Partnering with the poor and marginalized in Kenya to build stronger communities and healthier lives.
Education
Many Kenyan children are unable to access education due to long distances between home and school, poor quality of learning environment and teaching methods, among other obstacles. We strive to improve educational opportunities, especially for very young and vulnerable children including orphans, children living in arid and semi-arid lands or urban informal settlements (slums) and children with special needs. Our work includes the construction and maintenance of schools for children who otherwise would not have them as well as payment of school fees for children whose family cannot afford them and continued support for children of particular need and promise.
Additional children are financially sponsored to a variety of elementary and secondary schools. Students in our Kibera School are provided uniforms. We also sponsor a uniform program for additional students not attending our school.
Health
“Like all children, those with disabilities have many abilities but are often excluded from society by discrimination and lack of support. Discrimination leaves most of the children living with disabilities invisible and vulnerable.” – UNICEF Kenya
The Foundation provides food, clean water and offers programs designed to facilitate optimal hygiene to ward off illness.
Community
Below average agricultural performance has led to a severe drought in Kenya, especially in the arid and semi-arid lands. As a consequence, the food-insecure population in Kenya has more than doubled over a six-month period.
It is estimated that 2.7 million people in Kenya are now in need of relief assistance, up from 1.3 million in August 2016. The most vulnerable are children under 5 years, mothers, the elderly and the sick.
To address this problem in the Machakos Community of Kenya, The Ed Colina Foundation regularly distributes relief food to vulnerable elderly and those compromised by HIV. As an additional sustainability component, we have a working four-acre farm in Machakos. Maize, beans and other local crops are grown here. We also manage a large chicken coop and sell eggs and chickens.