Kildare charity resumes Kenya volunteer programme

A planned trip to Kenya this summer by 12 local people marks the resumption of a volunteer programme by Kilcullen-based charity Maintain Hope. 

While the organisation founded in 2006 has for almost two decades continued vital work supporting families in poor circumstances in Ngong, outside Nairobi, especially by providing educational opportunities, bringing volunteers out had been paused for several years.

In Maintain Hope's first five years, some 200 volunteers from the Kildare area had made self-funded summer trips to the shelter children's home in Ngong, providing services for 170 children orphaned by AIDS or ethnic conflict, put into care from abusive families, or rescued from the streets. 

They had helped to refurbish and construct buildings at the home, where the charity also funded teachers and educational equipment. At the time, that work was essential in trying to make a future for children orphaned to such homes. 

However, in the following decade, the growth of what was termed 'voluntourism' led to an expansion of 'orphanages' and the recruitment of children to feed a system that had become a business in many parts of the world.

By that time Maintain Hope, in addition to calling out that exploitative practice locally, had changed focus to reuniting children in the shelter home with family members and supporting those families to allow the children to receive an education that would take them out of the poverty trap. 

One of those children was Julius Arega, today working in a senior position in a security company. He has been a persistent and successful advocate for changing the voluntourism operations, including six years ago bringing the Comhlamh 'Children First' report on the issue to the Dáil Éireann Foreign Affairs Committee.

Maintain Hope founder Gerry O'Donoghue, who personally visits Ngong a number of times each year, will be one of six Kilcullen people on the resumed volunteer trip this July. This time they're not putting up buildings in an orphanage, but working with the families and children the charity has been supporting in the area.

"We aim to build capacity within the families, community and schools in Ngong and surrounding areas," said Gerry. 

"We will be gathering the younger children together for summer camp activities with music, drama, dancing and swimming on the timetable. As well as an important role in the rehabilitation and wellness of the children, the summer camp will be an opportunity to assess the health and nutritional needs of each child."

The charity currently supports 82 children and young adults, many of the older ones who were former street children forced to survive on their own. 

"Some suffered physical and sexual abuse, some were unable to cope with school, some had alcoholic or otherwise addicted parents. Some were shunned because of HIV, while others were escaping from encounters with the police. Many ended up in gangs and others were trafficked into unregulated orphanages where their circumstances were exploited to attract donations for the orphanage directors."

Maintain Hope has helped prevent family breakdowns by providing food, medicine and shelter so that children can grow up in their communities. 

"We provide counselling and mentoring for young adults. We currently support young adults who are studying computer science, nursing, business and marketing, catering and hotel management. We also have children in kindergarten, primary and secondary schools."

Current fundraising initiatives for Maintain Hope include an adventurous sponsored walk planned for Saturday 25 May. Led by local hill-walking enthusiast Frank Mitchell the walk will traverse the Glenealough Horseshoe. 

While challenging, the walk is suitable for family groups and sponsorship cards can be had from Esther Reddy 087 9450634, David Dempsey on 086 0526762 or Gerry O’Donoghue on 087 2642887. Support can also be given by attending the Gala Night of The Lieutenant of Inishmore, courtesy of Kilcullen Drama Group on Friday 25 April.