We currently have 16 children within the project that we provide Love, Food, Clothing, Specialist Education and Physical Therapy for. We are at capacity at present, and have a waiting list so are therefore really looking forward to when our new Center can open which will allow us to take many more children. The need is so great!
5 years old
Place of birth: Nairobi, Kenya
Level of schooling: Felix receives Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy and Speech Therapy.
Felix is one of 4 siblings and has been at Heshima for 2 years now. When he first came to us he had severely clubbed feet. He has now received corrective surgery at Kijabe Children's Hospital (AIC-CURE International), and is working with his therapists on learning to walk.
Felix also suffers with severe Autism and is on a special gluten free diet to help with this. Over the past two years he has made significant progress and is now rolling over unaided, holding eye contact for much longer periods of time, and is responding to others and simple play situations rather than remaining in his own world all the time.
Felix especially loves hugs and tickles, and listening to and playing simple musical instruments. Although Felix cannot communicate at all through speech at present, he enjoys 'babbling' to himself and communicates through his beautiful smile.
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16 years old
Place of birth: Nairobi, Kenya
Level of schooling: Victor receives Occupational Therapy, group Physical Therapy and Speech Therapy
Victor is the eldest of 6 children in his family, and his needs became apparent after he contracted Cerebral Malaria at 3 months. Victor has Celebral Palsy as well as additional learning difficulites.
He has been at the center for 3 years now and during this time has become physically stronger, much more confident and happy. Despite having very little clear speech Victor is able to generate some sound, and has also learnt some sign language, so is now able to communicate much more clearly.
He is very proud of his achievements within the classroom and is now able to write his name, identify colors, count, use simple coins, and recognise and generate sounds for a wide variety of letters.
Victor is very creative and enjoys beading, painting, drawing and coloring despite his physical disabilities. He is now learning some skills around the center so that he can help out as he becomes older.
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15 years old
Place of birth: Nairobi, Kenya
Level of schooling: Mark receives Occupational Therapy, group Physical Therapy and Speech Therapy
Mark is 15 years old. He has been at Heshima since we opened in 2008. He is now learning skills to prepare him to become a part of the community. He enjoys shopping, helping with the care of the younger kids, helping the "big guys" at the new Heshima construction site and getting into trouble with Victor. He comes from a very large family that live in one, small room. He loves to give hugs.
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7 years old
Place of birth: Nairobi, Kenya
Level of schooling: Macharia receives Occupational Therapy, group Physical Therapy and Speech Therapy
Macharia has been with us since we first opened in 2008. When he came to us, he was very hyper, did not walk well, could not speak and had temper tantrums.
He now walks and runs well, sits still in class, talks a mile a minute and loves to sing. His mother is one of our managers at Dignity Designs, our jewerly business, and is so happy to see her son doing well.
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8 years old
Place of birth: Nairobi, Kenya
Level of schooling: Celestine receives Occupational Therapy, group Physical Therapy and Speech Therapy
Celestine was abandoned as a baby. When she came to us, she was malnourished and was very afraid. She also could not speak and wet herself daily.
Now, three years later, she is a happy, funny girl. Through help from our speech therapist, she is learning sign langauge and is helping take care of the younger children. She loves horse riding therapy and playing with dolls.
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"Then Jesus took the children in his arms, put his hands on them, and blessed them." Mark 10:16
Bible, New Century Version
