Description
Flying Kites seeks to raise the standards of care for the world's poorest children by giving them the tools they will need – education, imagination, and resolution – to succeed in and contribute to a complex and changing world. Flying Kites strives to work in partnership with their neighbors to strengthen the community and help keep families together; to foster collaboration between Flying Kites and non-profit organizations, governmental agencies and businesses; and to facilitate thoughtful action on the crises facing orphaned children.
Flying Kites was co-founded by two recent Salve Regina University graduates, a British mountaineer working with street children and a retired Kenyan entrepreneur. Prior to establishing Flying Kites, the Founders volunteered in the slums of Nairobi and grew frustrated by the lack of comprehensive approaches to improving the lives of orphans. Poor quality education, lack of fresh air and water, and minimal preparation for a productive adulthood meant that these children were often condemned to an adult life of poverty. Out of these observations came the organization’s vision of remarkable childcare and sustainable community development.
This model is being put into practice on their first site in the Aberdares Mountains of Central Kenya, at Flying Kites Kinangop Children’s Center (FKKCC). Here, orphaned children who have endured unimaginable suffering reclaim their childhood on their magical site that boasts acres of crop fields, an extensive fruit orchard, varied livestock and a fresh mountain spring. In this setting, the organization’s wonderful, caring and qualified staff provides a safe and nurturing environment for all their children.
Flying Kites operates under the premise that removing a child from an existing family should always be the last resort. When parents die in Kenya, a relative usually takes on the responsibility to care for the orphaned child. This can put an overwhelming burden on what is often an already precarious financial situation. Therefore, Flying Kites provides small grants to such relatives to allow children to remain with their family. Flying Kites also assists the community by leasing 25 acres of land in Kinangop, which has been distributed in one-half acre allotments to 50 landless families. These families have been provided with initial training, seeds and fertilizer. Flying Kites expects this initiative to be self-sustaining within two years.
In addition to community outreach programs, Flying Kites runs a primary school for children living at FKKCC, as well as for 35 children from the Kinangop community. Flying Kites prides themselves on the high quality of education they provide; three of their children rank as the top students in Kenya for their respective age groups. Flying Kites wishes to expand to offer secondary schooling on-site within the next three years.
Flying Kites focuses on providing a holistic education that stresses the value of extra-curricular activities and community involvement. Their goal is to foster the desire for social change in their children, as well as to provide them with the necessary tools to make their voices and actions count. Thus, Flying Kites graduates will be positioned to have an impact on the world greatly beyond their numbers.
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Students and Projects:
Alex Mwangi
$65 of $400 donated
Kinangop, Kenya
Seven-year-old Alex and his brothers have had a lot to cope with in the past few years. Alex's devoted mother, who was a single parent, died when he was five. In his own words, overheard by Joyce, a matron of the Kinangop Children's Center: "They put my mother in the ground. The covered her with dirt, because she died. There were lots of people all around, and then I am here." Friends and church members only realized she did not have any living family members to take the children in when the memorial service had ended. "The youngest child (Alex), still standing there, did not know who he was supposed to leave with, in which direction to walk," wrote a concerned church member. An appeal was filed with Flying Kites, and later that evening, Alex and his brothers became some of the very first children to be welcomed through our doors. Despite Alex's outgoing personality, he has some behavioral issues that require individual attention. Like many of our oth...
Benson Nderitu
$0 of $400 donated
Kinangop, Kenya
Benson and his older brother were abandoned in 2006. Locked in an apartment for several days, the boys were discovered by concerned neighbors who found them alone. Benson's brother has died from the neglect. Benson was taken by Kamau, his 84-year-old neighbor, to the hospital for treatment. When it was time for Benson to be released, there was no one but Kamau to take him in. Kamau cared for Benson to the best of his ability for well over a year. But when Benson came to FKKCC, he was severely malnourished and needed immediate medical attention, as he is HIV positive. After just a few months at FKKCC Benson was already making huge strides; he gained weight thanks to the ARV medication, he jumped right into his school work, and started learning how to ride a bike. In order to remain healthy, Benson needs a great deal of care and attention, a nutritious and balanced diet, and needs to follow a strict schedule of medication.
Rahab Wangaira
$0 of $400 donated
Kinangop, Kenya
Rahab and her older brother Moses were victims of domestic violence. Their grandmother contacted local authorities to report that her daughter, who is mentally disturbed, was abusing her children. Moses was removed from his mother's home after suffering severe burns and other life- threatening injuries. Rahab and Moses became part of the Flying Kites family after their grandmother, who lives in abject poverty, became ill and unable to care for them. During her first few weeks at FKKCC, Rahab refused to leave her brother's side, but after a lot of attention from the matrons, she has joined the other children at nursery school and is slowly beginning to peek out from behind her big brother's shadow.
Ruth Wankjiku
$0 of $800 donated
Kinangop, Kenya
Ruth is the oldest girl at our Centre and also the newest. She loves to laugh with her friends and is settling into her new home well. She says the best part about living at Flying Kites is “going to school” and she enjoys wearing her uniform everyday. Ruth is eager to learn new skills and will work at something until she perfects it. She loves taking photos of other students and volunteers. While Flying Kites respects our children's right to privacy, we feel it important to convey to their supporters the various desperate situations from which they have come. In a cross-small section of the children living at the Flying Kites Leadership Academy, you will find that all of the children in our care were born into absolute poverty. The children who are accepted into our Home have no other options for care with extended family members, or they have been removed from their parent's custody. We cater to children who have been orphaned, abused, abandoned, and raped. Some of the...
John
$20 of $800 donated
Kinangop, Kenya
John came to Flying Kites in June 2010 and walked straight out to the football pitch. Acting as if he’d been waiting his whole life to play, John only wants to put his football away when a movie is playing. His favorite movie (currently) is Home Alone, and he believes that the book “The Giving Tree” should be made into a movie. John spends most Saturdays participating in our community outreach program, and loves helping local children find shoes that fit. While Flying Kites respects our children's right to privacy, we feel it important to convey to their supporters the various desperate situations from which they have come. In a cross-small section of the children living at the Flying Kites Leadership Academy, you will find that all of the children in our care were born into absolute poverty. The children who are accepted into our Home have no other options for care with extended family members, or they have been removed from their parent's custody. We cater to childre...
Serah
$200 of $1200 donated
Nairobi, Kenya
Serah is a very compassionate little girl. She is always concerned for other people, and often will tell an adult if she suspects a certain child is upset/tired/frustrated. She loves jumping rope and her favorite food is chapattis (Kenya’s version of a tortilla). She is an excellent student and wants to be a doctor when she grows up. While Flying Kites respects our children's right to privacy, we feel it important to convey to their supporters the various desperate situations from which they have come. In a cross-small section of the children living at the Flying Kites Leadership Academy, you will find that all of the children in our care were born into absolute poverty. The children who are accepted into our Home have no other options for care with extended family members, or they have been removed from their parent's custody. We cater to children who have been orphaned, abused, abandoned, and raped. Some of the children in our care were forced into marriage as the age of...
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