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"Let's Help the Children"

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 NANA KPAAN ANUKAM shares progress of work at Tusaide Watoto Kibera Project Methodist Church in Kibera, Nairobi, Kenya.

TUSAIDIE WATOTO

Vision of the Tusaide Watoto Kibera project is to enable children and their mothers in the Kibera "slum" to be relieved from abject poverty by helping them socially, academically, economically, and spiritually to become useful citizens for the nation and world.

The project operates a nursery school with a feeding program attached. It also has a street children rehabilitation and resettlement scheme for street children within the Kibera region. As a Missioner of Hope, I serve along with regional workers.

It was in response to the many street children in Nairobi, that I proposed to the management team that we initiate a semi-rehabilitation/resettlement scheme for street children. Under the program, we rescue various children in the Kibera region and bring them to the project center. We do not operate a children's home, at this juncture so we made arrangements for them at a children's home in the area .

I regularly monitor the welfare of these children to ensure that they are doing well.

Another role for me has been to solicit funding. I was successful in receiving free medical assistance from a charitable organization, where we now take children who fall sick. I have sent proposals to the Women's Division of GBGM for additional help with our work.

The high rate of poverty in Kibera is due to the lack of skills and inability to find employment. We are therefore looking to the future with hope of starting a skill training program. We are also hope to eventually establish a children's home. The home would include but not be limited to a rehabilitation center, a nursery and primary school, and a vocational training center for circumstances where the street children have gone beyond the primary years. We have many hopes and dreams for children living in poverty.

It is my ardent pray that the good Lord will continue to strengthen me and all of us as we serve in His vineyard.
General Board of Global Ministries
United Methodist Church
475 Riverside Drive - New York, New York 10115
1-800-UMC-GBGM