DCM Orphan Retreat

    When hundreds of kids gather together for an overnight retreat, it is only expected that fun times will occur.  But when these children are all full or partial orphans sometimes living on meager resources, there is even more fun.  Orphans from Nyanza Province sponsored by DCM’s 1001Orphans program gathered Monday through Wednesday at Ringa Girls High School for a two night retreat.  They were able to participate in a Bible study, a counseling session, social activities, a church service and  lots of singing.  DCM staff also made sure that there was a time for the children to write thank you notes to their sponsors.  Three solid meals a day were also provided, something these kids do not always get .  Those who had not previously received shoes from DCM walked away with a brand new pair of school uniform shoes.    

        The children were all smiles during the activities, singing and playing.  It was a chance for them to interact with other children in the same predicament while in a safe and supportive environment.  Some of them are probably already looking forward to next year's retreat.  

Children's Outreach Ministry

Every weekend in Kenya, children are joining together to praise God.  They sing, dance, laugh and learn while at the DCM Children's Bible Club.  Meeting on Saturday and Sunday afternoons, the program consists of seven separate ‘clubs’ that are open to children of all denominations.  The goal is to provide spiritual, physical, social and psychological care to the kids in attendance.   Teachers lead the participants in song, safety and health classes and in memorization of Luther’s Small Catechism, the Ten Commandments and the Creeds.  Sometimes they perform at local churches on Sunday, and there has even been a competition that brought all the clubs together to show off what they had learned.

This program is spreading the word of God to all of those in attendance, and it provides a safe, loving environment for the children on the weekends.  Those who attend a church service featuring a performance by one of the Bible Clubs are very impressed with the singing and the military like projection of speech used when reciting the Catechism and creeds.  It is easy to see that the children are proud of what they learn, and the smiles on their faces while they sing and dance are one of a kind.

A Light in the Community

 

Like Lorine, the woman mentioned in the previous post, Quinter Anyango is a young disabled lady who makes a living creating school uniforms.  She worked her way through the classes of the ELCK Kisumu School for Mentally Handicapped, which is where she learned how to sew and tailor clothing.  Quinter is a light in her community, and an inspiration to other disabled people and their families.  In her small village there are several others with either physical or mental disabilities, and she serves as an example to them that it is possible to overcome a disability.  She proves that when given the opportunity, a disabled person can succeed.

           

Last week DCM set up a meeting in Quinter’s village for her family, the village chief and parents of local disabled children.  DCM staff members where at the site to help facilitate the meeting and to share with the attendees the opportunities available to disabled people.  They were able to share information about the rights of disabled people and the programs available through the school.  DCM even brought in an acting troupe, a financial advisor and a young disabled man who spoke about his situation.   

DCM sets up about four meetings a month and they aim to raise awareness at various levels throughout the community and also work to inspire parents to send their disabled children to school and job training, rather than locking them up.  In a country where the average person struggles to survive, DCM is helping those with obvious disadvantages succeed.

Lorine Atieno Shows Her Talents Despite Being Disabled

     Lorine Atieno is proof that someone with a disability can lead a productive, self-supporting life.  Even though the simple task of walking is a struggle for Lorine, her fingers manage to flow effortlessly over the weaving machine that creates the material for school sweaters.  She is a part of a Diakonia Compassionate Ministry (DCM) program that assists mentally and physically disabled people by teaching them job skills and also by helping them to sell their products.  This program focuses on people’s abilities, rather than their disabilities and it helps those who would otherwise be cast aside by society.  It aims to give them opportunities while helping them to explore their talents, and also serves to raise awareness about the opportunities available to disabled people.

     For about four years, Lorine has been producing these beautiful sweaters.  DCM purchases the sweaters, and sells them to schools for a small profit.  This money then goes back to the program, and is used towards marketing and expansion.  The program is hoping to expand and service more people. 

     Being able to shape a simple ball of yarn into the form of a sweater requires a great deal of talent, and DCM is helping to turn that talent into a mean of support for an otherwise hopeless person.  Lorine Atieno has a talent, and with the help of DCM this means that she also has hope.