Help Build Hope Acheivers' Childcare Center

My friend Winstone Origi is doing something amazing in his hometown of Mathare, the second largest slum in Kenya located on the outskirts of Nairobi. It is something small... yet big.

He has founded a small local Community Based Organization (CBO) and as its first project is starting a day care center for 15-20 children of teen mothers. Located in a small shack at a safe location in the slums this center will allow the young mothers to return to their studies. The long-term goal is to create many of such centers so that every teen mother in Mathare can return to school. Early unwanted pregnancies are too common and, very sadly, often the result of desperate financial need. There are hundreds of young women in Mathare who have been forced to drop out of school due to early pregnancy.

Winston with two friends who will work with him sitting in front of the shack that will become Hope Achievers' Teen Mother Daycare Center.

I've known Winstone for 3 and a half years and watched him excel as a child and youth advocate in the slums surrounding Nairobi while he has also been studying for his degree in childhood education. His studies and work experiences have led him to see that this is what his most vulnerable neighbors (teen mothers) need most. And despite the work of large NGOs in the area, this need goes unmet. Please help me help him reach this humble goal of $4,000 which will allow him to fully open the center and serve his neighbors for at least six months.

Winstone and a fundi (swahili for carpenter) at work on the first set of small bunk beds.

Here is a short video he has created with his team.

Thank you for joining me in supporting a young hard-working, devoted and effective public servant and the young mothers and young children he is helping!

In thanks,

Deirdre Swords (New York City)