Monique Boekhout and the children - June 2007

The Struggle of Our Children

Orphans between the ages of 3 and 10 are eligible for admission to the Jubilee Children's Center.  The children will stay at the Center until they complete their college or vocational education.  Various governmental agencies are responsible for initial screenings and referrals.  All of the children have lost both parents, most to AIDS and tribal warfare.  Many of the children were rescued from the Korogocho slum, one of the three major slums of Nairobi.  These children had suffered the cruel life of the city streets before arriving at Jubilee.  All are tested and must be HIV negative.  Below you will find pictures of some of the children.

Photos by Jim Stratakos

The pictures below are of our children at Jubilee Children's Center.

Kimanthi in his new gumboots	Sylvia and her first Christmas tree
Kelvin, Christopher and Joseph enjoying the tire swings	Nau and Mbithi on the slide
Check out our muscles!	The girls taking care of the younger kids
Daniel and Mwangi hanging out on the weekend	Playing in the grass

Photos by Monique Boekhout and Ching Fu



Please click here to see our children's artwork!

Jubilee Children's Center has changed my life because I am being given free education. And I know and have seen the benefits of education. The main reason is because 'Education' is the key to success a better life. So if I'm not given good education I may end up being a failure in life. But I'm very happy that Jubilee has changed my life through education.

Secondly I've received salvation. This is because where I was, I used abusive language but thank God that he has given me everything that I need and has saved me. Anyway had it not been for God through many people who are helping us I don't know where I could be.

God has also changed my life because he has given me people to care for me. I normally see them as my parents since they offer everything to me. Anyway, God is to be praised for his mighty hand upon my life.

I think I would be dead and forgotten if I were not here. The reason behind is because where I was, it was not a good place. I was badly mistreated and sometimes not enough food. I suffered a lot but God remembered me and I found myself in Jubilee, or else I would may be a mother of about 3-4 children. The reason as to why I'm suggesting this is because many rapist outside there came to me but God protected me. When I came in Jubilee my concentration was only on my education and salvation. These are the most two important things I value very much.

As long as I'm alive I desire to be a pilot in future even though a lot of people say or tell me that not many women who are pilots. But by God's power I believe and trust that this will come to pass.

Life in Jubilee is very comfortable and feeling as if I'm in my own house. I'm given spiritual guidance, a balanced diet, and also somewhere to sleep.

I'm very comfortable that I feel as if I have my parents since they people we have here are treating us well with parental love. I'm also given advice. Like how to be good and kind to other so as to be also respected by society. Also we have teachers who has impacted the understanding and knowledge I have now in me by teaching me very well. They have also been encouraging us, as now we are preparing to do our last primary exam known as K.C.P.E (Kenya Certificate of Primary Education) where I'll get my first certificate. Anyway I'm desiring to pass with flying colours as it is nationally done by every std. 8 pupil.

As I conclude, I pray everyday that God may give a long life to those donors who have been helping. Bearing in mind that I would be someone who is useless, unwanted, and eventually may be a street-girl. I feel that I have to appreciate everybody who has ever helped me from any part of the world.

My great desire for now is to pass well, go to High school, University and continue further. Finally I'm hoping to be a great person in future. I also have that feeling that one day I'll help orphans just as I've been helped. I feel nice and joyful when in Jubilee because it's like a paradise. May God bless all of those who are concerned about my life.

Rosemary Wahu, 6th grade

Jubilee has really changed my life in so many ways like in my education. When I lived in the slum I couldn't manage to get all my need in my education, all the stationary and also good and qualified teachers. The place where I used to learn whenever I feel like learning but through Jubilee I am a very smart and bright girl who always have the first position.

My aunty who I used to live with could never manage to pay the school fees for me so sometimes I had to be chased away from school. However, Jubilee have been a place I would desire to keep in my heart when in it or when I'm out of it.

My teachers have been working hard to see me maintaining the same position until I finish my primary education. My authorities made Jubilee to be a place where I had the have my dream. I would really want to be a very good and qualified pilot after being to Oxford University in Britain.

I don't care who will take me there but I trust in the living God. I also thank God for my good health that I eat and sleep comfortably and that is through your sweat. Many children die of hunger and sleep in the streets of Kenya so I thank God for he has changed me through Jubilee.

This is how God has changed my life, maybe some people would not see how God has really changed my life. When I was in the Korokocho slum I could hear what other children would say then I would repeat the same thing. When I entered Jubilee in 2003, 17th February I could use abusive language and the administrators couldn't like it at all. But one day they called me and taught me how to talk to my elderly. Therefore after it was around one to two months I changed my talk of which was hard for me.

In case I have various thing to testify off is very good. I would have dead and thrown in the pit of forgetfulness for no one to remember me at all. I had not thought my eight lettered name would be in America USA. I would be pregnant and being called a mother of more than two children but Gods grace fallen in my life, for many girls of my age 13, are pregnant and are called mothers so I have something special that God have changed my life from darkness to light.

I would be dead and forgotten if it were not for Jubilee. My aunt whose name is Salome has her two kids who are still at school learning comfortably, through my suggestion I think she saw that I was a burden to her of which she even brought me hear bearing in mind that I would perish and die.

If I was to be in Korogocho slum I would be pregnant and that's why I normally thank God so much for his purpose in my life. Many girls at my age are unknown because they have careless parents who don't care about them so they are mis placed and have a lot of misfortunes so I gladly thank God for my sponsors and Jubilee community. This is my reason why I thank God.