Categories: Diary

The Faith Holy Orphanage Centre stands on a plot of ground donated by Pastor Reuben, on the old Njoro Airstrip. It caters for 30 (+10 non-boarders) children ranging between 6 and 14 years of age, boys and girls who have lost their parents, mostly through from HIV Aids, and whose relatives are unable to support them.

Funding comes from the weekly collection at Church and from local donors. The Community is made up of poor rural folk who have little themselves, let alone a surplus to support others. Pastor Reuben and his Church Elders have on several occasions felt overwhelmed by the task of trying to find funds, literally a daily task. So much so that they have often been tempted to give up. A look at the children, however, keeps them at it.

Most of the children are in primary schools in Njoro during the day, coming back to the centre for food and shelter. The younger children are taught nursery school in the centre by volunteers, none of whom can stay long as they too need an income.

There are two buildings, one the nursery school (shed!) and the other divided into two bedrooms, a very small kitchen and open veranda (recently closed in to help prevent the rain coming in ââ?¬â?? but still no windows) down the long side facing onto a small yard where the children can play.

Money is needed to buy clothes, books, beds and bedding, to upgrade buildings (floor and windows) and to pay staff (matron/cook, laundry maid, watchman, etc.) but what the centre is desperate for is a regular weekly source of money to pay for food. At present there are days when the children go unfed as there is no money! Bruce Nightingale is doing all he can to help, but he can�t (by his own admission) do it alone. How can we help?