A Community Based Orphan Care Program
"How much better to guide and guard lives with new hopes and
opportunities, new interests, and outlooks, to fortify them in
advance against danger, than to attempt the restoration of lives
that have suffered remediless!” (Streams in the Desert, Malbie
Babcock)
Stats for AIDS in Kenya
· 6,000 children orphaned weekly due to the virus
· 864 people a day are dying—ages 19-49
· 1.8 million children will be orphans by 2005 (UNICEF)
· 30-40% of babies born to HIV positive mothers – 1/3 expected to
die in infancy (NASCOP)
· 2.2 million Kenyans are HIV positive
· 1.5 million have already died.
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What is The Shepherds Little Lambs?
Little Lambs is a daycare program to help some of the nearly 2
millions Kenyan children orphaned by AIDS as well as the poorest of
the poor. Missionaries and nationals work together to provide a
place for these children to receive consistent, loving Christian
care. The daycare settings are in private homes as well as churches
and buildings constructed specifically for Little Lambs.
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The children
are provided with one meal a day plus a snack. They are taught basic
reading, writing and math by skilled teachers. Appropriate age-level
information and education on AIDS is given. They are provided with
school uniforms and supplies, clothing, shoes and medical care when
funds are available. They are in a safe, loving environment where
they are free to play, sing and be children. Most importantly, they
learn about God’s love for them through Bible teaching and the love
shown to them by staff.
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How The Shepherds Little Lambs Began
The vision for Little Lambs came in 1999 when AIM missionary,
Elaine Barnett, met with pastors and various members of small
villages around Kijabe to access the impact of AIDS in the
community. A local pastor’s wife requested her assistance with
orphaned children whose parents had died of AIDS.
By late 2000, thirty-five needy, orphaned children were welcomed to
the first Little Lambs daycare. Initially designed as a feeding
program to help during the drought, it was soon discovered that the
children needed much more—clothing, shoes, medical care and basic
instruction to prepare them to enter primary school. They needed to
feel wanted and loved by caring adults and, most importantly, by God
Who is their Heavenly Father.
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The Program’s Success
What a difference daily nutrition and genuine love can make!!
Children who were once dirty, hungry, undisciplined, and timid are
now smiling, energetic, well-disciplined, and talkative. The
directors of the centers are receiving extremely positive feed back
from their communities. Gradually, people are recognizing the need
and are beginning to help their local children in small but
significant ways.
Currently, there are 5 centers reaching out to
about 225 children. Each of the centers is run by Christian
nationals who recognize the need to make a difference in the lives
of the children of Kenya. There are several other concerned
individuals around the country who have a desire to start a Little
Lambs Center in their area when financial support becomes
available. A difference can be made for the future of Kenya!
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Personnel
Currently the co-founder and director by national appointment is:
1) Mrs. Elaine Barnett, a veteran missionary based at Kijabe, who
has served with the Africa Inland Mission for over 35 years in
various capacities at the Rift Valley Academy.
2) Mrs. Donna Coots, a registered nurse and recent missionary at RVA,
is a valuable addition. She works part time with Little Lambs as her
schedule allows.
3) Mr. Blasto Maina is a licensed driver and mechanic who serves
Little Lambs has our Maintenance/Project Manager. He is widowed with
three school aged children and living with his aged mother.
4) Mr. Machaa Waruguriu is our Deputy Director responsible for
overseeing the well-being of each center and keeps an accurate
accounting of program expenses. He is a recent graduate from the
University of Nairobi.
5) Ms. Eunice Wanjema, a semi-retired school teacher, has a master's
degree in Christian Ed from Messiah College. She is our Committee
Chair Lady who teaches at Moffat College of Bible, Kijabe.
6) Mrs. Joyce Ndemwa is a certified chaplain from Kijabe Medical
Center who assists us part time. She has years of experience working
with missionaries and the church.
7) Ms. Agnes Katindi, also a qualified counselor and chaplain from
KMC, presently serves as our secretary and very keen to learn more
of this ministry.
8) Mrs. Rachel Njeri, a godly co-laborer with Mrs. Elaine Barnett
for over 30 years, serves Little Lambs fulltime as our Purchaser and
Advisor.
9) Dr. Rob & Nancy Congdon, doctor at KMC willing to oversee medical
concerns as they are able. They formerly worked in Zambia with AIDS
sufferers.
10) Mr. John Barnett, our Financial Advisor to Little Lambs
overseeing the accounts.
11) Mr. and Mrs. Ron Addison are U.S. Project Coordinators for
Little Lambs, having served in Kenya under AIM for four years.
Center Supervisors:
Maingi: Mrs. Beth Njeri (widow)
Muniu: Mrs. Jane Wainaina (pastor’s wife & co-founder)
Maai Mahiu: Mrs. Jane Wainaina
Kiungururia: Ms. Josephine Kaire (former education officer)
Nakuru: Mrs. Gladys Wanjeri (widow)
Most centers have two cooks and two to three teachers with a
supervisor.
Green Pastures: A leased eight acre property with garden and
house—future site
of Little Lambs Maingi. It is in desperate need of major repairs
before occupancy.
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Jesus said, "Let the
little children come unto me."
Matthew 19:14 |
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