You might be aware from recent news of the torrential rains and deadly floods in Kenya, which have tragically affected some families at our Hope Centre in the Nairobi slums.
Life is already extremely challenging for the families who live there, and now many have lost their makeshift tarpaulin homes and belongings to the flooding. This 40-second video, taken by one of our team in Kenya, illustrates the severity of their situation.
We aim to raise £2,000 for about ten families in the Nairobi slums who have been severely impacted. This will help in reconstructing their makeshift homes, providing blankets, building materials, and medical supplies.
The Kids Alive team needs resources to offer effective service and both practical and spiritual support.
The Kids Alive Community Hope Centre is located in the middle of Nairobi's three slums, bringing hope, love, trauma care, family support and so much more to over 100 families living in abject conditions. These are mainly led by single mums, who in turn have been victims of violence and abuse.
About 2.5 million people live in Nairobi’s three main slums – Kwangware, Kangemi and Kibera, by far the largest in all of Africa. Crammed in squalid living conditions, most live in extreme poverty, earning less than $1 per day. Unemployment rates are high. Many live with HIV, especially adolescents. Diseases caused by poor hygiene are prevalent, with raw sewage being commonplace. A great majority lack access to basic services, including electricity, running water, and medical care.
60% of families are led by single women (many teenagers), many having been abused physically and/or emotionally. School drop out rates are high, especially amongst girls of a menstrual age who have no access to sanitation materials. Girls are especially vulnerable to physical and sexual assault. Drug abuse is prevalent in all age groups, typically as a means to ‘numb’ life itself.
We work closely with local schools and churches, so the children can get their education back on track, which can be used to break the long-term cycle of poverty and hopelessness.
We also work especially closely with their families - typically single mums who themselves have been victims of abuse and poor parenting - training and empowering them in livelihoods, parenting skills, trauma care, spiritual input and more.
We are immensely grateful for your generosity and support; it means a lot to us.