AOSK-CCCK
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| Madre Ippolita Children Home in Machakos County received food stuff from AOSK fund |
The Association of Sisterhoods of Kenya through its initiative program of Catholic Care for Children in Kenya (CCCK) is in the frontline responding to the needs of the vulnerable Children in Catholic Care Institutions.
The government of Kenya responded by putting in place various measures to avert the spread of COVID-19. Such measures have adversely affected the children in all institutions of care and at home.
On the 28th of March 2020, the Daily Nation Newspaper under the title “Children Homes in Crisis as COVID-19 Dries up Donation” highlighted the numerous crisis in terms of shortage of supply of adequate food and nutritional commodities, inability to effectively self-isolate, buy protective gears, afford flowing water to wash their hands and other basic directives given by experts as major measures to contain COVID-19 spread.
In a report shared by CCC-Kenya Program Coordinator Sr Delvin Mukhwana to AMECEA Online this week, AOSK is supervising the monthly support which Sisters are giving.
CCC-K is also documenting various challenges faced by Catholic Care institutions which range from food shortage, lack of hygiene products, face masks and reduced support from donors and well-wishers.
She further reported that the majority of the homes depend on well-wishers like small Christian communities who are not supporting the homes currently.
“Some child care institutions (CCIs) reported that some donors and well-wishers have sent regrets to the CCIs and some have succumbed to COVID-19 which makes it difficult for CCIs that are not self-sustainable,” she added.
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| The administrator of Baraka na Upendo Children Home distributing food to the family of one of the children in Kericho Diocese |
AOSK has responded to this crisis by sending some funds to each CCI to support them in buying basic necessities to sustain the children during this COVID-19 crisis.
In total, 127 Child care Institutions which hosts over 10,000 children and over 5000 indirect beneficiaries benefitted from this fund.
Meanwhile, Sr Mildred Nekesa the administrator at Madre Ippolita Children’s Home Ndithini, Machakos Diocese noted, “During the hardest moment of COVID-19, AOSK has supported our CCI with funds which we used to purchase food, soap, Sanitizers, face masks and other important needs of the children, “she said and added, “and so far, we have managed to visit some families providing them with food, masks and sanitizers.”
“We are grateful for this good gesture from AOSK,” says Sr Mildred.