1) AYICC visited Watoto Wema Children's Home on July 28th, 2013 to spend time with the children through games and activities. They also provided food and other supplies purchased with donations from AYICC members. 2) The home cares for 46 children between ages 6-17 from economically challenged families or those without guardians. AYICC discussed establishing a sustainable poultry project with the home after previous attempts failed. 3) AYICC will work with the home's director to monitor a new approach using more resilient chicks and an older child to oversee the project before providing further support. They will also explore alternative projects and fundraising for sustainable support of the children's home.

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REACH OUT PROGRAM REPORT
Date: 28th
July 2013
Venue: Watoto Wema Children’s home, Rwai.
Report prepared by: Gladys N. Gatiba

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BACKGROUND
African Youth Initiative on Climate Change (AYICC) is a network of young people that has
continually created awareness on climate change impacts and building capacities of the
community and fellow youths to increase resilience and adaptation to these changes. This has
been effected through various training camps, conferences and campaigns e.g. Green Economy
and Agribusiness training, National Youth Climate Change Conferences (NYCC) and Rauka
ama Hatuta survive and the Road to Durban campaign respectively among others. Among its
other initiatives includes the Reach Out Programs (R.O.P); this involves supporting children
homes through mentorship, financial and material support from AYICC members. The financial
contributions are made during our Wednesday weekly meetings and are used to purchase food
and other items needed by the children homes.
WATOTO WEMA CHILDREN HOME
In the past three years, AYICC has supported Watoto Wema Children Home located in Rwai.
The home has approximately 46 residential children that range between 6 to 17 years of age;
several others receive financial support for their education from their respective families’ homes.
The children either come from economically challenged families or have no parents or guardians
to care for them.
On the 28th
July 2013 seven AYICC members visited the home to spend time with the children,
they used this opportunity to interact through games and other fun activities and also mentor
them. This brightened the children’s faces and hopefully their hearts; they all came out to play
the various singing games led by our members. This made it super fun!

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We shared sweets and cake and ate together with the children.
Sweets, juice and cake galore!
Members contribution and pledges during our weekly meetings on Wednesdays amounted to
KSH 5600 this was used to buy 50kg sack of rice KSH 2800@,20 litres of cooking oil @ KSH
2230, two packets of sweets @ KSH 400 and their transport to the home @ 200.
SUSTAINABLE PROGRAMME
The visit was also a reconnaissance study for viable long term projects that can sustain the home
hence reduce its dependence on external financial support that has in the past been unreliable.
The team established that there had been a poultry project carried out and has failed several
times. The chicken died soon after they were brought into the home due to illnesses that the care
taker suspected was acquired before they purchased them. They have put in efforts to disinfect
the poultry houses before they introduce more chicks but have proved futile. They are however
planning to use KENBRO chicks that are said to be more resilient. They will be introduced to
one of the remaining hens after it hatches its own chicks hence allow it to take care of the
KENBRO ones. One of the older children has expressed interest in being in charge of the
project; this will ensure proper coordination of the project due the level of vulnerability and need
of care and attention of the chicks.

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(Right)Members playing with the children and (left) the team deliberating on the poultry
project.
WAY FORWARD
Marjory, the children home director would advice on the way forward after they have monitored
the KENBRO chicks’ growth. This will guide AYICC intervention mechanism towards a
sustainable project in the home. AYICC ROP team which comprises of Naomi Gichugu, Richard
Omondi, Mercy Wanjiku, Alphaxard Ndun’gu and Gladys Gatiba (Gasheri) will come up with a
fundraising strategy for the project as their await Marjory’s go ahead. The team is also coming
up with alternative projects in case the poultry project is proved unviable. There are therefore
seeking members who may be interested in this programme or have other project ideas to join in.
CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Members are urged to always join and also invite their friends whenever there are visits to the
home because these children require mentorship and one on one interaction for psychological
support due to their various past experiences and challenges.
The children and their director were very thank full of our continued support and urged us to not
to tire in our contributions however little they may seem, it goes a long mile in supporting the
children welfare.

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“Thank you all for your material and financial support and the time spent with the children,
you are always welcome to Watoto Wema family” Marjory remarks.
We appreciate the team that visited the children on this day namely: Danny Wasonga,
Vicky Chego, Clifford Omondi, Naomi Gichugu, Jeff Shihebetsa, Richard Omondi, Alphaxard
Ndung’u and Gladys N. Gatiba (Gasheri).
This is how happy we left Watoto Wema children. Thank you all