St. Michael’s Parish supports Notre Dame Children’s Outreach Nyalieng’a, Kenya

Geographical Location SSND Project Location Nyalieng’a Homa Bay Diocese Kenya School Sisters of Notre Dame The Gambia Ghana Nigeria Notre Dame Children’s Outreach - Kenya

Within Kenya Homa Bay Diocese Diocese of Homa Bay Established: November 12, 1993 Total population: 1,357,564 Catholics: 327,434 Lake Victoria seen from Homa Bay Notre Dame Children’s Outreach - Kenya

Background: 1.6 million orphans in Kenya 200,000 orphans in Homa Bay Diocese 8,500+ orphans in Nyalieng’a parish Bishop Philip Anyola of Homa Bay Diocese approached the SSND for help: “We have so many orphans – is there anything you can do?” Very little outside help Notre Dame Children’s Outreach - Kenya

Orphan Led Families Parents are deceased or very ill Sometimes an elderly grandmother is present Often the oldest child in the family is under 18, sometimes as young as years old If over 18, will have dropped out of school to care for siblings; may not have the opportunity to finish education Still living on their land – if they leave they lose the land and any chance of livelihood “Children Raising Children” Notre Dame Children’s Outreach - Kenya

Initial Plans by the S.S.N.D. Parish comprises 34 centres, sub-centres & outstations Each is to choose its neediest family SSND initially want to focus on these 34 families Holistic approach – not just education, but also emotional, health, spiritual, social... Want to help the neediest of the needy Notre Dame Children’s Outreach - Kenya

Presently There is no outreach centre yet 3 sisters live in a small renovated (cement over mud) building (20’x23’) which has 3 bedrooms and one all- purpose room The 4 th room is the chapel, kitchen, dining room, community room and meeting room No windows, no running water, no electricity The project is administered from the house or under a tree outside Notre Dame Children’s Outreach - Kenya

Presently … There is a primary school on the Church compound A girl’s secondary school is under construction – completion date uncertain There are many other schools in the parish The children being sponsored attend a variety of schools Quality of education is lacking because the schools often lack basic materials Notre Dame Children’s Outreach - Kenya

The Orphan Outreach Centre – Next Stage Office for 5-6 people Meeting Room for 30 people for training Housing for 3-4 staff members Convent for 6-8 sisters Rescue Center For the orphans or other vulnerable children in critical need of safe and secure housing Stays may be as long as weeks or months until alternatives found in their home place or elsewhere Notre Dame Children’s Outreach - Kenya

Project Goals Hire project staff – many varied roles including social workers, house mom, youth minister etc. Feed & clothe orphans and other vulnerable children Provide programs addressing the holistic needs of the families SSND hope to support the girls currently in upper primary through secondary school to ward off early marriages and better equip them for life and possible further education Notre Dame Children’s Outreach - Kenya

Project Goals... Become self-sustaining by growing & selling pineapples on 5-10 acres (to be purchased) Erect the buildings required for the community Notre Dame Children’s Outreach - Kenya

Orphan Outreach Centre’s Needs: Borehole for water well - $20,000 – have applied for a UN grant Generator - $2000 – for electricity Transportation: Motorcycle – 3 to enable social workers and youth minister to freely get to all 34 centres/sub-centres and outstations. Cost between $ $3000 each. Vehicle, 4-wheel drive - $27,000 – basic transportation Transportation costs - $300 +/month Notre Dame Children’s Outreach - Kenya

Orphan Outreach Centre’s Needs... Programming - $1500/year – youth program, AIDS education, training facilitators & social workers and giving workshops Guardian Seminars - $1500/year – to teach parenting skills Salaries for staff members Notre Dame Children’s Outreach - Kenya

Orphan Outreach – So Far Sister Rose, Sister Mary Aloo, and Sister Mara are living on-site Social worker, Alice, is working with the SSND Have begun visiting the outstations Have identified 13 families so far Assessment of needs continues Seamstress is making school uniforms for the orphans Meetings & interventions are under way to improve the sponsored orphans’ living conditions Notre Dame Children’s Outreach - Kenya

Family 1 - Sota Centre - Quinter Adhiambo Notre Dame Children’s Outreach - Kenya

Sota Centre - Quinter Adhiambo Sota church chose the family of the late Petelis Otieno. He died in 2007 after a long illness. Later, the mother, Grace Atieno was bitten by a dog and also died after a long illness. The children are presently being taken care of by their grandparents, Anudo Otieno (80) and Rosalina Oluoch (60). Neither the grandparents nor the parents value education. The children have been influenced by this mentality. Notre Dame Children’s Outreach - Kenya

