CYEC

"So what exactly are you doing in Kenya?" 

I have been getting this question a lot the past few months, so I figured I would dedicate a post to answering it.  By the way, I think it's a great question, so don't feel bad for asking! :)

While in Kenya, we will be living and working at the Children and Youth Empowerment Centre (CYEC).  The CYEC was started in response to a national problem: the rapidly growing number of "street-dwelling" youth.  

Since 1990, the number of orphaned and abandoned children living on the streets has grown at truly disturbing rates, so the Kenya government established a fund that would oversee different programs aimed at helping street-dwelling children.  The CYEC is one of these programs. (Although it now functions as a non-profit organization).  

Planning for the CYEC started in 2003, and the first 8 children arrived in October 2006.  What a day that must have been! 

The CYEC is truly an amazing place.  It is a place for homeless children to call home.  I explain it to people as a mix between an orphanage and a school...but it's so much more than that.  The CYEC takes a holistic approach to finding solutions for these youth.  They look at all aspects of human life and attend to each need.  For example, there is a medical center on site where the children are treated for any medical conditions.  There is also a program for psychological health that focuses on strengthening the children's emotional well-being and self-worth.  The CYEC also offers education, vocational training, and clubs/sports activities for the youth.  They focus on life skills (i.e. tailoring, gardening, carpentry) and entrepreneurship training.  In essence, the CYEC offers the whole package deal to the youth who live there.  The end goal is to send these youth out into the world with the necessary tools and skills to be productive members of their communities.  

The CYEC offers hope and a future to children who once had nothing.  It is both overwhelming and humbling to think that I have the opportunity to be part of something so amazing.    

Our team has been in contact with the staff at the CYEC, and we have a few ideas of things we might be doing this summer (although nothing will be official until we arrive and complete a needs-assessment).  Some of the jobs include working with agriculture programs, developing an art curriculum for the education department, creating a leadership-development program for the primary children, and developing a counseling facility. 

I could talk about this all day, but I will close for now. :) I hope this answered some of your questions and gave you a clearer idea of the work we'll be doing.  

until next time, 

-br

"... by working hard in this way, we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'" Acts 20:35