Saturday, August 8, 2009

Nyumbani Watoto wa Mungu


Nyumbani Watoto wa Mungu
(Home for the children)

Every 14 seconds a child is ophaned in Sub-Saharan Africa.

On Friday Wendy and I had the opportunity to visit Nyumbani Children of God Relief Institute just outside Nairobi in a town called Karen. Wow, what a wonderful experience to spend time with such a lovely group of people. This orphanage has been running for the past 17yrs and the gentleman that took us around Protus-Chief Manager has been there for the last 15yrs. There are 109 children at the home and all of them are HIV+ orphans that have lost theirs parents to AIDS. You can hear and read about all these things happening in Africa all you want but when you see it right infront of your face it will send chills right down your spine. Protus explained that the bottom line cost of a child with HIV+ at the home cost $250US/month. It took a long time for him to finally give me the bottom line number as he never likes to give out the information like that as he says that when you tell the people how much it costs that people shy away from helping as it seems like a lot of money for one child. Imagine... $250US for one child a month for all food, school and medication-doesn't seem much at all. But, sadly there is no government funding for any of the children suffering from HIV in the country. All of the funding is from outside private sources and most of it coming from the US and United Kingdom. It was an eye opener to walk through this home... the kids are well kept, extremely friendly and the most polite individuals you have ever met. Protus knows all the children by name and all of their stories and everyone of them has a smile that speaks to every language.

Nikki xo



THE NEED Founded in 1992, Nyumbani Children's Home is an active response to the rising number of HIV infected children born in Africa every day. Because infants carry many of their mothers' antibodies through their first year of life, a number of newborns with infected mothers may give a 'false positive' and never actually develop the disease themselves. In fact, a full 75% of babies who test positive at birth will eventually be found not to have the virus. Tragically these children are often abandoned anyway, on the mistaken assumption that they are certain to develop and eventually succumb to AIDS. At Nyumbani, 'home' in Swahili, children are cared for until a definite assessment of their HIV status can be made. Children who are eventually found not to have the virus are adopted or find other homes. Children who are found to be HIV+ are given the best nutritional, medical, in particular, anti-retroviral therapy, psychological, academic, spiritual care available and live at Nyumbani until they become self-reliant. Nyumbani is home to approximately 100 children ranging in age from newborn to twenty-three years old. Our children come from all over Kenya; as far as Mombassa, Kisumu, Kakamega, Marsabit, Nakuru, Isiolo; or as close as Ngong, Dagoretti, and other areas within and around Nairobi. They represent all tribes and ethnicities of Kenya. Children are referred to Nyumbani through national hospitals and through Nyumbani's own community outreach program, Lea Toto.

http://www.nyumbani.org


Wendy with the kids in one of the houses.

Me & Catherine.. my new bf.

Nyumbani's Cemetary


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