In a nutshell, we're a small bunch of God loving, Christ following disciples who are trying to make a difference in Kenya. We believe that God loves us passionately and because of the love God has shown us, we want to passionately love the world around us. We work on several projects around Kenya with one aim: to love people & show them a glimpse of what the God of love is like.
We work in partnership with Imarika Youth Kenya to provide mentorship for young people sponsored through Love Your Neighbour. Although being in school is a step in the right direction for the young people we work with, for them finding a place to do their homework can be a challenge and they can be easily drawn into negative peer pressure. Our partners at Imarika Youth come alongside these young people to support them in their schooling and to help steer them in the right direction and to make good choices today for a better tomorrow.
In a community where women are often denied opportunities to train or work, Sozo offers a glimmer of hope. Every year, 8 women are given an opportunity to come to Kivuli Kijijini and to learn tailoring and, when possible, other skills such as soap making or business skills which they can use to start a small business or find work. Teaching these women how to make money and handle it not only impacts them, but their whole family and so our aim is to empower each of these women to bring a change in her family and, in turn, her community.
In partnership with Clynview Care Farm (https://www.clynfyw.co.uk/) we ship over containers of mobility aids to distribute to those who need them. The sad reality for many with disabilities in this area is that their families are ashamed of them & they are not allowed to leave their homes. We're working to break down this social taboo by providing mobility aids & making it possible for those with disabilities to go to school & to move around in their community
One of the struggles of girls living in poverty is that they can't afford sanitary towels. Many have to stay at home when they get their monthly period which means they can miss up to 5 days of school a month. As time goes on their school grades lower & for this reason many drop out of school. Others, in desperation, sell their bodies for money to buy sanitary towels. They then fall pregnant and again drop out of school We want every girl to have the opportunity to finish school & so every term we host an event for girls from local schools to give them sanitary towels for the term. During our events we also teach them about women's health & hygiene & teach them their value.
At our centre, we have a number of goats which we give as loans to families in need. When the goat breeds & the kid is ready to leave the mother, they give back one of the goat kids to repay their 'loan' This goat is then grown & used to help the next family & so the cycle continues. If you donate to give a goat, youll not only bless one family but many.
At Kivuli Kijijini we give children & young people a chance to hear about God &. to grow in their faith. We teach them to dance, play games & give them an opportunity to open up about the struggles they face.
We believe that making a spiritual difference in people’s lives is as important as making a physical one. The prayer hut is open 24/7 for anyone to come and connect with God. Whichcraft is prevalent in this area and people often believe that they have to pay money or cast a spell in order to see change in their lives but now people have an opportunity to freely come to God with their needs and to see him at work. We’ve seen prayers answered from this place such as timely provision, medical needs attended to and relationships healed.
Kibera Slum is one of the biggest slums in Sub-Saharan Africa and is where Love Your Neighbour began. Because of poverty and the lack of government schools in the area, many families can’t afford to send their children to school which is where we step in. For as little as £10/month we are able to relieve families of this burden and to give children from some of the most deprived families in Kibera the opportunity to have an education. If you would like to be a part of this amazing project, please get in touch.
Getting clean water can be challenging in Kilifi County, especially for the elderly and those with disabilities. When water needs to be collected from a river or other water source, the task often falls on girls & gives them another reason to be absent from school. Water for life runs twice a week to give free, clean water to those who need it to help relieve them & their families of this burden.
In the area surrounding Kivuli Kijijini, having a child with a disability is a social taboo. Love Your Neighbour is working to break down this mentality and to support families with children with disabilities. We have a sensory room at our centre specifically for this purpose. It is a place where children with disabilities can come with their parents to spend some time and where parents can receive some much needed love and support. For us, this is another way we can highlight that every life is important and that God’s love is not limited.
Our work at Kivuli Kijijini began with women and children but our heart is to make an impact across the whole community which is why we are launching a project for men. At the workshop men will learn basic carpentry andskills whilst also learning about how they can handle their finances, work together with their wives and engage more with their children. We want to teach men skills that they can use to provide for their families as well the impact that they can have on their families and communities.
We offer a tailor made experience for you to come and volunteer at Kivuli Kijijini. You can join us on our annual service trips which run for two weeks each year or you can choose when you want to come and how long for! There's always plenty to do and we will give you an opportunity to put your talents to work here. Fill in the form to express your interest in an unforgettable Kenyan experience.
Help us make a difference in Kenya by donating monthly or giving a one off gift. Monthly donations help us run ongoing projects such as Girls Whispers which helps keep girls in school by providing them with sanitary towels. One off gifts help with building projects such as building ramps to make the community accessible for those with disabilities. You can donate through PayPal by clicking our donate button. You can donate through our charity umbrella, Links International, by downloading our giving form & returning it to the address on the form. Donating through our charity umbrella enables us to claim Gift Aid from your donation if your are a UK tax payer.
To buy a goat simply click on the PayPal button below & chose how many you want! Goats are £20 each. In the comments please write the name(s) of your goat(s). Include your address to receive a personalized keyring with your goat’s name on it! Thanks – you’re amazing!