For those of you who are a bit sappy and sentimental like me, this post might tug your heartstrings…
I have visited two orphanages in Gilgil during my time here- Saida and Sanchat. My first visits were with John and Paul on a day when we finished our BWM meetings early. The directors weren’t expecting us, but were happy to show us their facilities and to talk about their missions and their children. Both were quite similar.
The orphaned children are described as either abandoned or neglected. Some were abandoned just after birth for various reasons, including physical differences or disabilities. Others lost their families or are unable to be cared for by their families. The orphanages provide housing, food, schooling, clothing, and a safe and secure “family” for the children. They also work to provide feeding programs for children and families in need. Each of the organizations has about 65 children and approximately 7 staff members. The youngest children were 3 months old and the oldest were nineteen years. I’m not certain what Kenya’s adoption laws are, but it doesn’t seem that these children will be leaving the orphanages until their late teens, when they can care for themselves. Both organizations also have handmade goods created by their older or adult family members who need to learn to support themselves. We watched women silk screening reusable shopping bags for a grocery store at Sanchat and there were some cloths and jewelry in the store and Saida.
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| Buying a Bag of Kindness at Sanchat Orphanage |
I returned to Saida orphanage with the Ardingly students, who had collected large bags of donations in England to bring to the students. When we arrived, they greeted us with a song, and the director, Madame Jane, invited us to join them and then to open our arms and hearts to the kids, to give them the hugs, love, and attention that they so desperately need. That part was easy, as the kids came right up to us, asking our names, holding our hands, etc. The youngest ones naturally wanted to be held and carried. We heard a few of their stories, opened the bags of goodies, and played with all of their new (secondhand) toys. We read books in their meager library, and then participated in some face painting fun!
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| Sweet Joseph painted his own face- and tried to paint his nails and lips too! |
I spent most of the day with an 11-year-old named Hannah. She and her older sister, Monica, were both at the orphanage, and both were so polite, well-spoken, and sweet. Monica taught me a rock game that I was terrible at playing, and I taught her the good old-fashioned game of Hopscotch. She beat me at that too!
Madame Jane and I spoke for a while about the donors and sponsors of Saida. She began the organization many years ago with three other women. Their work is extraordinary- the children are loved, educated (with many going to good secondary schools, which is a great success for any Kenyan in the area), and their “home” is supportive, clean, and organized. This is definitely an organization that I will continue to support. Madame Jane and I are going to be working on a project together to share more information about Saida, as the organization is limited by its lack of technology resources. On Saturday, I head back to take photographs of all of the children, to learn more of their stories, and to help create a video for the Saida Children’s Fund.
