Federick Kamau was born in Kericho, Kenya where he lived with his mom, gandmother, aunt, uncles, older brother and sister.  When he was 6 years old his Mom died. His grandmother tried to s upport him and the other members of the household but there was barely enough food to go around.  Kamau's education was put on hold and he left for the streets.  There he stayed stealing loaves of bread until 2000 when he bacame one of the first at the Joseph Waweru Home School.

He is now in his first year of High School. High School is not free in Kenya.  It costs about $250 - $300 per year plus books and uniforms to send a child to high school.  Kamau has a sponsor for his high school for 2007

Vincent was born just outside Kericho, Kenya.  When his father died and his mother became ill, the Kenya Children's Bureau raised funds to keep their four chidlren in school and assisted the relatives to feed them.  In 2000 when Expanding Opportunities was registering the new project, the Children's Officer asked us about taking these children. We had only room for one more.  The two girls could remain with relatives, while the two boys pleaded that they would sleep in the same bed and eat from the same dish. Vincent and his brother joined the Joseph Waweru Home School. His brother now works for the JWHS as the gate and store keeper.  Vincent is in Standard Eight. He will study hard this year to obtain a position in high school for 2008.

High School is not free in Kenya and students are selected according to their grades on their Standard Eight examination at the end of the year.

Kiplangat was born in Kericho, Kenya.  He was a rejected child of a mother and stepfather.  Severly beaten, he turned to the streets at a very young age.  Totally addicted to glue and never having finished a year of primary school, Kiplangat was one of the first five boys at the Joseph Waweru Home School.  When told he would not be able to sniff glue at the Home, he took and threw his bottle into the park and climbed into the car. He has not looked back.  Though it was a struggle to withdraw, he suffered through it. Now he is a quiet, hardworking young member of the Joshe Waweru Home School Family. 

Paul is originally from Njoro, Kenya. He is a quiet, pensive young man, always very obedient and willing to help around the house.  After the parents' divorced, his mother took her eight children to live with her parents. Paul’s mother died of stomach cancer soon after, leaving the grandparents to raise the children. The grandfather has severe diabetes and can no longer walk or see. With no income, Paul and the other children were not able to eat properly or go to school.

Paul and his brother Samwel joined us at the Joseph Waweru Home School.

SAmwel is originally from Njoro, Kenya. He is a studious young man. He is first in his class!  After the parents' divorced, his mother took her eight children to live with her parents. Paul’s mother died of stomach cancer soon after, leaving the grandparents to raise the children. The grandfather has severe diabetes and can no longer walk or see. With no income, Samwel and the other children were not able to eat properly or go to school.

Samwel and his brother Paul joined us at the Joseph Waweru Home School. 

John is a happy young man with an infectious giggle.  He is currently in Standard Eight which means he will take an examination at the end of the year that will determine what high school he will be able to attend.  He hopes to do very well. When his single parent mother died he was passed between relatives.  His education was inconsistent and his home life was disruptive.  John has been very happy at the Joseph Waweru Home School.

John has a sponsor. 

Brian is an active 4 year old.  His mother was an orphan raised by her grandmother.  After Brian was weaned, she abandoned him at the great grandmother's.   Though the great grandmother was doing the best she could she was not able to feed, clothe and raise Brian.  Forgetting herself, she brought him to the Joseph Waweru Home School where he can receive food, shelter, clothing, medical care, education and love.  She has come to visit him several times since he joined the Home.

Enoch is a nine year old boy.  He and his brother Amos lived with his mother, grandmother and grandfather.   Within a short time the grandmother dies and their mother followed close after.  The grandfather did the best he could but his mental condition deteriorated rapidly. The boys were left to wander the vilage seeking food. Enoch was attending school and would rush home to check on his brother.  Conditions for the boys deteriorated rapidly until assistance ws sought through the local church.  Elders approached the Joseph Waweru Home School with the boys' story.

They joined the Joseph Waweru Home School shortly thereafter.

Amos is a four year old boy.  He and his brother Enoch lived with his mother, grandmother and grandfather.   Within a short time the grandmother dies and their mother followed close after.  The grandfather did the best he could but his mental condition deteriorated rapidly. The boys were left to wander the vilage seeking food. Amos would wander alone throughout the fields and to the river prompting many searches when neighbors found him missing. Conditions for the boys deteriorated rapidly until assistance ws sought through the local church.  Elders approached the Joseph Waweru Home School with the boys' story. They joined the Joseph Waweru Home School shortly thereafter.

Amos has a sponsor

David is a twelve year old boy.  He lived with his loving single mother untiil her death when he went to live with a sick aunt.  The aunt kept him home from school to care for her so his education had ended.  When another aunt who could not take in the boy herself saw his situation, she approached the Joseph Waweru Home School.  We accepted David in the Spring of 2007.  He is now enrolled in school and  is happy to study and perform his light chores.

Otieno is 6 years old.  He is the last survivor of his family.  His parents contracted HIV shortly after his birth. Though he is HIV- , all his siblings were HIV+.  Slowly one by one they each died.  The school alerted the Joseph Waweru Home School about this child. He came to school with no breakfast or lunch in a ragged worn out uniform and no shoes.  After hearing of his plight, he was accepted in the Joseph Wweru Home School.

Otieno is sponsored by a church.

Gideon is the brother of a Nakuru street boy.  The Joseph Waweru Home School had first accepted his brother.  The call of the street was too strong and soon he returned to the streets of Nakuru.  After locating him, he requested that we accept his brother in his place so he would not become like him.  Please pray for John Karanja as he struggles with life on the streets. Please also support his brother Gideon, so he will not be forced to choose the streets.

Job is a ten year old HIV+ orphan.  As his mother had left behind a piece of property with rental units, Expanding Opportunities supports him and a cartetaker in one of the apartments.  With proper nutrition and medication, Job has doubled his weight, attends school, is able to learn. He can look forward to a long healthy life.

Job has a sponsor for 1/2 his care.  Would you help with the other 1/2?

There are over 1 million orphans in Kenya.  Expanding Opportunities has space for 16 children and room to increase to 32. Will you sponsor a child?