Orphaned children find solace in unique home

By TITUS TOO

They neither have biological parents nor know their backgrounds, but they have a shelter, access quality education and compete for opportunities equally.

This is the inspirational story of more than 150 children admitted to the Testimony Faith Homes and School in Eldoret, where they are cared for and receive formal education like children from ordinary families.

As the World Orphans Day is marked today, these children have reason to smile as their fate has since changed from destitute children to those with hope and a bright future mapped out for them.

- CLASS TIME: Testimony Faith and Homes Nursery school pupils in class.

Same compound

They are part of the school’s 800 students enrolled in nursery, primary and secondary schools in the same compound.

The institution was established in 1972 as a children’s home, but owing to its performance in national examinations, parents around the home have also enrolled their children here.

While the rest of the students have their requirements paid for by their parents, the orphans enjoy everything for free.

"In our institution, we don’t seclude orphans from other children. They sit in the same classes and one cannot identify an orphan from the rest of the pupils," said Mr Daryl Green, the institution’s assistant director in-charge.

Green said the children are cared for at the institution in four homes, each with about 40 children.

He said orphans are admitted to the institution, some of them aged one, and are cared for up to the age of 24.

"Essentially, children can be cared for until the age of 18. But we want to see children under our care go through college and achieve employment before we leave them to go their way," said Green.

Great potential

He said the institution has assisted more than 300 orphans since his father, Mr John Green, who is the director and general secretary of the institution and currently out of the country, established it in 1972.

"We provide basic needs, education, shelter and spiritual guidance and also seek employment opportunities for them once they are through with college education for them to be self sustaining," said Green.

To ensure the children get love, Green says conditions have been put in place to ensure parents who care for the orphans at the homes are committed. He says foster parents employed to care for the orphans are committed and married couples who will live as a family and share love in the same environment with the children for them to have a sense of belonging.

The couples are paid a monthly salary, free housing and food and are entitled to an annual leave. The institution meets costs of other bills incurred by the couples while caring for the orphans.

- Mr Daryl Green, Assistant Director of Testimony Faith and Homes school in Eldoret. [PICTURES: PETER OCHIENG’/STANDARD]

Their homes come have libraries, kitchen facilities, dining rooms and bedrooms.

Green said that although they do not disclose the children’s backgrounds, records indicate that some are from parents who died of HIV/Aids complications.

"We liaise with the District Children’s Department to ensure that all cases of admission are genuine. Before admission, we also ensure there is a court order sanctioning the admission to avoid any future controversies," he added.

Green said if the case is genuine, depending on availability of space, they might take the child in or refer him or her to alternative homes.

He further said the institution relies on well wishers to run its programmes that are based on Christian faith.

He added that the home is a non-profit making entity, but an establishment to meet basic requirements for the needy in the society.

Testimony Faith Homes and school is run under a director and general secretary, assistant directors, headmasters for the secondary and primary schools, teachers and workers.

The home is located in Elgon View estate in Eldoret town.

Green said orphans at the school have shown great potential and have competed well with other students in national examinations.