Children's Charitable Institution Registration # 000322, Kenya

 Their smiles are contagious, their hugs run deep, and their dreams are real.  Welcome to Huband Cradle of Hope Children's Home.

WHO ARE WE?

HUBAND CRADLE OF HOPE CHILDREN'S HOME (HCHCH) is an initiative founded by a small group of individuals responding to an overwhelming HIV / AIDS crisis in Kenya. Established initially as a feeding and education centre in 2004, it now offers desperately needed shelter and care for orphaned and vulnerable children (OVC'S) in the heart of Africa - the cradle of mankind.

WHAT'S OUR AIM?

The objective of HCHCH is to create and maintain a safe, stable and nurturing home for Kenya's OVC'S, taking full responsibility for their care and welfare until they reach adulthood, or until we can locate relatives of the children who are deemed capable of caring for them.

HOW DO WE DO IT?

HCHCH meets the basic rights and needs of its children by ensuring they receive long-term shelter; balanced and nutritious meals; access to health and dental care; on site counselling; psychological counseling if required; clean water; basic education; access to specialized educational facility if required; tutoring; clothing; access to events, activities and play which promote learning and fun; love through hugs, smiles, laughter, validation, respect and communication.

By providing a safe and supportive environment with structure, discipline and the opportunity to form long-term relationships with staffs and other children, a sense of belonging and security may be instilled in the children.

By facilitating creative activities and recreational outings, the children will be given the opportunity for self-expression and exploration, creating a sense of esteem and self-awareness.

Nurturing and caring relationships with adults and staff, as well as providing access to psychological counselling will help the children move towards recovery from certain losses.

Creating a home environment where opportunities for emotional expression is encouraged and not minimized or shut down, and where affection is given, will instill a sense of safety and validation in the children.

Hope and trust in the world is further instilled when exploring the religious study of the individual children, by use of their religious manual and practicing their method of observance. The children pray before each meal, before heading off to school, and at bedtime. They ask for guidance and protection, and give thanks.

The children are encouraged to look at more positive ways of co-operative living by having them take responsibility for their behaviour and actions, discussing with them collectively the consequences of their actions, proposing a *reasonable disciplinary measure, and allowing them to make choices at individual and group levels. This increases their level of esteem, self-worth, sense of belonging and overall control over their lives.

*The children know their rights as a child of Africa and of this world. They have been taught what abuse looks and feels like, and have access to HCHCH Staff Rules and Regulations and what constitutes a "reasonable disciplinary measure."

WHAT DO WE OFFER?

Included in the facilities and services of HCHCH are

• safe, stable and loving home environment
• provision of balanced, nutritious meals at least 3 times per day
• provision of appropriate clothing
• access to clean and fresh water at all times
• clean and sanitized living environment
• access to basic education
• private tutoring
• access to specialized educational facility to meet special needs of certain children
• access to basic health and dental care
• on site social worker providing one on one counselling
• access to psychological therapy if required
• time and funds allotted to locate family members or gather history of the child in our care
• facilitation of recreational and creative activities
• skills recognition and training opportunities when funding is available
• opportunity for spiritual and religious growth
• lots of hugs
• love first and foremost

• HCHCH Free Medical Camp: Held semi-annually in Ngong Town, a forum where doctors, nurses and pharmacists come together and offer their services free of charge to individuals in various communities who require medical attention, but cannot afford it. * Unfortunately, this initiative has been put on hold after our second successful camp, due to lack of funds.

THE KIDS

In 2004, HCHCH ( at that time known as Positive Education International Feeding and Education Centre ) cared for 17 children. Since then, we have located and reunited 7 of these children with family. Our Village Chief and District Officer determined 1o other children most vulnerable and needing housing and support, and we have since taken them into our care. Presently we have 20 children residing in our home, and 4 on our waiting list ( who are in desperate need of protection and care, but we are unable to accommodate them due to lack of funds ).

In our care are:

Orphans ( only one living parent )

Double orphans ( no living mother or father )

Total orphans ( absolutely no living relative )

Some of our children hail from the streets, and we do not know their family history, so funds are allotted to invest in the ongoing search for any living relative. Other children in our care were deemed vulnerable or at risk of being abused by immediate family members, while in other cases the only living relative was too frail, ill or poor to provide for the child, in which case HCHCH has taken them in, while at the same time facilitating visits to maintain the all important connection between child and family.

