Baby Celine was malnourished and anemic when she came into our care at Amukura Orphanage Home, in Amukura, Kenya. This is her story of finding hope through kinship care and reuniting with her loving grandparents and uncle.
Baby Celine finds hope in kinship care
Celine’s mother Nancy was struggling with mental illness when she became pregnant. Lacking services or support throughout her pregnancy, she begged from market vendors, picked food from dustbins, and sometimes stole food.
When Celine was about six months old and in danger of dying, a nearby barkeeper who had seen the child’s state approached a police officer about what was happening. The police officer took Celine to the Children Protection Unit, and she was soon admitted to Amukura Orphanage Home for care and protection.
Working with the police, Sister Judith, administrator of the Orphanage Home, and Caroline, a social worker, were able to trace Nancy and talk with her. Then Nancy’s parents visited the Orphanage Home, and Celine was able to meet her grandparents for the first time.
In a short time, Celine’s grandparents and an uncle expressed a desire to care for Celine and provide her with a loving and happy family environment to grow up in. The necessary steps for reunification were taken, and Celine is now enjoying family life in kinship care.
Read the full article and learn more about how Amukura Orphanage Home is reuniting children and families.
Catholic Care for Children Kenya is a project of Association of Sisterhoods of Kenya
