Provide a loving home for orphans in Kenya

When Eva had been admitted to Lewa’s children home from an abusive household, she was a shy and reserved little girl, not trusting and talking to anyone at all. At Lewa she was welcomed to a loving and warm home, where she received the attention and care she needed. Slowly, after a few weeks at the new home the effort started to show its effect. Eva slowly started to open up and surprised everyone with her brightness. Not only did she start speaking but she also started teaching the other toddlers things like drawing and creating buildings with building blocks. Everyone new she finally felt safe and comfortable when she started laughing.

Key achievements: Major challenges that Phyllis and her staff have to face due to lockdown measures are the closure of schools, meaning that the children are now at home 24/7. Although the government has provided learning material for students staying at home, it is difficult to keep children motivated and focused at home, as there is always something more exiting to do than homework. Phyllis and her team keep the children’s day to day life as structured as possible. The mornings start with breakfast and household chores such as taking care of the goats, sheep, cleaning the dishes and setting up the tables for when the meals are ready. The afternoon is kept for study time. Everyone receives printed exercises that they try to solve themselves or in study groups, with Gemnia the social worker’s help. In addition, Phillys had to take in 24 new children from a nearby home that closed. As the new children must settle in and get accustomed to the rules and new environment, structure becomes of even bigger importance, to make the transition as smooth as possible.