The abandonment of babies is a tragically common occurrence in Kenya.
Many families are faced with malnutrition, lack of access to clean water sources and generational poverty that prevents them from caring for newborns well.
In a particularly poor area of Kenya, Send Relief is funding a home for abandoned babies that is the only one of its kind in the region. It has quickly become a safe haven for undernourished and HIV-positive newborns, a temporary shelter for babies caught in the middle of relative disputes or tribal conflicts and a welcoming home to children with special needs who have been discarded by their parents.
The staff intentionally cultivate a culture of warmth and familial affection, serving and loving the infants in their care unconditionally.
One staff member shared, “The babies we have taken in have been rejected by their biological families. The majority of children in our care were found on the streets—some in latrines or trash dumps, others abandoned in the hospital immediately after birth. There is no end to the unique situations our children are rescued from, and we are so thankful we are able to provide stability and predictability for babies who have already experienced so much trauma and neglect in their young lives. Without our intervention, they wouldn’t be able to survive.”
In fact, since the safe home’s opening in 2012, you have helped Send Relief partners care for over 100 babies!
Many children either arrive with or develop life-altering diseases due to their severe neglect, but your gifts are helping children with challenges such as spina bifida and cerebral palsy learn to thrive despite these difficulties.
Please continue to pray for the safe haven staff, as they face extreme circumstances every day, and the beloved children they care for. Your support is saving lives!
Published May 4, 2022