It is estimated that there are 1.8 million children orphaned by HIV/AIDS in Kenya today. Though majority of these children are in rural Kenya, there are quite a number of them who are living in peri – urban centers like Ruiru. The children may be living with their grandmothers if and when they are lucky not to end up in the streets. Ruiru experienced an increase in number of needy children as a result of the post-election crisis that rocked the country at the beginning of 2008. Though Ruiru and the areas surrounding it were not affected, most of the people affected in other areas ended up in Ruiru to look for shelter.
Grannies taking care of their grand children face multiple problems. They do not have income since majority of them are illiterate and were therefore not employed when they were younger. They have cross -generational issues since they are bringing up children far much younger than them, which presents a conflict of values.
We mitigate the challenges faced by grandmothers through empowering them to bring up the children within the family environment. We believe that the best care for a child is within the community and family where he/she will feel secure in a way that he/she will be confident to face the future. The project is supporting 20 grandmothers who have 40 children under their care. They need food supplies every week, 10 of them are in need of house rent every month to pay for the houses they live in, and the children need support to keep them in schools. The school support is in form of school uniforms, books and school fees for those in high schools. In the long run, the project plans to give each grandmother some financial support to start an income generating project. That will ensure sustainability.
The project is supporting 20 grandmothers who have 40 children under their care. They need food supplies every week, 10 of them are in need of house rent every month to pay for the houses they live in, and the children need support to keep them in schools. The school support is in form of school uniforms, books and school fees for those in high schools. In the long run, the project plans to give each grandmother some financial support to start an income generating project. That will ensure sustainability.