Grace Children’s Services

Eldoret, Kenya

A Home for HIV infected and Affected Children

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The Problem: Few can question the plight of abandoned or orphaned HIV-positive children in Kenya.  These children have no hope for adoption and limited access to medical care.  The growing demand for a home responsive to these vulnerable children in the Eldoret area is urgent. 

A Pilot Response: Grace Children’s Services [GCS] will soon be a registered home for HIV-infected children in Eldoret and surrounding districts.  GCS will have legal guardianship of the children and will assume all responsibility to create a loving and supportive environment.  GCS will function as a family home and is prepared to go beyond mere room and board.  Children will be clothed, schooled and cared for medically.  Children will remain in the home unless adopted or returned to a responsible family member.

Entry Eligibility: Preference will be given to children between the ages of 0 and 5 years of age.  Exceptions can be made for siblings of HIV-infected children beyond age 5 if no other alternative is forthcoming.  Children may be referred from area hospitals, AMPATH clinics or concerned neighbors.

Capacity of the Pilot Phase: During the pilot phase, children will be cared for in the home of the managers.  They can currently handle up to eight [8] children.  Expansion of their current home will allow this number to expand to sixteen [16]. 

Leadership and Management:  GCS represents the loving commitment of Joshua and Miriam Mbithi.  Joshua is a minister and Miriam a nurse.  They have close to 20 years of experience in orphan care.  The pilot phase of GCS will be carried out in Joshua and Miriam’s personal home.  There work will be overseen by an Advisory Board made up of community leaders including Sarah Ellen Mamlin representing the interests of AMPATH and some of the donors.

Beyond the Pilot Phase:  If the pilot phase of GCS is successful, funds will be sought to acquire five acres of land adjacent to Joshua and Miriam’s home and a new GCS home will be constructed with a capacity of 50 children.

Relationship to AMPATH:  GCS is not an AMPATH project.  But AMPATH will refer HIV-infected orphans to GCS and will provide all of the necessary medical care free of charge.

 Dr. Joe Mamlin and his wife, Sarah Ellen, are members of North United Methodist Church on locatin in Kenya.

For more information on the IU/Kenya Partnership and AMPATH,

 visit http://medicine.iupui.edu/kenya/ampath.html