on improving livelihoods. The special thing that the Center offers is hope - a way out of the poverty cycle.
Within the next 12 months, Susan's target is to care for up to 1,000 children; giving them the opportunity to be part of the Center's family. She also wants to increase the number of poor and single mothers the Center helps, expanding the skills training program and setting up more income-generating projects. Over the next few years, staff plan to expand the Center's reach to help over 10,000 families in the local area.
