Challenges Facing Minto Children's Home

CHALLENGES FACING MINTO CHILDREN’S HOME

Challenges facing Minto children’s home vary and are ever increasing as the girls come of age. We are faced with a perennial rent payment and supply of basic needs. The home started at Likoni at a place called Shika Adabu in a small unfenced house where people mingles freely with the children from our orphanage.

We started off with two boys and four girls but later on in 2006 shifted to an all girls home following a government directive that required one to concentrate on one genders if one did not have adequate facilities and finances to cater for both genders

The home was later relocated to Magongo area 2016 and currently hosts over 28 children from various parts of Kenya can no longer support all the children.

The three bed roomed house which Mama Susan rents at cost of Ksh. 30,000/- can barely accommodate all the children but they soldier on, making the most of what they have.

The home is majorly supported by faith based organization who many a times donate food stuffs. Mrs Ochwangi has struggled to cater for other needs like Charcoal, School fees, uniforms and textbooks.

“This year I had three candidates sitting their Kenya Certificate of Primary (KCPE) and other three for Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examination and am facing the challenge of supporting them in their next level of studies considering that there are younger ones who still need support,” She laments.

CAREGIVERS AND ASSISTANTS

The home is run by Mama Susan and three other staff members. Devinah Kemunto a matron and a mother of one, has been working here for the last four years.

The girls have become an inseparable part of our lives. I chose to Volunteer here to make the girls have an easy time to do their studies. I do the cooking and cleaning but the girls help out especially when schools are closed says Kemunto.

We have taught the girls to be responsible adults. They start learning and Practising basic house chores at a tender age and the older ones help the younger ones to dress and eats,” she adds.

Her husband, Shem Ogari is the caretaker of the home and he essentially guards the main gate and keeps track of the visitors who visit the children.

“I always ensure I know the whereabouts of the children whether they are off to school or to church. I do not let in strangers without knowing their motives”. Says Ogari.

Olpha Nyangweso is another matron at the home she has also devoted her life to serving the children. She says meal times are another hustle and sometimes the children barely get enough to eat.

“On average a bale of maize flour or 25 kilograms of rice can only last three days do we are forced to minimize the amount of food we prepare so that it can last longer because we live not knowing where our next meal will come from,” she says.

The children are well discipline and have been instilled Christian values of the Seventh day Adventist church, where Mama Susan has been a member for many years.