STAHILI DEVELOPMENT

We furthered our mission in 2017 to empower vulnerable families and communities and help children living in residential care institutions, such as orphanages, return to their families and stay together.

Children and communities are key actors in our mission to help families stay together and to break cycles of poverty. We do this by providing family-based support, access to full-time education, and creating opportunities for strengthening livelihoods and sustainable development.

Family-based support

Getting children home from orphanages and into families in only a first step. Stahili takes a holistic approach to families and tailors its approach based on the needs of a child and his or her family. Here are some of the things that Stahili provides:

  • Education support through to post-secondary school
  • Medical and psycho-social support and counselling
  • Food, clothing, shelter and WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene)
  • Other items as needed to meet a child’s special needs in a family

Community-driven programming

Communities are at the heart of Stahili’s mission to protect children from the harms of orphanages. The Stahili Community Group is a self-governing group made up of parents and family members who empower each other and work alongside Stahili to help develop its programmes and services to children and families.

Sustainable Development and Economic Empowerment

Resilient families lie at the heart of sustainable development and human rights. They are also key to empowering children. Stahili works with parents and caregivers to improve their own skills, and facilitates access to training and resources to achieve more sustainable livelihoods, especially for women who are often the sole or principal heads of households.

Stahili in Action

Joyce and her sister were taken to a for-profit orphanage after a child finder approached her family with the false promise of education, food and safe accommodation. After being separated from her family and kept in the orphanage for years, Stahili provided Joyce’s family with the support they needed to stay together. Nearly five years later, Joyce has completed high school and beauty college. Today she is self-dependent and works at a prestigious salon in a hotel. Speaking of her future she said, “I know that this is only the beginning”.

Stahili supports the Sustainable Development Goals for children and families.