Patron: Deb Merchant

Sponsorship Coordinator: Deb Hoey

WHAT: The World Youth International Owiti Childrens Home provides orphaned children with a life free from poverty, hunger and illiteracy.

WHERE: Nyamasaria, 4.5km south of Kisumu in western Kenya

WHY: Kenya is an extremely poverty stricken country where children live in such hardships beyond our imagination. A lack of education, access to adequate healthcare, clean water and sufficient food are serious life threatening issues faced by Kenyan children on a daily basis. The Owiti Children's Home assists in making many childrens lives healthier and brighter by providing basic facilities, and a safe and healthy environment.

In 2001 a motivated World Youth International volunteer Deb Merchant participated on an Overseas Service Project to Kenya, not knowing that this program was to change her life, as well as the lives of many others. Throughout her program, Deb witnessed first hand the effect of AIDS on Kenyan communities, and was particularly touched by the children that were left orphaned by the deadly virus. She realized the impact her visit could have on the lives of these children and therefore set about to establish a children's home.

On her return to Australia, Deb enrolled the support of WYI to assist with the fundraising and construction of the home. Three years later on September 11th 2004, the World Youth International Owiti Children's Home was officially opened with the first intake of ten children occurring earlier that month.

The Patron of the Owiti Children's Home is Deb Merchant, however, it is managed by World Youth International Kenya, a registered business organisation with a board consisting of seven committee members. It has been built in Nyamasaria, 4.5km south of Kisumu in western Kenya and is now home to 24 children.

World Youth International's vision in creating the home is to provide orphaned children with a life free from poverty, hunger and illiteracy, allowing them to receive an education and live in a loving and caring home environment. We aim to provide the children with the best chance to strive for a better life and brighter future.

WYI has previously built a school and children's home in Kathmandu, Nepal and so have gained extensive experience with such projects. The operating systems for the Owiti Children's Home have been modeled on those used at the Sapana Dreaming Children's Home, Nepal.

Construction technology from America was used in the building of the home. The buildings are in the shape of domes, which are energy efficient, withstand strong winds, earthquakes and fires and are termite proof. This is the first introduction of this technology within Kenya and it has been widely received. It was also decided that the home would be painted in an earthy colour, which blends in well with the surrounding environment.

If you would like to read more about the Owiti Childrens Home and hear from the people who were directly involved in its construction, please follow the links below.

A Word from Deb Merchant - Patron for Owiti Children's Home 

The opening of the World Youth International Owiti Childrens Home ... Kenya

The Laying and Blessing of the Foundation Stone

Be a part of the Owiti Children's Home future! Call WYI today on (08) 8340 1266 or email us at admin@worldyouth.org.au for  information on how you can help.

Alternatively click here for more information on Child Sponsorship at Owiti Children's Home