Located in the Great Lakes region of eastern Africa, Kenya is known for its fertile highlands, grassy savannahs, wildlife, and its namesake peak, Mt. Kenya. Its economy relies heavily upon agriculture and tourism. Kenya is also a cradle of civilization, rich in cultural heritage and diversity. The nation’s wealth of natural beauty, resources, and culture, however, belie the poverty in which most of its residents live.
Children living in poverty face especially difficult situations in Kenya.
Tragically, destitution and weak government institutions permit frequent violations of human rights. Kenya is also plagued by a severe shortage of healthcare workers, which contributes to lower life expectancies, high infant mortality rates, and widespread preventable disease.
Children living in poverty face especially difficult situations in Kenya. Education is rarely free, and many families cannot afford school uniforms, books and meals to send their children to school. Although Kenya is seeing a decrease in poverty overall, a large population of children in the country still lives in vulnerable situations without access to basic needs.
Challenges for Children in Kenya
In Kenya, children’s very lives and futures are at risk, as poverty leads to lack of educational and basic resources. Right now, vulnerable children in Kenya need your help.
- 42% of children in Kenya live in poverty
- More than one-third of the country’s population is living on less than $1.90 USD per day.
- Roughly 1.13 million children of primary school age (6 to 13 years old) are out of school in Kenya
- Before the COVID-19 pandemic, only 53% of students in Kenya were enrolled in secondary school (high school)
- School closures interrupted learning for over 17 million children in 2020
Our Work in Kenya
Thanks to caring people like you, Children Incorporated has helped thousands of children living in poverty in Kenya since 1964.
We work with our volunteer coordinators in local communities to provide health and nutrition, education, hygiene items, clothes, shoes, and other essentials that help children and families rise above the poverty in which they live.
Our strategy is to focus on individual children through our sponsorship program, ensuring they are receiving exactly what they need on a regular basis.
Your support makes all our work possible for Kenyan children in crisis.
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How do I sponsor a child in Kenya?
You can sponsor a child in Kenya in one of three ways: call our office at 1-800-538-5381 and speak with one of our staff members; email us at sponsorship@children-inc.org; or go online to our sponsorship portal, create an account, and search for a child in Kenya that is available for sponsorship.
Sources:
https://www.unicef.org/kenya/education