Solace Projects

Kenya
Nairobi, Kenya.
Kisumu on Lake Victoria

Solace was approached in early 2006 to visit the Young Generation Center (YGC) in Kisumu, Kenya, a city on the shores of Lake Victoria. YGC is the home for 90 orphans of AIDS located in Manyatta, the worst slum in Kisumu.

When Nate York arrived on site he found mud shacks serving as classrooms with leaking tin roofs and collapsing walls. After meeting with the director of YGC and hearing of her deep commitment to the children of the region Solace decided to move forward with construction of a new school for the children.

In March 2007 construction of a new three-story 9-classroom school was completed.

Staff has been hired and classes have begun. In order to achieve sustainability YGC is accepting tuition paying students from the neighbourhood to cover the costs of teacher’s salaries and overhead. The resident orphans obviously attend for free.

In addition construction of new a cyber café for the school and surrounding community has also helped generate income for YGC along with providing computers and internet access for the orphans.

YGC manager Simon Okelo writes “We have had community members coming for the services at YGC cyber-cafe and each would leave the place smiling. One lady made this comment," “It’s a miracle in the slums ...keep it up.”

Solace and YGC have continued to work together to form small micro-businesses to support the running of the orphanage. This include the creation of a successful tailoring business and poultry farm.

Solace will begin construction of our 2nd school with YGC in the rural area of Mbita. This will serve as a vocational training center which will include auto repair, metal workshop, carpentry and masonry. We are also building an onsite dormitory to house 32 orphan students.