Cross-Culture Ministry in Kenya, Part Six
The cause of teenage pregnancy is a little different in Kenya. Many are pregnant because of rape. Others fall to the promise of an older man to take care of them in exchange for sex.
As soon as she is pregnant, the man dumps her. Abortion is illegal in Kenya.
More and more of the girls are becoming HIV+ and their babies are born HIV+ as well. This center serves over 880 girls. They are placed in homes and come to the center for training in a skill that can help them support themselves and their baby. Sex education, childcare, AIDS awareness and other health issues are also addressed and counseling is provided. The girls are also counseled and encouraged to get tested for AIDS. No girl is tested without first being counseled. There are about 80 girls being served at the center on a daily basis. The rest are either in outlying communities too far to come to the center daily or have completed the training but still receive counseling.
Counselors from the center go to the outlying communities to provide some support and limited education but of course can't provide what the center provides. It is one of the oldest organizations of its kind in Kisumu.
Joab Othacher and Philomena Mashaki, a husband and wife team, are co-directors. They are two very committed Christians who know God's love and are responding with their whole hearts. They receive no pay for what they do yet they work tirelessly for the children. Their original mission was to assist teenage pregnant girls but they have since expanded it to help all girls.
One classroom we visited was a group of young orphan girls who had been forced into child labor sweatshops or into being domestic slaves. Joab and Philomena hear about them from other orphans and go into the towns and find them, place them in caring homes, and provide school for them.
The kids are so cute. They love to have their picture taken and as soon as they see a camera, pose with a big grin. Some of the skills the girls learn are typing, sewing, cooking, and hairdressing. A new computer lab was just donated to them by America Online.
They were one of only three recipients worldwide of a grant from AOL for the computers. They also make items to sell like dolls, batiks, serapes, and dresses. There are also a number of items like necklaces, bracelets, greeting cards in their gift shop that help support the center. The girls and TEMAK get a few Kenya Shillings from the sale of their items.
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