For several years now, it has housed and taken care of young and vulnerable children. It has become a home to many orphaned children. Homes where many people take a moment to reflect on what they have experienced. A place where they take a deep breath and make a decision to face the future with certainty. Here, they are treated with hearty love and given hope to face the future with brightness.
Most recently, it was a bee hive of activity. During the post election violence, the home hosted more than 500 children and women. All flocked there to save their lives from rowdy youths who were craving for their blood. The home not only welcomed them heartily but also took responsibility of feeding them and giving them a place to sleep.
Established by Jacinta Njoroge to honor her mother’s love for the unaided children, Phillis Wambui Memorial Children’s Home has managed to change lives through the support it gets from friends and partners like Rotary Club of Sweden. The centre reflects what a true change an individual can contribute in society. Jacinta has gone over the common human “comfort” level and indifferent attitude to the effect that someone “will sort it out” to a personal commitment, patience and persistence to leave love marks to a hundred needy children.
Set at Kambi ya Moto near Kabarak University, the home is a haven to 72 vulnerable children from all over Kenya. Here, they are bonded with brotherly love and sisterhood while they have “mothers” who give them parental love and assist them solve “kiddish” problems, just like mothers usually do. Jacinta’s eldest “daughter” sat for her K.C.S.E last year. The youngest, who is also her “new born”, is barely two years. She had been rescued by Jacinta from her grandmother who couldn’t feed her.
The centre has a Primary school which takes care of outside children. The centre also takes care of their breakfast and lunch, Mondays to Fridays without asking for a penny.
I was lucky to visit the home on a Saturday, just after Christmas, not because of the Party mood (which the children’s faces portrayed) but because the day is set aside by Christians around the world for thanksgiving and prayers. The songs, testimonies, comedies and jokes left me deeply touched. They sang and danced with so much enthusiasm, enough to carry you in their waves.
This revealed great contentment and gratification and a clear indication that their future is full of promises – a note of gratitude which they don’t forget to pass to their “mother” Jacinta.
Despite financial challenges, Jacinta, together with her partners, have managed to set a commendably well equipped home. This is best portrayed by the dormitories which are equipped with comfy beds and mosquito nets.
Mother Jacinta says her best moment is time to spend with the kids. And the few days I spent there marked her words. Her free interaction with the children showed a lot of concern, care and love for the children. I was really fascinated by how an individual can change lives of almost a hundred children from naught to optimistic citizens.
My stay at the home was filled with fun. Jacinta’s eldest “daughter” took care of my craving for hiking and running. Together, we adventured up and down the hills to discover rhino caves. We gave Jacinta a shock of her life when we jogged out and came back with a dignified guest. We had just returned from Paul Tergat’s home.
I left the home shingo upande, but promised to return. And the ripe time, I guess, would be Valentine’s day. To give the children more love.
Shiku Steve
About the Author
Keep up the good work Jacinter. It is always important to care for the less fortunate in society.
The power of receaving states,”give as much as you can to the needy,without expecting any returns. It is the surest way to receave the greatest from God” This lady is doing a mavelous job.If all of us would do the little we can, to impact change someone,this world would be very different.
Lots of blessing Jacinta. The best way to show and send love is through a love-less parent-less child.You trully protray what a true woman can.Iam proud of you. Thanks Shiku for bringing the home to our news room.It means alot to the doubting Thomases of this world,if only you know what I mean.
KSB: That’s why Kenyans in Stockholm love Jacinter. She is a doer.
Its worth to note how strong media can be. Big or small,as you may refer to it,KSB has acted as a net-working media for many. I remeMber an advert on Jacinta home support party,joined her with these sports for change chicks,and by the look things,they are determined to make a change to the needy children.
Jacinta -true happiness and contentment in life is realized when you change a needy person from a hope-less-ness situation to a hopeful one. Isnt not trully blessful when a hundrend souls pray for you each night before they fall asleep. Knowing right deep in them,they would not be,if not for you? What more is happiness? . It is a great sacrifice which is worth.
On a note not so good,its really interesting when Shiku write challeging articles,the comment room is filled with arrows,bows,stones knives name them all to kill the `vice’,some ask for informative news from Kenya,and when they come they get dead silent. Arent we peculiar?
KSB -They critisize the doers when they cant do!
KSB: Well said. I always feel happy when readers like Shiku use KSB to build and not to destroy.
Jon,guys are different with different way of viewing and accepting things.Most importantly, is the dreams that expand to reality when faced by such critics. And the strength to squeeze out some lemon juice out of the lemons they offer,rather than feel cowed and hide in their tip toes.
And yes,you are right. KSB is quite a strong and crucial networking media….We cant wait to give a huge report on this.
Thanks KSB,we are for positive change not destruction.
Shiku,I trully admire your heart for the less fortunate in our society.Your zeal and committment towards making a change is trully recommedable. You keep surprising me. I keep telling you there is a reason for every season. You thought it was over,when you just began. Iam really proud of you.
Jacinta,keep up the good work.