Martin has good friends and is enjoying school however this has not always been the case. Martin’s mother was abused by his continuously-drunk father. So Martin’s mother left and got remarried, leaving Martin alone with his drunk and abusive father. Martin did not attend school for over a year until his grandmother took him in. Grandma was successful in her loan application with the ACDF/Captivating small business loans program – a program aimed at helping poor families provide a more stable environment for at-risk children. With this loan, she was able to start a business at the local market selling groceries, detergents and food stuffs. From the profit she is now making she is able to pay for her grandson’s school fees and provide food for Martin to take to school. Martin is now living in a more stable home, is back in school. He tells our Captivating program coordinator that he enjoys learning and wants to become a doctor to treat sick people.
The ACDF/Captivating small business loans program continues to go from strength to strength. More than just handing out a loan, micro entrepreneurial training sessions are conducted by ACDF/Captivating staff to help women like Martin’s grandmother learn how to run a successful business and efficiently increase their returns in order to provide for their adopted or orphaned children. Conditional of all program participants (clients) is that they are either fostering a child but need financial stability to maintain their support, OR, they are indicating a desire to foster a child but are currently unable to financially do this. Over 100 orphaned children are currently benefiting from this program – a number we would like to expand significantly.
IF YOU ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT BRINGING STABILITY AND HOPE TO ORPHANED CHILDREN, we think this is a wonderful answer that doesn’t require a welfare handout. On average it costs US$150 to provide a loan to a family. Once repaid (average length is 10 months) that money is once again lent to another family and the cycle keeps going. If you think this is a great idea, why not partner with us to expand this program and bring real solutions to the Martins of the world? There are many more women who are fostering orphans or desire to do more. To help them we need to continue to grow our loan capital.
Captivating is proud to partner with the local team from ACDF and we aim to grow the number of families able to be granted micro-loans. We will give disadvantaged Kenyan children, just like Martin, the opportunity for a bright future.
For more information about this project or to find out how you could partner with Captivating to bring lasting change to families in remote rural locations, contact andrewc@captivating.org
In an instant, Ruth lost her home and her entire family after a lightning struck their house. After overcoming her grief, she planned to adopt a little orphan boy. This is her story.
19 SHARES
Mary could not have children of her own so three years ago, she decided to adopt a baby boy from the local orphanage.
43 SHARES
Little Joel became an orphan when his mother passed away but was recently adopted by his step grandmother, Nyanchoka. He is four years old and is expected to start school next year. Nyanchoka has been living alone since her husband died. Before Joel came into her home, she spent most of her time at her small tea farm, just waiting for the end of the day, then go home to her lonely house.
57 SHARES
In celebration of International Women's Day (March 8), we recognize Gladys and the many other women just like her who have amazing stories of endurance, empowerment, and hope. With the help of the Foster Family Loan's Program in Kenya, she has grown her small fire-wood business to sell second-hand clothes around the community. This is an important step for her to provide for herself and her new-found family.
22 SHARES
As a toddler, Michael was found abandoned near an orphanage entrance one morning. The workers took him in and gave him food and shelter. Michael stayed there til the age of three. This is when Venice enters his world. Venice and her husband tried for five years to have a child but were not able. They decided to adopt an orphan who needed a family, so they visited the orphanage and that's when they met Michael. They knew right then that Michael was meant to be theirs.
24 SHARES
Jared's mother enjoyed drinking and also gave the brew to her little boy. Often, the villagers would find the mother very drunk and little Jared sleeping in the cold. Jared would often get sick and almost died a few times. Finally, Jared's mother couldn't take care of him any more so she decided to sell Jared to one of her customers. Jared was sold for Kshs. 450 (US$4).
28 SHARES
