Children’s home and school
Updated information about this project is coming very soon.
Ebenezer Life Centre is situated in Ahero, approx. 30 minutes from the harbor city of Kisumu. We started the collaboration with Winnie and Silas Owiti in 1989, and the centre was officially opened in 1993. The numbers in each age group vary, but there are 300 – 500 children living at Ebenezer at any given time. Most of them are orphans and without close relatives to take care of them. The orphanage has become their home, where they also get food and clothing. We have also built a pre-school, primary school and high school in our grounds, so that all the children get good schooling and are being equipped for adult life.
In addition approximately 500 children come to the schools from the neighbouring village every day. All the pupils get food at the school, as well as teaching. Some of them are able to pay for school fees, while others are too poor to pay anything. We are very glad that we may help the poor people in the village near Ebenezer, so that they may also have the opportunity of getting education and one day be able to fend for themselves!
In total approx. 1000 children receive food and schooling every day at this centre, and this is where they come as adults when they want to go home for holidays and festive seasons, a place where the extended family gets together.
Higher education
After having completed secondary school, our goal is to support all the students who have the ability and wish, to proceed with higher education at universities, colleges or other vocational training. This is a formidable challenge, but we will strive to give this opportunity to as many as possible. We have seen many great results and many former Ebenezer children are working in their professions all over the country. We have several employed teachers and social workers at Ebenezer today who used to live at the orphanage and it is wonderful to see how they work hard to give quality teaching and care to their younger “siblings”.
The program for widows
Ebenezer New Life Centre also has a program for widows where approx. 150 widows at various ages are involved. Some of these live in small cottages in the grounds, while others live in the neighbourhood. The women meet regularly for socializing and they also have different tasks assigned to them, connected to the centre. At the corn mill they grind the corn to meal which is being used in the cooking at the centre. Local farmers with small holdings may also come and grind their corn against a small fee. The widows also tend the vegetable garden, take care of chickens and cattle at Ebenezer and some are involved in taking care of the youngest children. In addition they are doing various craft work, like making bags, baskets, blankets, etc. which they can sell at the market.
