World Orphan Day

As we observe the world orphan day toy, May 7th, 2010, every one should ask him or herself what he/she have done to improve the life of an orphaned kid around you. Caring for orphans and vulnerable kids around us is a duty for all and not no be left to government alone. So we urge you all to pause, reflect and decide to take a positive step towards caring for orphans around us.

Even the bible commands us to do the so:
James 1:27 Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, [and] to keep himself un spotted from the world.

Orphan situation in Kenya
There are over 2.5 million orphans in Kenya. This number is so big putting in minds the total population is only 36 million people, there fore this translate that orphans comprise up to 9% of the whole population. Among the 2.5m orphans only a third finds a place in orphanage and charity care organizations. Rest find their way in the streets and child labor.
The main cause of parents death is HIV/Aids and neglect, that is, purposely being neglect and thrown away or abandoned by parents though this contribute very little number compared to HIV/Aids.
Something need to be done fast, the problem of orphans can be ultimately dealt with when every person can take up the burden of caring for orphans as a personal obligation.
This can be done by:-
1. people opening their homes to adapt orphans and make them part of their families. Despite the economic situation and poverty in Kenya if more families adapt orphans the problem will be solved up to 80%, this will further ease the work of orphanages and child care units this will further make many people belong somewhere, having in mind the worse dilemma of human kind is lack of belonging, the orphanages will only serve as transit points and preparation fields waiting for better fields. For this reason Fountain of Hope life Center believes in supporting orphans through their guardians. Mostly people in their blood line ie- grandparents, aunts, uncles etc.
This helps them so much to stay linked to family tree and have a sense of belonging something un real in orphanage, with the recognition the great role orphanages serve in orphan care, it is very true that although many kids call them home its not home and this downs to them with agony when one grows up to understand and learns that the people they call Dad, Mum, Uncle, sister, brother, sister etc are as a matter of fact without any blood link to them and only be good to them because they are Christian with pure caring heart and also maybe they are employed and are just doing their work.

For this reason Fountain of Hope Life center have decided to take up the work of mobilizing people to adapt orphans and this we believe will be a giant step towards solving the orphans issue.

2. If one is unable to adapt an orphaned child one then can support children homes and orphan support organizations like Fountain Of Hope Life Center. With as little as Ksh. 2516/= (34 US$) a household of a family caring for 5 orphans or Ksh. 700/= (10 US$) supports one orphan for a week. One can also donate foodstuff, clothing, Bibles, toys, books etc

3. Volunteering time with children homes and orphan care organizations.

4. Pressing the government to put more resources for caring for orphans. This including giving more support to child care organizations, waiver on duty for importation of goods that are aimed at orphan support. Ensuring education opportunities for orphans.

5. Advocating for the rights of orphans including right from exploitation and protection of their inheritance, many orphans are deprived the right to be the heir of their late parents property maily by close relatives.

6. Spiritual guidance. Pastors, churches, Christian mission organizations should make sure they devote time to visit orphans either in homes, orphanage or in their guardians home to give spend time with them and teach them the word of God. Leading by example Fountain of Hope have a weekly meeting with orphans and the needy kids on Saturdays where we have time to chat, share Bible stories, pray together and just interact. To make sure they enjoy life like other kids we organize parties for them or take them out to visit game parks, swimming, games etc.


We welcome you all to do something to touch souls of orphans and vulnerable kids around us.

By: James N. Waruiru