ACHIEVEMENTS
Running an orphanage is in its self a challenging task, however FMCC has also undertaken several landmark steps over the past year:
Registration as a children’s home
At the end of 2008, FMCC received its registration as a children’s home in Kenya with official certification arriving in early 2009. This means that FMCC has proved to the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Development to be providing a safe, healthy living environment for the children in its care.
This is a significant achievement as many orphanages in Kenya do not pass the regulations required to be a registered orphanage, which include the following checks:
- All staff employed by FMCC are required to have a Good Conduct Certificate to work with children, with this certificate to be renewed every 12 months.
- The children have a balanced and nutritious diet.
- The orphanage keeps clear and transparent records of donations received and expenditure.
- Every child has their own bed to sleep in.
- The orphanage is a safe environment and provides adequate security to keep intruders out.
Increasing the number of children in its care
In early 2009 year FMCC was approached by the Regional Children’s Officer and asked to take some abandoned children into its care.
Reuniting children with their family
At the beginning of 2009 and at Easter, FMCC returned children in its care to live with their guardians who now had the capability to provide sufficient care for the children. This followed our policy of ensuring that the children still have strong ties to their blood relations.
CHALLENGES
The FMCC has overcome many issues during its first two years in operation. Some challenges we are still faced with include:
Increase in the cost of food
As Kenya has been in a drought for the past four years, the cost of staple food such as rice and maize flour (used for the Kenyan staple Ugali) rose substantially over the past year. Rice/kg rose from $0.57 to $1.14 and Maize Flour/kg from $0.29 to $0.50. This increasing cost of staple items continues to strain our limited resources.
Change of staff
Over the past year we have lost a number of staff due to them following other opportunities elsewhere in Kenya and abroad.
FUTURE PLANS
Short-term
FMCC plans to continue to provide food, shelter, education, clothing, love and care for the current 30 children aged 3 to 15 which at present costs 6,617KSH (USD $95 - AUD$110) per child per month.
Long-term
Our long term plans are to purchase land and build a permanent home for the orphanage. Depending upon the size and fertility of this plot of land, we hope to plant fruit trees and vegetables, farm cows and chickens and set-up income generating projects which would take steps to helping FMCC become self funded and sustainable. These steps will enable FMCC, in the long run expand its facilities and increase the number of orphans in its care.
ASANTE SANA (THANK YOU!)
FMCC would like to sincerely thank all of its friends in Kenya and abroad who have assisted us during our first two years and hope you can continue helping us on our journey. We are continuously seeking ways to improve the care we provide and to ensure that our future plans come to fruition.
If you would like to become involved with Familia Moja Children's Centre as a donor, a child sponsor, to help organise a fundraiser or even just to visit the orphanage to volunteer and play with the kids, don't hesitate to contact us, as we are always looking for help.
If you'd like any more information on the orphanage or the children please feel free to contact us at familiamoja@gmail.com
Jess White
Co-founder/Develoment Partner
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