Mayatima Project
Nairobi, Kenya
This project is located about 30 miles west of Nairobi in rural Kikuyu county. Mayatima comes from the Swahili word for orphan, the focus of this work. Our partners at this project are George and Jane Karanga.
George is a former award winning public school principal and Jane a practicing nurse. They have a heart for the many children in their community who suffer from the double tragedy of losing their parents to AIDS and then acquiring the disease themselves. In the late 90s they began taking HIV orphans into their small home, up to eight at one time, and organizing friends and neighbors to help feed more. Today the Mayatima project encompasses five ministries:
- The Cornell Christian Academy
- Direct aid to orphaned children
- Medical care for HIV/AIDS affected children
- A training program to raise AIDS awareness
- An agricultural and dairy farm
George writes of their vision:
I have a lifetime commitment to this work. I have put aside all other engagements for the sake of these destitute children. There is no turning back or quitting for my wife and I. We are prepared to endure pain, suffering, public scrutiny and humiliation on behalf of these vulnerable children. We believe the future of the Mayatima project is bright. The strength of a tree is known after a storm. We have been tried, tested and proved that our roots sink deep. We look up to God as our source and call out to you join us as we run this race.