Saints of Hope Children’s Centre

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Saints of Hope CHILDREN’S CENTRE

Saints of Hope (SOH) Children’s Centre, under the leadership of Emily Agisa, offers quality caring for 50 young children on the edge of Kawangware slum, Nairobi, Kenya. Most of the children attend 5 days a week, ranging in ages from 2 1/2 to 5 1/2 years.

The History

Emilly Perrow and John Adams - Saints Of Hope Children's Centre

The Fundraising Co-ordinators: Susan Perrow & John Adams

The Aussie connection to SOH was established in 2003 when Susan Perrow and her husband John Adam were living and working in Nairobi. They met a local Kenyan woman, Emily, who worked at a day-care centre for orphaned and needy children. Two years later, with some mentoring support from Susan, Emily took over the running of the Centre and enthusiastically re-named it SAINTS OF HOPE.

Around this time SOH began receiving financial support from a few Australian individuals and groups including the Byron Bay based NGO – African LEAF (that has generously continued paying the rent and security costs for SOH). This support enabled the move to a larger, more suitable building – the tin shed in the smelly and muddy area of Kawangware was replaced by three rooms of solid brick construction on the outskirts of the slums. With good security and running water it is truly a sanctuary for the little children who attend each day, with the space and freedom to play, hear stories, sing and dance.

Today

One of the best features of the new venue is the adjacent green grassy playground, which now has the addition of a covered sandpit, swings, see-saw and slide (a generous donation from a Byron family).

Last year Emily completed her 10 module East African Steiner Teaching Certificate and is bringing so much of the richness of her training to the children in her care.

Her aim is to provide young children with quality education, a safe and healthy environment, and the opportunity to grow through their young years surrounded by love and care.

At SOH there is a number of extremely needy and orphaned children. Recently three children (whose parents are dying or have died of AIDS) have been shifted to the Mbagathi Steiner Farm School, and African LEAF is in the process of finding full time sponsors for some more of this vulnerable group. The African LEAF sponsored children boarding at the Mbagathi school now totals 16.

The Future

There is no assistance for Emily through Government sources, so her program exists on the charity of others, plus the few hundred shillings collected from the carers each month. It is an endless struggle for Emily to cover basic costs, and often she has no more than 4000Ksh (A$70, US$60) at the end of the month for her own wage. In addition to supplementing the wages, funding is required for ongoing costs such as a daily food program, medical expenses, and craft/art materials. At the moment the centre is in rented premises – the long term aim is to buy land and build!