Home throws a lifeline to orphans in slums through education, sports

By AUGUSTINE ODUOR

The four-year-old skips and hops happily as she joins other children in the playground at Grapeyard Children’s Home in Nairobi’s Utawala Estate.

As more children join in the games, joyful noise rents the air.

Some of the children are playing hide and seek while others are spinning the pendulum when the girl taps on the shoulders of her five-year-old roommate before they rush back to their rooms.

Why? It is their time to take their antiretroviral drugs. Three other children also stop playing momentarily and dash to their rooms to take the drugs.

The five of the 56 orphaned children a Grapeyard are HIV positive and have been taught how to live positively with the condition.

Director Edmund Opondo Oloo says all the children have a medical cover and efforts are focused on ensuring they realise their dreams through education.

He says through counselling the children now see HIV/Aids as a serious disease but which one manage and still achieve their dreams.

The 56 children are part of a bigger family of over 650 children the organisation has rescued from risky situations in Korogocho and Kariobangi slums.

Playtime at Grapesyard Children’s Home in Utawala. [PHOTO: JONAH ONYANGO]

Mr Oyoo says many of the children who lived with their stepmothers or relatives were subjected to harsh treatment and some opted to run to the street.

Korogocho slums

"The situation was unbearable so we decided to rescue the children and help them access quality education. Some of them are very bright," says Mr Oloo. Together with various stakeholders he set up Grapesyard School at the heart of Korogocho slums ten 11 years ago. "We only had one teacher and three classes. But through well wishers’ contribution, we bought desks and gradually expanded the programme to include street children," he said.

Two years ago about 250 children got sponsors boosting their chances of getting a good education. "Our main sponsors are Italian-based Twins International and Alice for Children," he says. But 450 still need sponsorship.

Since 2003 when the school sat its first KCPE, the mean score has been improving over the years. "In 2007, we had a mean score of 289. This rose to 293 the following year. Last year, the school mean score shot to 306," says Mr Oloo.

"Our first best performer is a student an KCA university studying business administration. Other students are in colleges while and public secondary schools," he says.

He says the biggest challenge facing the home is provision of post primary education support for the children.

"Transition from secondary to colleges is the biggest challenge. We are not able to sponsor them after that stage," he says

As the school strives for excel, myriad challenges stand on its way. "We have few teachers and rely on volunteer teachers. We need more trained teachers," he says.

Relying on donated books the home and school lacks a library to store them.