BrightStart Orphan Care Initiative (BOCI)

Kabete Children’s Home, operated by The Salvation Army in Nairobi, is a facility that provides care and support to vulnerable children. The home caters to approximately 65 children aged 3 to 18 years old. The primary objective of the home is to ensure that children are placed with their families or extended family members whenever possible, and thus, they offer sponsorship to these families to enable them to care for the child at home.

The children’s home faces numerous challenges due to factors such as high mortality rates caused by HIV/AIDS, road traffic accidents, and limited access to adequate medical care, resulting in many orphaned children coming to the home. Additionally, they also accept children who are not safe in their homes due to physical, mental, or sexual abuse.

The facilities at Kabete Children’s Home are designed to provide a nurturing environment for the children. The children have their own dedicated compound within the Kabete Compound, which also houses the Kabete corps and the homes of some Salvation Officers serving at the headquarters. The children’s compound includes residential blocks surrounded by green spaces, a large dining hall with a stage for acting, a TV room, and outdoor swings. The home is well-equipped, offering amenities like hot running water heated by solar power and access to electricity. School fees are also covered for the children, ensuring they have the opportunity to receive an education.

While the home strives to make the childhoods of these children special, many of them have faced educational setbacks and are behind their peers of the same age. Efforts are made to send them to board at secondary schools, especially when extended family members can provide holiday accommodation. Alternatively, some children are referred to other institutions like Variety Village or Nairobi Girls’ Training Centre for skills development.

The Kabete Children’s Home receives support from local benefactors who bring gifts of food, toys, and clothes. The Salvation Army welcomes individual child sponsorship as well as sponsorship of the home itself to continue providing care for these vulnerable children.

« ‹ of 7 › »

Beyond Support Foundation (BSF) had the opportunity to visit and interact with the children at Kabete Children’s Home on May 28th. During our visit, BSF generously donated food and assorted items. BSF aims to extend its support to more children facing similar challenges within and outside the country. BSF plan includes offering Educational Scholarships, Health Care support, and providing food and clothes to improve the lives of these children. However, BSF acknowledges the need for collaboration with other organizations, government agencies, and foundations to raise the necessary funds to support more children and provide them with an improved quality of life.

In summary, Kabete Children’s Home is a nurturing facility operated by The Salvation Army in Nairobi, providing care and support to around 65 vulnerable children between the ages of 3 and 18. The primary aim is to reunite children with their families whenever possible through sponsorship programs. The home also welcomes orphaned and abused children who need a safe environment. With various facilities and amenities, the home aims to provide a special childhood for these children, including access to education. Support from local benefactors and sponsorships from individuals and organizations, like Beyond Support Foundation, play a crucial role in sustaining and expanding the home’s efforts to help vulnerable children.