Our dorms have a safe bed for every boy, but this is meant to be a temporary stop on the way back to a safe home.
Kenya’s government is making monumental reforms to orphan care, and Shelter Yetu is excited to be a resource helping NINE orphanages throughout the region embrace these positive changes.
In the next 10 years, Kenya’s “Care Reform Strategy” will seek to transition the majority of children in traditional orphanages to the same kind of family-based care Shelter Yetu offers. The goal is to prevent children from living long-term in institutions and send more children home. We truly believe THIS way is better!
A nearby orphanage housing 75 children is one of the first in the region to seriously embrace these changes being partnering with Shelter Yetu for help. In the last two weeks, Shelter Yetu has been invited to assist 8 more orphanages, serving a total of about 400 children.
Two Shelter Yetu social workers will soon be training the orphanage staff in trauma-informed care, family tracing, case management and parent empowerment.
“Most of these orphanages are serving children who are not orphans at all, but children who have been disconnected from their families,” said Kristen Lowry, Co-Executive Director of Shelter Yetu. “We know they are doing the best they can, but we are so happy to help them–and anyone near us who wants to learn about what we are doing.”
Thank you for supporting Shelter Yetu. YOU are influencing orphan care throughout Kenya for the better.