Upendo Homes: Creating Families for the "Family-Less"

Vision

There are over 2.5 million orphans in Kenya alone, the third largest population of orphans in the world. Hunger, HIV and tribal violence is leaving behind an entire generation of children without parents, without families at all ... without hope. In Africa, children will be taken in by other relatives, or even people in the community and might be given a roof and food, if available, but they are usually not accepted as part of the family. When they are grown, they go their own way, usually without ongoing contact or connection to the extended family or relatives with whom they lived. Not only do these children need homes, they need relationship that a loving family provides. Without the roots and foundation that a family provides, children are far less likely to find success in the world and break out of the cycle of poverty.

Currently, one children's home, Hutch's House, is operating at Mountain Park Academy. Nineteen children and a houseparent couple have become a family and the children's physical, academic, spiritual and emotional needs are being nurtured.

The Kenya Project plans to build a total of 8 children's homes housing 20 children and a houseparent couple. Each home will have a boy's wing and a girl's wing together with space for the house parents and their children. Included in the homes are four bedrooms, three bathrooms, kitchen, family room, study room/dining room and veranda.

The homes will sit on six acres, enough for eight homes and acreage left for farming and family gardening. Some of the crops grown on the land will also support the feeding program at Mountain Park Academy. Each home will cost $40,000-$50,000 to build and $5,000 to furnish each home and provide start-up supplies. Two homes are currently under construction and due to be completed in the Fall of 2011. An additional 40 children will soon have a place to call home and a new family.

$1,000 per month is required to support each home. This budget provides for food, school tuition, uniforms, additional clothing, medical needs and a small salary for the houseparents.

The children who live in Upendo Homes attend Mountain Park Academy until completing eighth grade and then, if accepted, attend a local Secondary School.