Kericho Children's Home - Update

It is a sad fact that the spread of HIV/AIDS and related illnesses is now the most frequent cause of death in Kenya. All too often this results in an ever increasing number of orphaned children, many of whom are also born with the disease.

 

 

For a number of years Finlays in Kenya has collaborated with the Walter Reed Foundation to help fight HIV/AIDS by the provision of medicines and appropriate education programmes. For some time however, the Company had also been considering how best to help some of the many orphaned children in Kericho and the surrounding community. In particular the Company wanted to provide a facility which would give these children the opportunity to build the secure future they might otherwise be denied.

 

To this end the idea of building a children’s home on a plot of land on the Company’s Tea Estates in Kericho was conceived, with construction and running costs being met by way of charitable donations. Almost before the idea got off the ground, the project received an amazing boost as a result of the generosity shown by participants on the 2006 Executive Programme run by Stanford University in California. They raised in excess of US$200,000 which was sufficient to substantially fund all of the construction costs.

 

 

With funding secured a local task force was set up to investigate similar homes in and around Nairobi to ensure that the Kericho home would incorporate all those features and facilities found to best enhance the quality of life for orphaned children as well as ensuring the right working environment for carers and staff.

 

For a variety of reasons, it took longer than the Company would have wished to get the project up and running. The Company however was very conscious of the need to ensure that it had the right structure in place to meet the requirements of those it was trying to help.  As a result of the work done by the task force it was decided that the best way forward was to partner with an organisation which had experience in this field and had an established track record.

Following discussions with New Life Home Trust, who run a number of similar homes throughout Kenya, an agreement was reach whereby New Life undertook to provide the expertise necessary to ensure that the home was designed and built to the required specifications. In parallel with this process discussions took place between the Company and New Life which led to the signing of the Framework Agreement in September 2007, the purpose of which was to set out the basis for a partnership whereby New Life Home Trust undertook to establish the home with the Company in accordance with an agreed home concept.

 

The Agreement also provided for the home to be called New Life Home Trust – Kericho – Kichamgaa Home (Loving Home). While this name may be used in whole or part it has been agreed that it will be more commonly known as Kichamgaa Home.

New Life Home Trust was established in 1998 by Clive and Mary Beckenham. Since then New Life have established a number of homes across Kenya, further details of which can be seen by visiting their website  at www.newlifehometrust.org.

 

The new home in Kericho adds to this stable while the Company benefits from the knowledge and expertise which New Life has garnered over the past 10 years.

 

Under the provisions of the Framework Agreement the Company undertook to provide under licence the land on which the home was to be constructed. In addition to meeting the initial construction and fit out costs by way of the $200,000 Stanford donation, the Company also agreed to provide the project management experience necessary for the establishment of the home including the design, construction drawings and all materials associated with the home’s construction.  The Company has further undertaken to fund all ongoing running costs including staff costs and expenses incurred in connection with the education and medical welfare of the children. Medical and other welfare facilities which are available to the Company’s own employees will be extended to those employed in the home. In summary the Company agreed to underwrite the project with the purpose of ensuring the long term future of Kichamgaa. None of this could of course have been possible without the initial funding injection from the participants on the Stanford 2006 Executive Programme

 

In return New Life Homes, provided advice on the initial number of children which each family unit should ideally be designed to accommodate and will also be responsible for recruiting and training the management staff, including the home mothers who are integral to the success of the home. Staff for the home will be employed on terms determined by New Life who will also take day to day responsibility through these staff for the education and care of the orphaned and abandoned children.

 

Crucially New Life provide the legal and charitable framework necessary for the establishment, funding and future administration of Kichamgaa. In order that donors are able to take advantage of the charitable status afforded to New Life both in Kenya and in the UK it has been agreed that all contributions to the home will be channelled through one or other of these charitable bodies. New Life Homes have confirmed that they will maintain appropriate accounts and records to allow independent verification that the receipt and allocation of all monies earmarked for the home have been treated appropriately. 

 

A Co-ordinating Committee has been set up to oversee the affairs of the home. Their remit will include monitoring  the performance and welfare of the staff and children to ensure that the objectives of both parties are met. This Committee comprises four persons, two of which are nominated by the Company and two by New Life Homes. The Chairman of this Committee will alternate from year to year between representatives of the Company and Trustees of New Life Home. The Framework Agreement also sets out in more detail the constitution and proceedings of the Co-ordinating Committee. 

 

The Agreement between the Company and New Life lasts for 20 years subject to either party being able to give the other not less than two years notice of termination.

 

The Home will become part of the Trust’s network of children’s homes. It will aim to provide the administrative and care service for (a) orphaned and abandoned children in the Kericho community and (b) the Trust’s overflow of children. It is anticipated that the ratio between (a) and (b) will be approximately 1:2.

 

The Home will not cater for babies but rather for children between the ages of 3 and 18, and as such has been constructed around the concept of family units. However, in conjunction with the Chomoganday Hospital (JFK hospital), a facility that will be able to receive abandoned babies will be made available to provide short-term care until such times as theses babies can be transferred to one of the Trust’s facilities.

 

Each family until will have a responsible parent(s) who will be full time employee(s) of the Trustee(s) and will house approximately 10 children.

 

Only the genuinely homeless or no parent situations will qualify for consideration, but in all cases Trustees will be the sole arbiters.

 

As previously noted   the Company has agreed to provide (or arrange) funding for construction as well as all ongoing staff and running costs. New Life will be responsible for recruitment and the provision of management services for the Home, as well as the legal and charitable structure for its ongoing administration

 

After agreement was reached on the design for the new home, tenders were sought from four local contractors. While not submitting  the lowest tender Skylark were appointed as they had previously worked for the Company and had demonstrated a proven ability to deliver a good finished product. In addition they also undertook to complete the project in a shorter period of time than others who tendered. Further negotiations with Skylark resulted in them agreeing to carry out the project, including additional landscaping and paving, for US$200,000. 

 

Construction commenced when the first block or foundation stone was laid on 17 August 2007. A small ceremony was held at which Gerry Hudson of CTC, a participant on the Stanford Executive Programme was present, in addition to Nev Davies Finlays Chief Executive in Kenya and Clive Beckenham of New Life.  

 

As evidenced by the accompanying photographs construction progressed fairly rapidly and was substantially complete by January 2008. Notwithstanding the current difficult situation in Kenya the home is expected to be fully commissioned within the next few months. This article will be further updated when the home is formally opened and the first children take up residence.