Ever imagined living in a 6ft x 8ft home made of old metal, cardboard and mud, without a bed, electricity, water or a toilet? You have to go out to get water, and the nearest toilet is shared among around 100 people. You have to pay for both. Those who cannot afford toilet costs wait until dark to use the open sewer or open space. A tin filled with kerosene and a piece of cloth for a wick acts as a lamp at night.

This is the glaring reality for approximately 600,000 people living in Kariobangi and Mathare Valley, which is one of the largest slum areas in Nairobi with over 80% of its' population living below the Kenyan poverty line. In addition, it is estimated that one in every three adults in this region is HIV positive and because of the deprivation their life expectancy once diagnosed is less than 5 years.

It is here that a local Christian organisation named Mathare Community Outreach has established Kariobangi School and Orphanage, which 400 local children now attend. Many are orphaned and most have lost at least one parent to HIV/AIDS. The school was also caught in the midst of the post-election violence in January 2008, which caused many families to flee the area and others to take refuge within the compound.

Despite this, Kariobangi School is a thriving happy place staffed by an enthusiastic, dedicated team of teachers and carers. GUA Africa is proud to have entered into a partnership with the school in a bid to provide individual sponsors for up to 50 of its' children.

Sponsorship costs £22.00 per month, or you can opt to pay quarterly or annually. This amount will contribute to the cost of a child's education, healthcare, food and drink and uniform, as well as allow the school to improve its buildings and resources. The children are aged between 4 and 12, and sponsors are provided with brief details of their family history, with regular updates as to their progress and circumstances. Written communication between sponsors and the children is encouraged, with regular exchanges of letters and photographs.

For more information please contact
kate@gua-africa.org