Hope for the Hopeless: Kibera Slums (YWEA 2009 Project)

Kibera, Kenya has one of the largest slums in the world. Everyday kids lose their parents to AIDS and are left to survive in these slums. The YWEA 2009 project in Kenya will focus on the Kibera Kids Center Orphanage.

In 2001, God planted the seed of the Kibera Orphanage in the hearts of Jim and Deborah Womble and that seed has grown into a wonderful “Oasis of Hope”. Planted on a high hill overlooking the world’s largest slum - which encompasses 630 acres, the Kibera Kids Center is the home to young boys and girls whose mothers and fathers have died from AIDS leaving them homeless and hopeless. Here they receive care that includes food, a warm dry bed, clean clothes, clean fresh water, loving care givers, schooling and medical care - everything a child needs.

However, there are two pressing issues that face this orphanage. Financial shortfall has left its mark on this wonderful and beautiful place. Recently, Deborah cried as she recounted the horrible day she was forced to tell 80 of the children that they had to return to the slums of Kibera because there were insufficient operational funds to feed and care for them. Many of these children returned to abuses such as forced prostitution, hunger, and even death.

There are currently over 100 children still at the orphanage. While we praise God for their care, just over the fence enclosure it is estimated that more than 500,000 children live in utter hopelessness. Poverty, hunger, and abuse are the only emotions that many of these children ever experience.

Another sad note is that Kibera Kids Center has the ability to house and care for almost 400 children, if they simply had the operational funds.

James 1:27 says "Pure and lasting religion before God our Father mean that we must care for orphans..." We hope you will partner with YWEA and help care for these orphans in Kenya.