Sota Centre - Quinter Adhiambo... 2 The daughters in this family begin to think of marriage at the age of 14 years. The sons survive by fishing in the lake. Quinter is 12 years old, the last born and in class five at school. None of her siblings went to high school or technical institution. Her sisters are housewives and most of her brothers are fishermen. Notre Dame Children’s Outreach - Kenya

Sota Centre - Quinter Adhiambo... 3 Quinter’s brother George is 14 years old. He dropped out of school in July, The family gave him a cow to sell and he began his own life. George has never returned home and nobody bothers to find out where he went. Quinter alone says that she knows where to find him. Quinter longs to finish secondary school. The SSND’s main concern is supporting Quinter’s education and finding ways to enable her not to follow the family trend. Notre Dame Children’s Outreach - Kenya

Family 2 - Abala Centre: Phillip Odira Phillip Odira guardian Notre Dame Children’s Outreach - Kenya Veronica Atien Charles Otieno

Phillip is the fourth born in a family of nine. When his mother was diagnosed with stomach cancer, he dropped out of school. He now cares for his mother and four younger siblings. The family has 3 acres of land but the yield is poor. Phillip needs financial support and farming skills in order to develop the land. Philip believes that good farming will lead to good harvest which will enable him to provide for the family. Notre Dame Children’s Outreach - Kenya Abala Centre: Phillip Odira‘s family

Abala Centre: Phillip Odira‘s family... 2 Charles the younger brother has a problem in one eye and needs to be checked. Veronica, a sister, is in class seven. She comes back from school at 6 pm, fetches water, collects firewood, washes dishes and cooks dinner. She often finishes work when it is dark. Veronica wants to excel at school but her work load leaves her little time to study. Notre Dame Children’s Outreach - Kenya

Abala Centre: Phillip Odira‘s family... 3 Another brother Daniel stays in Kabuoch with a woman who is tutoring him in tailoring. David, another brother, resides with a villager in Kisii who is training him in wiring. The SSND believe Daniel & David should pursue their courses at a technical institute. Their informal apprenticeships leave them vulnerable to exploitation. Phillip Odira wants to plant sukuma wiki (member of the kale family) as an income generating crop. Notre Dame Children’s Outreach - Kenya

Abala Centre: Phillip Odira’s family...4 The family is asking for training to learn the necessary farming skills. The family also needs financial support to buy the necessary farming implements. Phillip needs help for better accommodation. The house is very small so some of the other children need to sleep elsewhere. Because of Veronica’s age and gender, such alternative accommodations may put her life at risk. Notre Dame Children’s Outreach - Kenya

More Families to come... Mariwa Centre Kevin Ochieng Maugo Centre Linet Achieng God Nduru Centre Carolyne Akoth Immaculate Notre Dame Children’s Outreach - Kenya

St. Michael’s Project – “Five for Africa” Duration: present to 2012 Support the SSND project by raising funds Educate the parish community about the challenges and rewards of Africa Work in partnership with the parish family of schools – St. Nicholas, Sir Edgar Bauer and St. David’s Provide parishioners with an opportunity to live their faith Notre Dame Children’s Outreach - Kenya

Schedule 2010 – 2012 Five weeks of activities in spring and fall Spring 2010April 4  May 2 Fall 2010 Oct 31  Nov 28 Spring 2011Feb 6  March 6 Fall 2011Oct 9  Nov 6 Spring 2012May 13  June 10 Notre Dame Children’s Outreach - Kenya

What Can You Do Right Now? Become part of the Africa Project Committee Share your ideas Share your skills in fundraising, education, marketing “Many hands make light work” Spread the word Pray for the sisters as they work to help the children Notre Dame Children’s Outreach - Kenya Asumbi Roman Catholic Church in Homa Bay

Participate in the 5 weeks of activities Support the fundraising campaign Pray for the sisters as they work to help the children Notre Dame Children’s Outreach - Kenya What Can You Do Later?

Notre Dame Children’s Outreach Nyalieng’a, Kenya … your enthusiasm and energy to reach out to these very needy children and to support us here as we try to extend your and our love and care to them is indeed a source of strength, hope and courage to us.” Sister Mara Nyalieng’a, Nov. 2009