Caring for children in Machakos, Kenya

HopeCo’s Vision: Transformed Lives, Flourishing Communities

HopeCo exists to rescue children in East Africa from abuse, hunger, and exploitation. We are dedicated to helping them reach their full potential and become leaders and changemakers in their own nations. And we are passionate about seeing individuals, families, and whole communities transformed forever by the power of Jesus Christ!

Bringing Light and Life to Vulnerable Children in Kenya

The children and families living in the region of Machakos face numerous challenges. Widespread poverty means that kids go hungry, suffer from malnutrition or sickness, and drop out of school. Many families struggle to survive and often break up. Children are abandoned or neglected. Consequently, abuse and child labor are risks many children deal with as they search for food and protection.  Child-headed households are homes where no parents are present to provide the basic needs, so the oldest child/children step into that adult role.

The goal of the Family Empowerment Center – Machakos (FEC-Machakos) is to make a difference in the lives of these vulnerable children and families by:

Caring for Vulnerable Children

·      Offering nutritious meals, assistance with education, spiritual nurture, counseling, and other support as needed

Strengthening Struggling Families

·      Assisting families so they can provide for their children by offering physical (income-producing means, i.e., raising chickens), emotional counsel, and spiritual support

Sharing the Love of Jesus

·      Sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ - Who alone changes lives forever - and discipling those who commit their lives to Him

Providing Quality Education

·      Providing children opportunities to get an education in local schools and boarding schools for older kids going to high school (paying tuition, fees, providing textbooks, and uniforms), to reach their full academic potential and break out of poverty

Lives Transformed – Joy Abounds

Over the holidays, we bring the children back to the FEC-Machakos for seminars and training (reducing the time they spend in an unhealthy atmosphere). During COVID, the Kenya government closed all the children’s homes, requiring the children to return to their homes or live with a relative – without any prior investigation or assessment. Some children, like Essie*, were sent back to live in unsafe conditions.

Last December, we held a youth empowerment event. The children joined together in joyous praise and worship. And the Word of God was taught resulting in a spiritual awakening among the children. Some were filled with the Spirit; some resolved to live for God! They were all overflowing with the joy of the Lord!

Essie* was one of the young girls who attended the youth event. The living conditions at her home mentally disturbed her to the point of affecting her academic performance. And she had constant nightmares. Essie felt safe in sharing her struggles with our staff. They counseled and prayed for her and she experienced a miracle - the nightmares stopped! At the end of the event, she left for home wearing a big smile! Essie is now a joy-filled young girl with new confidence to face her future.               

*Name changed to protect privacy.       

“We thank the Lord for the privilege of taking care of vulnerable children in Machakos, Kenya.”

-Hudson Mahare, East Africa Regional Director

Thank you for letting the children of Machakos, Kenya know they are not forgotten!