Nyumbani Children’s Home
A refuge for HIV affected children
Nyumbani Children’s Home provides life-saving care and loving home to more than 100 HIV-positive children in Kenya. Ages newborn to 23, the children live at the Children’s Home until they are healthy and self-reliant.
The only one of its kind when it was founded in 1992, Nyumbani Children’s Home offers a holistic approach to life-changing comprehensive medical, nutritional, life-skills, psychological, educational, and spiritual care.
Children are prepared for transitioning back into Kenyan society by identifying family members and encouraging extended family visits during the December holidays. They learn skills, are educated, and receive life skills training so they can support themselves after they leave Nyumbani care.
First they must heal
Children and babies often arrive in a desperate malnourished condition, many abandoned by their families because of the stigma of HIV. They come to us mostly from Kenya and some from surrounding countries. Children are referred to Nyumbani by hospitals and our own community outreach program, Lea Toto.
The most severely malnourished are brought to the Nyumbani Respite Center, where they are brought back to health and returned to Lea Toto facilities.
Most Nyumbani Children’s Home residents are on first- and second-line HIV antiretroviral drugs (ARVs). Unfortunately, however, the number of children who are resistant to first and second-line ARVs is growing and need third-line ARVs.
A holistic view of every child
It’s not just about the children’s health.
Nyumbani Children’s Home takes a whole-child approach to care and rehabilitation. We go beyond simply providing a bed for a child.
In each of the cottages is a surrogate family, with 14 children and a staff house parent. Inter-generational companionship, a quality education, and post-graduation career counseling help ensure successful reintegration into their own families, tribal communities, or independent living.
A particularly caring and competent staff acts as positive role models to help raise confident, happy children within native cultural traditions.
A bright future
Though death still threatens, today most Nyumbani children are living to adulthood with the promise of many productive years ahead. The availability of better antiretroviral medicine and innovative treatment means our children can expect a bright future.
And that is the heart of what we do.
Nyumbani Children’s Home facilities
The Nyumbani Children’s Home includes five cottages, medical clinic, pharmacy, youth center, community center, playground, library, computer center, kitchen, laundry, water supply, and greenhouse. The site also has pig and poultry pens, and staff and guest housing. Visit Nyumbani.
Nyumbani Karen Organic Farm produces organic horticultural food and milk for the local market and consumption at the Nyumbani Children’s Home in Karen.
