Educational support and mentoring to orphans and vulnerable children.
Fadhili’s Watoto Wetu project started in 2004 to care for children who had been orphaned by parents with HIV. The program provides for 30 to 35 children each year as spaces are available. It pays school fees and often living expenses for bright children who come from desperate situations. To date we have supported more than 125 children.
Access to education and a safe living environment makes a huge difference to their lives. Many of the sponsored children go on to college or university programs. After graduating many, like John are able to provide not only for themselves but their family members as well.
The need is so great that the project has a very long waiting list. We can accommodate a lot more children but only lack sponsors to do so.
Here are a few of the children currently supported by the Watoto Wetu project:
Her mother was only 18 and newly married when Angel was born. Around the same time, her grandmother also gave birth and died leaving Angel’s mother to care for her own two children, but also five other children her mother had left behind.
When Angel’s mother was 25 years old, her husband abandoned the family, leaving her to care for now eight children on her own. She still sheds tears when telling this story.
It costs about $905 USD per year for Angel’s school fees. Angel’s teachers report that she has great potential.
Brian attends Kitengela Boarding Primary School where he is in Class 6. He has shown great improvement going from a non-performer to being in the top three of his class. The school administration is already grooming him for the post of President when he gets to Class 7. A natural born leader!
Brian’s school fees and upkeep cost $395 USD per year.
John is a wonderful example of what a difference educational support can mean in a young person’s life:
When John was in Form 1, he took Judo lessons to learn self-defense. The lessons were being offered for free at a Catholic church near his home. With time, he realized that he enjoyed Judo and started playing competitively. As a result, he has represented Kenya in nine different countries for the last six years.
In June 2019, John graduated with a Diploma in Information Technology from Jomo Kenyatta University and is began a new chapter in his life. He continues to work at Judo, experiencing continued success, and hopes to land meaningful employment soon so he can support his mother who is often sick.
Thanks to the support of the Watoto Wetu project and generous donors, John is currently independent and is able to pay bills for himself and his mother.
