Cherish Our Children International is committed to the futures of children in Africa who have suffered so much from armed conflicts, extreme poverty and the AIDS pandemic. It is estimated that by the year 2010, more than 18 million children in Sub-Saharan Africa will loose one or both parents to AIDS.

 

Children First

 

Funding such a program is not easy when you live in a country with a per capita income of less than $2 a day. Facilities were primitive and the threat of closure for lack of funding was always there.

Children First is one woman’s personal response to the vast AIDS pandemic in Africa that has

destroyed families and left millions of children orphaned, abandoned and homeless. In the late 1990’s, Joyce Odongo, a native Kenyan and mother of ten, set up a modest day care/residential center in her home in the Nyalenda slums surrounding Kisumu on the shores of Lake Victoria.

 

Fortunately, Ms Odongo’s work came to the attention of Cherish Our Children International. COCI and Children First started working together in 1999 when COCI introduced the family-style model of care (proven successful in Romania) to the Odongo home. The children in residence then were organized into small family units and their “care givers” became “mama’s.” The day care was transformed into a pre-school and culturally sensitive educational strategies were implemented. Since 2003, COCI has been the sole support of Children First, aiding it to become a recognized non-governmental organization (NGO) in Kenya and a strong model program. This support has been made possible in large part by generous donations from The Bridgeway Foundation and the individual donors in our monthly sponsorship programs.

 

COCI is honored to have a strong network of dedicated volunteers for this program headed by COCI’s Africa Team leader and COCI Board Member, Jill Thomas, a pediatric nurse from California. Ms. Thomas makes annual trips to Children First, spearheading the program’s sustainability and development, providing health care and comfort in the community and showing great sensitivity to the culture and needs of the population.

 

Children First now employs ten local Kenyans and thus is contributing to the economic strength and growth of this impoverished community. An organic garden has been planted (modeled after the Mandela Freedom Garden in Newark New Jersey) and a chicken egg industry is developing with the goal of creating sustainability and self-sufficiency. There are new sleeping quarters for the children in residence and a new school building that replaces open air instruction. Here children can learn in a safe, nurturing environment that prepares them to take the entrance exam for the public school system in Kenya. To the amazement of the children, Jill Thomas of COCI brought electricity to Children First. It was an incredible moment when the children first saw the lights go on.

 

Moreover, COCI support has allowed CF to expand extensively and improve its programs: The full-

Recently, CF teachers noticed an apparent lack of guardian care for Bryan Odhiambo, a new 6 year old student. His living condition was investigated, exposing extreme neglect, often leaving him sleeping outside, receiving food only while at CF. Bryan was transitioned from student to resident. Paul Distefano, a Canadian COCI volunteer, reported a significant change in his emotional state, “he seemed much happier and more active almost immediately following his move.”

time residence is home to 15 children; 70 “at-risk” local children attend the free daily pre-school program; an outreach program 1 1/2 hours from Kisumu services over 28 destitute homesteads housing over 60 orphans.

 

A new outreach Program Coordinator ensures the continued smooth transactions between CF and the Outreach Program in the Bondo district. She works closely with the community leader, sponsored homesteads, and Joyce Odongo to determine the children’s needs and to ensure those needs are met with COCI funding. In October, 2007 a well was  completed to service these homesteads. This is the first and only source of clean water in the community. On a needed basis, children are de-wormed, food staples are provided, first aid kits replenished, and mosquito nets treated.

 

Even though there has been growth and expansion at CF, current facilities still limit the number of children we are able to serve, and the needs for the children in the community continue to rise. A new main building has been designed, approved, and is awaiting funding.

 

Children First is a successful model proving that children will thrive when loved, honored, nurtured, educated and protected in a family environment. The future for the children at Children First is indeed brighter, and COCI is committed to replicating this family style model of care and providing new opportunities for children to make their unique contribution. Cherish Our Children International offers individuals the opportunity to make tremendous differences in the lives of these children, giving them a true chance at life, while helping to stabilize a country and a world.