A brighter future for Kenyan kids
“My greetings to all children,” says Muhidin Mohamed, 13. “I urge all of you to study hard so that you can achieve your dreams.”
Muhidin lives at the Alnajah Children’s Home in Garissa, Kenya. Losing his father at the age of three, Muhidin had to leave the family home when his mother and her second husband simply could not afford to provide for all their children – he is the eldest of six.
The Children’s Home is not just a safe place to live, but provides an education as well. “I will study hard and ensure I get a good paying job. I want to help my siblings and family have a better life,” says Muhidin’s fellow pupil, Abdisalan Omar. 15-year-old Abdisalan also joined the Children’s Home when his widowed mother struggled to provide for him and his siblings.
“My favourite subjects are Maths and Science,” says Muhidin.
Muhidin and Abdisalan are two of around 2,300 children benefiting from Islamic Relief’s work with the Alnajah Children’s Home. We are improving their living and educational spaces – the Centre is old and the doors and floors are worn, with walls on the verge of collapse.
Over six months, we are refurbishing one of the boarding wings – where 450 children sleep – installing kitchen facilities and building latrines to improve hygiene. We are also converting a ten-acre compound into a safe play area and providing desks for 900 pupils.
Abdisalan dreams one day of becoming a pilot, while Muhidin wants to study medicine to be a doctor. Thanks to Islamic Relief, with the improved facilities at Alnajah, they both have a chance at a brighter future.
Abdisalan echoes Muhidin’s passion for studying, and is determined to help others achieve their dreams too: “when I get a job, God willing, I will help other orphans like me to access education.”