COMMUNITY OF HOPE is a charitable children’s care centre for Orphans and Vulnerable children. It was established in 2002 as part of the missionary activities of the religious Sisters of the Congregation of the Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary whose Charism is Compassion in the spirit of Humility. This is the motivating force underlying our services to humanity especially the less privileged.
Community of Hope care centre is located along Thika – Garissa road in magogoni village / community. It was started in 2002 out of necessity after rescuing 2 abandoned babies and some children from negligence and child abuse. The main aim of the program is to rescue, restore hope, empower and transform the lives of orphans and vulnerable children. Currently there are 40 children at the home, more than half of whom are confirmed HIV positive. There are other more than 150 HIV infected and affected children on the home based care programs
The center was officially registered with the ministry of Gender, Children and Social Development – Kenya. We rescue abandoned children and children at risk, and abandoned/ neglected HIV positive children. We run a feeding program aimed at rehabilitating severely malnourished children, a home based care program and visiting.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION OF THE COMMUNITY
Community of Hope care centre – Magogoni is located in Ngoliba ward of Thika Sub – County. The inhabitants, of our catchment area are mixture of almost all the Kenyan tribes. They are peasant farmers and mainly grow subsistence crops. More than 80% of the people in this area live below the poverty line. The standard of education is low due to difficult living conditions within the area. Few have attained secondary education while majority are primary school dropouts.
SOCIO-ECONOMIC FACTORS OF THE PEOPLE
Magogoni and its environs is a semi to arid area with moderate to poor rainfalls. Regularly, the area experiences very hot and dry weathers all year round with severe droughts. Many people starve and those most affected are the children and the elderly. Most of the people migrated from different parts of the country looking for jobs in the plantations and many are employed as casual laborers at the Delmonte Pineapple farm and other farms, others are coffee pickers in Kiboko Farm, while others earn a living through unskilled stone cutting. Generally, those who work earn about a dollar a day which is too little to make a decent living. Many live as squatters in little slums and villages. They squat in shanties and mud houses without water, poor waste disposal systems, and are very crowded. In this situation there are many social ills resulting to child abuse, children being abandoned, HIV / AIDS etc.
MISSION
To witness Christ’s compassion in the social ministry through provision of care and a safe environment for orphaned, vulnerable and traumatized children in order to safe guard their rights and to promote their self development.
OBJECTIVES
We rescue children from pathetic and life threatening situations and we strive to give them the basic needs: Improve their health, provide a healthy start in life, give them a home to be and quality education.
Community of Hope 