Report Back: Africa Orphan Rescue
14/01/2010
In 2009 ChildFund launched Africa Orphan Rescue, a regular giving programme to support orphans and vulnerable children in Africa. The programme supports the basic needs of children by providing them with food, water and necessary care.
Around 1,000 New Zealanders have joined ChildFund Africa Orphan Rescue to date, and their support is already making a huge difference in the lives of orphans.
Grandma Nasianta shares how caring New Zealanders rescued her orphaned granddaughter Josie.
When Kiwis first met Josie six months ago, she was in desperate need. Josie’s mum died giving birth to her, and she was taken in by Grandma Nasianta. But Grandma is already old, weak from years of hardship and afflicted by back and joint pain and poor sight.
“Life has never been easy, it will not be easy, and it will never be easy,” says Nasianta.
“I am very old, as you can see. Yet now we have enough food. In the early days of my youth we never ate such food. So life today is not something that panics me, or makes me feel sad.”
The reason Grandma Nasianta has enough food for her and orphan Josie is the support of Kiwis like you through ChildFund Africa Orphan Rescue.
Each day Josie receives high protein porridge.
“Josie has improved a lot because of the porridge. Now she is not missing school, and I am told by my elder son who went to school that she is performing well. The programme should continue for good to help children to like school and concentrate on their studies.”
It’s not just the porridge at school that is helping orphan Josie.
“Josie has also received uniforms. This is helping me because uniform is expensive, and we cannot afford to buy.”
Josie and Grandma Nasianta live in a very dry part of Kenya, which has suffered drought for three years in a row. In the past it was Josie’s job to collect water.
“Water used to be such a problem. We had to walk a long distance to fetch water for cooking, washing and drinking. But today is a different story because we have a borehole drilled by ChildFund, and the other dam was rehabilitated. Now the water we have is clean, and there is plenty. This has reduced diseases in the community, and improves hygiene tremendously,” Nasianta explains.
Orphan Josie and Grandma Nasianta are overjoyed at the changes in their lives thanks to the generosity of Kiwis through ChildFund Africa Orphan Rescue.
“You are helping us so much, and we thank you.”
What’s been achieved already
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1499 Children under 5 registered for care
500 Pregnant and breastfeeding mothers under care
480 Severe risk children under 5 checked for health and nutrition
480 Children under 5 receiving Unimix porridge and emergency food
3 Water tanks installed at Early Childhood Centres for Development
What we still need to do
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Education Facilities – Build 8 Early Childhood Centres that teach young children vital skills to help them reach their full potential. 3 have the foundations dug and started
Training – For local teachers on basic early childhood skills including health and nutrition
Water Tanks – 5 more to go. These are installed to store clean water to protect children from deadly water born viruses
Health Checks – Extra support to enable local health checks for orphan and vulnerable children
Advocacy Clubs – These youth groups educate community members on issues like child rights/protection
Toilet Blocks – 8 more hygienic toilet blocks need to be built
Click here to join ChildFund Africa Orphan Rescue or call 0800 223 111.
If you are a ChildFund Africa Orphan Rescue supporter - Thank you!
Your ongoing support is vital to continue to protect Josie, other orphans and vulnerable children, and their guardians through this difficult time. Through ChildFund Africa Orphan Rescue you can be certain your support will never let these families down. Thank you.
