We leased land, improved it, hired a caretaker and planted crops. Our first harvest produced an amazing amount of food. The Guardians helped harvest, prepare and store the food. But more than that we gave seedlings to Guardians to take to their homes, and we watched them care and nurture their own small piece of hope. We attend to emotional needs by giving the kids a place to go with things to do and caring people to hug and laugh and talk with.
Babies take baths, eat and fall asleep.
Older kids play soccer, sing, dance and generally act like kids. He took on the responsibility of foraging for food and caring for them. At the center he was finally able to lay that burden down for a little while and now, after a few months of food and love, he can laugh and dance and sing with the best. And we feel pretty good about that too. As we quietly continue, the Makindu community is watching, beginning to trust us and starting to participate.