By Fiona Maina | Project Leader
Introduction
Macheo continues to provide infants with a safe, nurturing environment where they can thrive and enjoy healthy lives. While offering temporary care, we work toward sustainable long-term solutions, including family reunification, foster care placement, and adoption. This report highlights our key achievements, progress, and challenges during the period from January to April 2026.
What went well
From January to April 2026, we provided a safe, nurturing, and protective environment for babies who experienced abandonment, abuse, or neglect. Our team ensured that each child received the care, attention, and support needed to promote their well-being and development.
We cared for a total of nine babies, successfully transitioning two of them into family-based care arrangements. All children attended scheduled medical check-ups and received their vaccinations on time, helping to maintain their health and support their growth.
In addition, we received donations and hospital fee waivers valued at $512 (KSh 66,000). This support significantly reduced operational expenses and enabled us to remain within the approved budget while continuing to deliver quality care.
What challenges did we face?
Alongside these achievements, we also faced several challenges. Tracing and identifying suitable family placements for abandoned babies remained difficult due to the limited information available about many of the children. As a result, efforts to locate and reunite them with their families were often lengthy and complex.
One child experienced significant health challenges and required frequent hospital admissions and medical attention. He was hospitalized for one month and is likely to require ongoing clinic visits to manage his condition. In addition, several babies and their caregivers experienced illness during this period, placing additional demands on caregiving and healthcare resources.
We were also unable to enroll the children in the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF) medical cover, as the policy guidelines for children living in children's homes have not yet been finalized and released. We will continue to engage with the relevant government authorities and follow up on this matter to ensure the children can access this important healthcare support in the future.
The impact of your support to Daniel's life
Daniel (Not his actual name) was only 1year old when he was admitted to Macheo Children’s Home on 30th December 2025. He had been rescued by a kind well-wisher and taken to Police Station because his mother was neglecting him. The mother was arrested and taken to Police Station. At first, Daniel was taken to a neighbouring Children’s Centre for care and protection. However, the centre could not take care of infants considering that they didn’t have a facility for young children, he was later transferred to Macheo, where there are proper facilities for young children like him.
When Daniel arrived at the Macheo Baby House, he was warmly welcomed by caregivers and social workers. He received the love, care, and attention he needed. The nurse also took him for a full medical check-up, and he was found to be generally healthy. However, during one of his clinic visits, he was diagnosed with rickets. He was given supplements and a special support to help strengthen his legs.
While Daniel was at Macheo, efforts to find his wider family began. This was through the lead that the mother had given when she was arrested. Because Macheo believes every child deserves to grow up in a family, the social workers immediately started tracing the family. They successfully found the home and met Daniel’s grandmother. They carried out a social inquiry to better understand the family situation. It was discovered that Daniel’s maternal grandfather had passed away in 2011.
During the discussions, Daniel’s grandmother expressed her willingness to take care of him, saying he belongs to their family. The social workers assessed the home to ensure it was safe for Daniel. They found that the family lived on their own land, in a house that was in good condition, and the environment was suitable for raising a child. However, they needed a bed and bedding for Daniel, which Macheo provided. The grandmother was also supported with basic needs and helped to start a small income-generating activity to support the family. Arrangements were also made for Daniel to continue receiving medical care for his legs at a nearby hospital.
Later, Daniel’s grandmother was invited to Macheo for bonding. She stayed for a few days, spending time with Daniel, and their bond grew stronger each day. After confirming that both Daniel and his grandmother were ready, they were reunited on 24th March 2026. Daniel received a warm welcome from the family members. The reunification process was completed at Sub-County Children’s Office. Macheo will continue to follow up and support the family to ensure that Daniel grows up in a safe, loving, and stable home.
We have not included their real names. This is done to preserve the identity of these of this participants.
Thank you!
We extend our heartfelt gratitude for your continued support of Macheo. Your generosity makes it possible for us to reach and assist more people in need. Through your partnership, we are able to continue providing vital care and support to those who depend on our services. Thank you for making this work possible.
Thank you very much!
Links:
Project reports on GlobalGiving are posted directly to globalgiving.org by Project Leaders as they are completed, generally every 3-4 months. To protect the integrity of these documents, GlobalGiving does not alter them; therefore you may find some language or formatting issues.
If you donate to this project or have donated to this project, you can receive an email when this project posts a report. You can also subscribe for reports without donating.
Support this important cause by creating a personalized fundraising page.
Start a Fundraiser
