These first pictures are from the Good Neighbours project in Theta – a very poor community North of Nairobi. Good Neighbours is both the church and the Grassroots Partner organisation that runs the child sponsorship scheme in the community. They also run Judah Excellence Primary School where many of the children learn.
Each morning, during school time, children arrive at the Good Neighbours Church to receive their portion of fortified porridge. It is lovely to see them smile with delight as the porridge reaches that empty space in their tummies. Interviews of the children already sponsored by Grassroots supporters continued today. We also enrolled new children on to the sponsorship scheme. If you want to join in go to https://www.grassroots.org.uk/sponsor-a-child-today/
It is very hot and dusty here. Hard to keep our brains clear and to honour each child and carer as we meet them, hear their stories and pray with them.
The Grassroots team annual visit is designed to meet every child to make sure they are all involved in the sponsorship scheme in the way Good Neighbours say, to meet parents/guardians, to get permission from them to share the child’s information with their sponsor, to take photographs and pray with them.
At the end of each interview sponsored children are given the option to write or draw a picture for their sponsor. They set about this task with enthusiasm. However it is not always easy to know what to say to somebody who they feel has helped them so much. The letters are simple but often heart warming.
We then spend a day with Grassroots other partners – Watu wa Maana Street Children’s Centre.
This is a place where street children and others are helped to get their young lives back together, receive an education and carefully reintegrated back into life with their relatives. Some tragic stories but some wonderful inspiring children. A real place of hope.
