St. Bartholomew's Episcopal Church
Laytonsville, Maryland

Kenya Orphanage Report

The walls are being plastered, electric wiring and plumbing installed, and finishing touches put on the home for AIDS orphans that St. Bartholomew’s is building in Migori, Kenya. The building will accommodate twelve girls, as they complete their high school education -- check the International Outreach bulletin board in the undercroft to see a blueprint of the structure.

We had this news from The Rev. Sosiness Demo, who visited St. Bartholomew‘s on Sunday, March 23, 2003 for a second time, to update us on the Mirembe ministry. Fr. Demo and Mary, his wife, have dreamed and worked toward this since 1994, when they first began caring for AIDS orphans, street kids with no home and a frightening future. St. Bartholomew’s is blessed to participate with the Demos in making the dream a reality.

Purchase of the land and construction of the orphanage has been made possible by contributions from St. Bartholomew’s totaling about $14,200 so far. This has been a mix of funds from the parish operating budget, generous contributions from parishioners and friends of St. Bartholomew’s, and a bequest from the Madeleine Mumford estate.

Although Fr. Demo anticipates that the orphanage will be completed in May, the place is still not furnished, and the means for that is unresolved. In addition, few of the girls have reliable sponsors, and this keeps their continued attendance in school an open question.

Right now, the girls are attending various boarding schools, and staying in various temporary homes during the three months of school breaks. When the Mirembe Orphanage opens, the girls will have the same financial needs (tuition, uniforms, books, various fees, medical care, room and board), except that room and board will be provided by the orphanage. The big difference in stability will be that each girl will be a day student at a nearby high school, and will come HOME to the same place every day, with her own space, regular friends, and “parental” care. Photos and short biographies of some of the girls are posted on the bulletin board.

The International Outreach Committee has prepared an information leaflet on how to sponsor a girl. We know this is of interest to some St. Bartholomew’s parishioners, as well as to individuals and organizations outside our parish. It costs $75 a month to sponsor a girl for one year. Our aim is not only to meet a child’s financial needs for support, but also to introduce someone into her life who will care about and pray for her. Correspondence between sponsor and child will be encouraged. Sponsor participation will require a one-year commitment, and can be for a minimum of $25 per month.