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It is estimated that Kenya currently has slightly over 2.4 million orphans, 47 percent of whom were orphaned because of HIV/AIDS (Office of the President National Aids Control Council, 2012). Many of these children find themselves without a proper social support system or opportunities for care and education in the wider community. Studies suggest that there are somewhere between 250,000 and 300,000 homeless youth living on the streets of Kenya and those who live in overcrowded orphanages in the city slums often lack access to education, healthcare, and opportunities for life after high school. Unemployment among young adults is a critical issue in Kenya: an estimated 64% of young adults are unemployed and over 92% have no vocational or professional skills training.
A member of the Nairobi East Rotary in Kenya, Elaine Wacuka, has been actively involved in helping vulnerable children as an advisory board member to Flying Kites. Flying Kites runs a home and school for critically-poor children in rural Kenya and is providing students with the skills to navigate life after high school, the ability to develop healthy and safe relationships, and the tools to participate in their country's economic development. They provide job training, college counseling, mentoring, workshops, and internship opportunities. In addition to scholarships, they provide ongoing training on topics include personal finances, computer literacy, sexual and reproductive health, conflict resolution, and civic engagement.
Escondido Sunrise is passionate about the plight of orphaned and vulnerable children in East Africa, and planning to spend a few days volunteering with students enrolled in the Flying Kites program during a trip to Kenya in February of 2016. During this visit, we will also meet with the Rotary Club of Nairobi East (District 9212), as they (and we) continue to support students in-need.
Please see the online form for additional information.
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