During my time based on the outskirts of Nairobi, Kenya, I spent days on end at the Watoto Mbele children’s home, talking, playing, and hanging out. I was friends with the kids & the staff, and still stay in touch with some of them today.

Originally founded to provide support & housing for kids that had escaped a different, abusive & fiscally dishonest centre, Watoto Mbele grew over the few years I knew it to continue taking in more young folk who needed assistance, while working to prepare the many older kids to finish school and set out on their own. My mother, who had relocated to Nairobi herself, took over managing the day-to-day of the centre. Two things I learnt: It was significantly easier to find financial sponsors for a 5 year old than a 15 year old. It was also very hard to “cut the cord” financially with the older kids once they turned 18 and were expected to move on and support themselves.

Although the centre as a physical place has since closed down, the kids moved into boarding schools, or under the care of aunts, uncles, or grandparents, and are still sponsored & supported.

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