Kenya Kids International is building strong foundations in the Karungu community

Kenya Kids International is an Australian charity supporting children and young people in the Karungu community in Kenya. They make it possible for disadvantaged children to complete their education, access clean drinking water, food and receive medical care.

Creating safety for the Juma children

In some parts of Kenya, it’s not unusual for children to lose a parent to malnourishment, disease, accidents or crime. The Juma children lost both parents: their father was a victim of crime and their mother died from malaria. Their four children were orphaned, the youngest five years old.

At times, relatives are able to care for children who lose their parents and other times, as was the case with the Juma children, they survived by begging for food and money.

Rob, Rikki and the team at KKI reached out to support the Juma family with essential and critical needs including:

• providing safety by repairing an external door to their home,
• ensuring the Juma children have access to food every day,
• providing live-in carers,
• constructing an outdoor latrine and washroom,
• replacing indoor dirt floors with concrete,
• sponsoring the eldest child to complete secondary school and now, university,
• sponsoring the eldest girl to attend boarding school, and
• covering fees, books and uniforms so the youngest children can attend primary school.

Kenya Kids International visits the Karungu community

Earlier this year, Kenya Kids International founders, Rob and Rikki Fisher visited the Karungu community, along with Peter Harding, a KKI sponsor. During their trip, Rob and Rikki met with students, families and the Karungu Progressive Community (KPC) which plays a key part in the delivery of KKI’s programs.

During their trip, Rob and Rikki and the KPC selected a new Student Care Worker and two carers to support the Juma children. Judith Wara, the Student Care Worker, ensures that students are motivated to successfully complete their studies. This includes a variety of tasks and activities concerning students and their family’s welfare, liaising with schools, purchasing textbooks, assisting with enrolments and providing counselling, support and encouragement.

The two carers are a pivotal part of the Juma children’s lives, ensuring they are safe, cared for and nurtured.

KKI supports the Baby Home in Macalder and during their trip they were able to ensure one year old Monica was able to be assessed in hospital and receive treatment for malaria, septicaemia, malnutrition and severe eczema.

For each trip they take to Kenya, Rob and Rikki take as many bags of clothing as they can legally carry, to distribute to the Karungu community. These clothes are provided with the support of the Blue Gum Clothing Company.

Thanks to Rob and Rikki’s tireless work, many young people and future generations in the Karungu community are benefiting from education. Kenya Kids International has sponsored:

• 39 secondary school students in 2024
• 72 secondary school students since 2017
• 11 university students in 2024.

We’re grateful to be supporting two university students, Byrone and Catherine, who are pursuing tertiary education in medicine, information and communication technology.

Support children in Kenya

Kenya Kids International founders, Rob and Rikki Fisher are based in Mullumbimby, NSW. With the help of the Karungu community, Kenya Kids International is able to provide much needed support, including:

• Ensuring primary and secondary education completion by providing school fees and board,
• Tertiary education support including fees, board, living away from home expenses,
• Providing breakfast and lunch at Agolomuok Primary School,
• Micro-financing,
• Business training,
• Improving the Agolomuok Community Water Project,
• Supporting children with special needs by providing medical care and medication,
• Sponsoring the Macalder Mine Babies Home, an orphanage caring for up to 16 children.

You can support the Karungu community by donating to Kenya Kids International.