Feeding:
We learnt a long time ago that before we can do anything else
with the children of Kibera we need to feed them. Some arrive in the morning
almost fainting from hunger, and many will not have eaten since the previous day
at our project.
We provide breakfast of mandazi, a sort of savoury
doughnut, and hot sweet milky tea. The children attending school pick this up on
their way to give them a good start to the day. The others eat together
later.
Lunch is a variety of local meals, ranging from rice and beans
some days to meat, ugali (ground maize mixed with water into a heavy mashed
potato like substance) & sukuma wiki (like spinach or kale) on others. We
try to provide a balanced diet for these children, knowing that any food they
may get at home will be whatever the family can afford and will probably not be
of much nutritional value.
Healthcare:
Health care is a basic need for all, but in a slum environment,
where children are continually exposed to such poor sanitation and hygiene
conditions, basic medical care is even more important.
By regularly
monitoring the children's height and weight we are able to ensure they are
continuing to develop physically, and quickly become aware of any growth or
nutritional problems a child may be having. A registered nurse attends the
project each week, ensuring that regular checks are completed on all children,
and examining any children with particular illnesses.
As well as
providing de-worming treatment three times per year, we help the parents to meet
the cost of any additional treatment a particular child within the programme may
require. For example, one girl is epileptic, so requires ongoing medication to
manage her condition. Another boy had a serious eye problem that needed
specialist help for a time.
Joy House:
Our aim wherever possible is to keep children with their own family, either immediate or extended. However, sometimes this is just not possible, and for children who have nowhere else to go, we have a foster home in Kibera, called Joy House.
Joy House is run by a 'Foster Granny', who treats the children living there like her own grandchildren. The children who stay in Joy House have usually experienced little stability in their lives up to the time they stay here. We try to make it a place they feel safe and loved, and can receive from and contribute to 'family life'.
Children living in Joy House are supported through the Sponsorship Fund.
