The St. Kizito Orphanage Centre was established in 2004 in the Trans-Nzoia District as a non-profit charitable organization with a registered number JN/7996/04/2004. The initiative for its formation was envisioned and spearheaded by a group of volunteers within the church, village, and community who felt that it was desirable to form a collaborative learning project as a strategy to effectively jointly respond to curb the spread of poverty, illiteracy, and HIV/AIDS. Together we started the Centre to do holistic development and care of orphaned and vulnerable children. However, the support that their guardians provided for these young children was inadequate because of increased poverty, illiteracy, and HIV/AIDS, leading to poor health, hygiene, and nutrition; absence from school; and developmental delays.

The main objective of the orphanage is to advocate for rights and needs of orphans, encourage and promote literacy, training, health, and education for orphans by facilitating the acquisition of appropriate reading materials for children. Since its inception, the Centre has focused on education, care, and spiritual nourishment of the children. Currently, the Centre has early childhood Development (ECD) classes, rehabilitation activities, feeding, and clothing activities for a child population standing at 50. The Centre is run by a 20-member management committee (11 are women), consisting of a chairman, secretary, and treasurer who are the executive members.

The Centre depends on community contribution, well-wishers, and our church for running its activities. The Centre is based in a poor area in Kitale town in the Umoja village, Namanjalala sub-location, Trans-Nzoia District, Rift Valley province of Kenya on a quarter-acre plot. This area is characterized by many social and environmental problems, including a high rate of HIV/AIDS, poverty, and illiteracy. Due to the Centre’s dependency on well-wishers and fundraising, it’s quite difficult to keep a high standard of living, and provide health care and other necessities for the orphans. As such, we are seeking funds to build a modern orphanage and health centre, and provide ECD classes and other viable income-generating programmes to meet the needs of Centre children.  The children we serve range between 3 years to 10 years without any gender bias (boys and girls are considered equal).

Mission

To curb the spread of poverty, illiteracy, and diseases, and create a lasting solution for children in need.

Objectives

1. To advocate for the rights of orphaned and vulnerable children as relates to nutrition and core basic needs.
2. To mobilize members to set up income programs and projects that create wealth to meet children core basic needs.
3. Raise funds for the project for the successful achievement of the foregoing objectives.
4. To promote debates on problems facing the orphans and vulnerable children with the intent of coming up with appropriate interventions to ameliorate the plight.
5. Promote peace, solidarity, and friendship among the members of the community, especially after the post-election violence the engulfed our country.
6. To determine suitable mechanisms involving community participation in the project and utilization of the resourses in order to improve the standard of living.