Author Archives: Children of Hope

Everything is coming together so nicely for our home. Here are some of the great things that are happening:

Staff: We have been blessed with incredible staff who care for the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of the children. Our staff enables us to carry out the mission of Children of Hope:

A home where kids are cared about,
not simply cared for;
A home where the caregivers see what they do as a calling,
not just a job;
A home where staff go beyond investing in the children to
becoming their family.

We have security for the entire complex that includes a fence that surrounds the property and a secure gate manned by security guards who work in shifts to provide 24 hour safety for the children. This common practice in Kenya safe guards against theft of property or livestock and provides safety for all who live on the grounds. We also have a caretaker for the grounds who maintains the building and the 5 acre farm. Mothers/aunties, cooks, and a matron work shifts nurturing and providing for the daily living needs of the children. Our matron oversees the other mothers/aunties and is a retired nurse who also cares for the minor medical needs of the children.

Montessori Pre-School: One of our gifted mothers (Loren) has an education background. This past year Children of Hope sent her to Nairobi for some additional training at a Montessori School. Loren uses her training every week day at the Children of Hope in-home Montessori Pre-School. Our pre-school helps the little ones learn basic skills so that they are primed for entry into the local charter school. The Montessori format is especially helpful for the older children who arrive at Children of Hope without ever having attended school. The Montessori child-centered approach allows the children to start learning at whatever their level is and quickly advance to their age appropriate level so that they can join their peers in the charter school.

Staff Housing: Our mothers/aunties and matron live in the home with the children, but in the past we have not had housing for those who do not work directly with the children. Now a wonderful donor has sponsored the building of staff housing on the Children of Hope property to support the needs of staff who are not working directly with the children as we continue to grow. Having on-site housing for these staff members will enable the staff who are working multiple shifts to spend the night at the home. We also anticipate having some staff for whom the on-site housing will be their only residence. In this way we will be able to care well for those who help to care well for our children.

Farm: The grounds of the Kitalale Children’s Home is designed to be as agriculturally self-sufficient as possible. We have been blessed with a 10 acre plot of land which houses the Children’s Home, Staff Housing, Playground, and garden on 3 acres and a working farm on the remaining 7 acres. We grow maize, beans, sweet potatoes, and sukuma wiki a Kenyan staple similar to hearty spinach on our land. In addition to the crops we have two cows, a baby calf, two goats, and a whole slew of baby chickens.

Playground: Children need to play! We are pleased that our grounds also accommodate a playground that includes swings, a merry-go-round, and a slide, in addition to an open field that is often filled with children playing football (soccer for you Americans). Our children love the playground, and the children from the surrounding community also enjoy this play area. On Saturdays, in particular, there are often children from the community who come for Bible stories and playtime.