The Rehema Daycare, School and Orphan Center (Korogocho slum of Nairobi)
What is Rehema?
The Rehema Daycare, School and Orphan Center is a registered Community Based Organization (CBO) operating in Korogocho slums, Nairobi, Kenya.
The organization is committed to supporting destitute children in the society, including orphans, street children, and those from extremely poor families. Rehema provides them with to daily meals, basic primary education, and vocational training. The organization currently feeds and educates 600 children, using funds sourced from its income generating projects, support from well-wishers, and the Rehema Christian Fellowship Church, a religious ministry that was founded in the slum.
History of Rehema:
Rehema was established in 1993, as a social responsibility of the church. By then, it was simply a feeding program, catering for 20 children from disadvantaged families in the neighborhoods. By mid 1993, the number of children was growing rapidly, thereby forcing the church to introduce an education program. The very first program was that of the baby class, which was sustained for four years because of lack of funds to expand it to class one. Currently, Rehema operates to class eight, and offers vocational training to some students who are otherwise unable to pursue further education.
Key Objectives of Rehema:
To rehabilitate street children in the Korogocho slum by introducing them to formal education.
To care for orphans by accommodating them in the society and providing them with basic necessities including food, basic education and love.
To introduce destitute children to income-generating activities apart from giving them formal basic education.
Click on this videoclip (recorded September 18, 2007) to experience a visit to Rehema:
Income-Generating Projects of Rehema:
The organization is involved in income-generating activities such as tailoring (including sewing machines), poultry farming, mushroom farming and maize farming on leased pieces of land in Kitale, Western Kenya. It is through these projects that the organization generates most of its income. Poultry-rearing for layers and broilers contributes a lot to the payment of staff members, while maize- and bean-farming contributes a lot towards the feeding program.
IMPORTANT UPDATE 2008
Recently, Kenya has suffered severe post-election violence. Many have lost their lives and homes, and many others have been displaced. This has suddenly increased the number of children who came to seek shelter at Rehema. In addition, because many shops in the slums have been burnt down, there has been a shortage of food. Because food has to be brought in from further away, this increases the costs. In addition 30 bags of maize and 10 bags of beans of the foods that were stored in Kitale (West-Kenya) as part of the income-generating program have been lost, which endangered the nutritional program. A batch of 200 chicks that was raised as part of the income-generating activities was lost because there was nothing to feed them.
Accordingly, Rehema can use your help! You can make a difference, so please contact us.
Contact information of Rehema (Nairobi):
Father Erastus Omukhango
Rehema Day Care and Orphans Centre
P.O Box 53334 Ð 00200
Nairobi, Kenya
TeleFax: 254 Ð 788653
Mobile phone: 0722 - 853265
Email: rehemacentre@yahoo.com or erastusomu@yahoo.com
How you can help Rehema
If you live in the USA, you can make tax-deductible donations via these two 501(c)3 organizations:
Send a check, made payable to Sahaya International (with mention: Rehema-Kenya) to:
Sahaya International, Inc.
c/o Koen Van Rompay
2949 Portage Bay Avenue, Apartment #195
Davis, CA 95616
USA
Phone (evenings): 530-756-9074 kkvanrompay@ucdavis.edu www.sahaya.org
You can also contribute via our sister organization, Alliance for Youth Achievement (www.allforyouth.org).
Individuals or organizations outside of USA can also send money directly to these programs (see address listed above).
