Integra Group

Opportunity...

Creating economic opportunities for a life of dignity for the vulnerable

Over 150 children found a new home in the Children's Garden Rescue Home in the Kawangware slum in Nairobi, Kenya. Instead of having to survive the insecurity of the street or an abusive home, they are now in a safe and caring place, provided to them by Daddy Moses and other staff of the children's home. In addition to regular meals and housing, they also receive something that many children in Africa don't have access to - education.

School or Street?

Children's Garden runs its own school which is attended by the 150 children in the home and an additional 150 children from the slums. In addition to quality primary education, they also receive a daily meal. This is often the only food they eat all day. Individuals and families in Slovakia can sponsor children in the Children's Garden through Malaika (www.malaika.sk), Integra's partner organization. The monthly sponsorship contributions cover food, hygienic items and basic healthcare.

However, children from the slums cannot afford secondary or university education which the students or their families have to pay for in Kenya. Many times, these children return to the street, despite the fact that they are very talented and intelligent. But mostly, they are still just kids full of dreams, plans to do something significant with their life, something which will allow them to avoid a life in the slums, a life full of suffering, insecurity, and despair.

School fees for one year (2 semesters) at secondary school are approximately 12,000 Slovak crowns ($600 US dollars). This amount will give 15-year old Dorcas a chance to become a journalist and not be forced to make a living as a prostitute. Thanks to your contributions in the scholarship fund, 17-year old Esau will not become a drug dealer, but will find a stable employment and take care of his family.

Integra issued a public appeal to support further education of children from Children's Garden, approved by the Ministry of Interior under the number SVS-233004-2008/06942.

Thank you for partnering with us on making a better future for children from the slums in Kenya.

Job is the first student from Children's Garden to attend university

"My name is Daniel and I am 15 years old. Since I came to Children's Graden, my life has changed in a positive way. I learned to read and write thanks to my teachers. I grow spiritually more than ever before. I never had a life like this before. I used to cause problems for my teachers in the past, but later I learned to respect them and believe that they want the best for me. My previous experience from the government school made me believe that teachers have to beat me up for me to learn something. In Children's Garden, teachers are very friendly to us and they care about us. My life was really changed. I would like to study social work and later work with children with a similar history. My heroes are Daddy Moses and Mother Theresa. I would really be proud if I could change lives of orphans and street kids."

"My name is Dorcas and I am 15 years old. I started attending the Children's Garden School in 2006. Until then, I have never experienced a place where children receive so much care. In the school which I used to attend, we did not even have textbooks. Now I have something to study from. In addition, we also get food which I am very thankful for. When I grow up, I would like to be a journalist, so I could write about various interesting people, but also about the suffering of children from the slums for the better."

"My name is Esau and I am 17 years old. I grew up in the Kawangware slum in Nairobi. My parents were very poor and they were unable to take care of me and my parents. I received the primary education in the Baptist missionary school where I studied on a scholarship from contributions of good people.

Later, I attended the primary school in the Kawangware slum. However, because my parents did not have money, I often skipped school. In August 2007, I took the entry exams in the Children's Garden School where I met Daddy Moses for the first time. I did not do too well at the entry exam, they accepted me into the 7th grade which I am very thankful for.

The school in Children's Garden is great, we have excellent teachers who helped me improve my grades. I passed the finals and made it to the 8th grade. I would really like to attend secondary school and I will do everything I can to make it happen.

My dream is to study astronomy and I believe that one day I will be able to make my dream come true."

"My name is Doreen and I came to Children's Garden as a second grader in 2002. I was one of the first students of this school. We all started in one class. There was 12 of us, all different ages. I have to say that since then, things at Children's Garden moved forward. Now I am in the 8th grade and I will do what I can to get 350 points on my final exam and make it to secondary school. Children's Garden is constantly improving and gives hope to its students. I would like to become a nurse or a teacher. I believe that nurses can save people's lives and teachers pass on knowledge and therefore deserve our respect."