While many households worldwide primarily consist of a nuclear family- father, mother and children- the norm in Kenya and many other African nations embraces the philosophy of Ubuntu. It is common to find households where family extends beyond the nuclear family to include extended family relatives such as grandparents, uncles, aunts and cousins, all living together in the same compound, sharing meals, responsibilities and household duties. This family structure is largely supported by communal land ownership practices, enabling extended families to coexist and assist one another.

Among families with sponsored children, this structure varies significantly. In many cases, the household consists of a single parent, mostly the mother, raising her children with the help of their grandparents, uncles and cousins. In other instances, children may live solely with their grandparents due to the loss of both parents. Sponsored children rarely reside in households where both parents are present and in those cases, the family most often faces severe economic challenges. Survival is largely dependent on small-scale farming. Due to unpredictable rainfall often resulting to low yields, guardians are forced to seek menial labor to supplement their livelihood. In many households, a single member becomes the sole provider, responsible for supporting not only their children but also nieces, nephews, and aging grandparents.

One such household includes two of our sponsored children, who are orphaned and now under the care of their elderly grandparents, along with other extended family members. Their uncles, aunts, and cousins live in the same compound, sharing responsibilities and taking care of various household chores. The grandparents are the heads of the household depending on subsistence farming for survival. The grandfather has also taken up masonry work, while some of the other family members engage in casual labor to earn a modest income to supplement what is harvested.

Pictured here is the main house, kitchen and a bathroom.

One such household includes two of our sponsored children (Nthiwa and Elizabeth), who are orphaned and now under the care of their elderly grandparents (Elizabeth and Nthiwa), along with other extended family members. Their uncles, aunts, and cousins live in the same compound, sharing responsibilities and taking care of various household chores. The grandparents are the heads of the household depending on subsistence farming for survival. The grandfather has also taken up masonry work, while some of the other family members engage in casual labor to earn a modest income to supplement what is harvested.

A typical weekday begins with the children leaving for school early in the morning. The adults spend their day in various daily routines including working on the farm land or seeking labor opportunities. The children return in the evening and assist with household duties, particularly on weekends when they contribute to farm work and household chores.

Thanks to the unwavering generosity of our partners and donors, we are privileged to support these deserving households by providing educational opportunities for the children and economic empowerment programs for their guardians. Through these efforts, we have helped families live with dignity while enabling children to pursue their dreams and build a brighter future.