To meet the children, click here!

THE STAFF

Each member of staff plays an important role in the home. Although HCHCH is relatively small, the revised Children's Regulation's Act of Kenya stipulates that we must employ people to fill the following positions: Manager; Mother Matron; Social Worker; Cook; House Helper; Caretaker; Security Guard.

In October 2007 HCHCH hired a teacher to provide 4 of our children with 10 hours of tutoring each week. Having recognized that these children in particular were falling between the cracks in their classroom ratios of 60-80:1 ( children:teacher ), we felt this was one way they would have any chance at learning the basics.

Alice Macho, HCHCH Director, resides in Kenya and oversees the operations of the home. While being a full-time employee at a national hospital, she makes time to visit the children, facilitate HCHCH staff and executive meetings, while keeping founders John Machio and Betina Sehnke up to date by phone, fax and email. John and Betina, both residing in Toronto Canada, are responsible for ensuring the requirements of the Children's Regulations Act of Kenya are met. Their duties are many.

Executive Committee members Ann Machio, a nurse with the Kenya Red Cross, and Alice Macho, act as both Secretary and Treasurer, respectively.

WHAT ARE OUR NEEDS?

The success of HCHCH thus far has been through the hard work, dedication, financial sacrifice of its Founders, and the generous emotional and monetary support from well-wishers of both Canada and Kenya. The goal of HCHCH is to become self-sustaining, however maintaining its objectives requires regular funding. This can be achieved through fundraising initiatives as well as donations from both individuals and corporations. The Canadian dollar goes such a long way in Kenya, making purchases of much needed items cheaper to obtain there as opposed to shipping them from Canada.

HCHCH is excited to announce

that it is now able to offer Taxable Receipts to Canadians and Americans when they donate to HCHCH through the organization Give Meaning.

Well-wishers may also donate through PayPal, though a tax receipt would not be issued.

OUR BUDGET PER MONTH ( 2010)

3 well balanced meals daily ( for 20 children, 3 live-in staff and 3 daytime staff ): $700.00

Shelter Rent: $479.00

Salaries: $568.50

Education ( includes uniform, shoes, desk, school fees, exam fees, mark release fees, note books, text books, pencils, pens, erasers, math set, markers, school bag ): paid quarterly per term

Healthcare ( psychological/dental/medical ):

Household Supplies/Toiletries:

Emergency Funds ( for medical, house/compound repairs, etc. ):

Administration/Transportation/Petty Cash ( for Social Worker and Manager ):

Gas; Coal; Electricity; Kerosine:

Clothing / Foot ware:

Excursions:

It continues to be a struggle for us to reach our budget each month, and so our focus is always to cover the following children's necessities first: food, medical care and access to education.

For a complete breakdown of our purchases, please click here.

OUR WISH LIST *

HCHCH has shifted its children 4 times since 2004, because the dwellings in which the children lived in sold, forcing HCHCH to move out. This adds a level of uncertainty and insecurity, and HCHCH believes the only way to alleviate this is to purchase land and build upon it a permanent home for the children. HCHCH is looking for a 3-5 acre piece of land ( $15 000+ CDN ) , in a safe area close to a main road, a school, a water well, food sources and medical facilities.

Upon this fair sized plot, HCHCH can work towards becoming self-sustaining by raising chickens, hens and goats, and maintaining a large garden of vegetables. At present we are tending a small vegetable garden to help feed our children, however animals are not permitted on our rental property.

A bicycle ( $50 Cdn ) or wheelbarrow ( $50 Cdn ) is needed to transport a child to the doctors or hospital when he or she is sick, as well as to carry large or heavy food/supplies/water from the local town to the home.

With so many children at the home, there are not enough toys for each child at one time. Locating quality toys in Kenya is difficult, and with the toys going through so much play, their life spans are not very long. A variety of educational toys ( purchased overseas ) would be such a great bonus.

HCHCH requires tables ( $200 Cdn ) and chairs for 25 people ( $300 Cdn ) to eat and do school work at.

*If you would like to donate funds and have the money go directly towards the purchase of any of the listed items, please contact us to let us know!