Notes from the Field: Cura Orphanage Visit

Cura Orphanage, Cura, Kenya – February 2015:

On February 2, 2015, Jennifer Gross traveled to Cura, 30 minutes north of Nairobi, to reaffirm her commitment to the orphanage Blue Chip Foundation had pledged to support a few years earlier. She had been working across Africa on a series of solar projects in rural parts of the continent, so a day of drawing and playing with the kids was a welcome change of pace and scenery.

Jennifer had observed, that making trips to the orphanage consistently helped earn the trust of the children there. Overcoming separation anxiety is a challenge for these kids, all of whom have lost their parents to HIV/AIDS. It’s hard for them to get to the point where they can open up about their feelings and experiences. During her early visits, Jennifer was bombarded with children circling her and wanting to touch her straight hair, but as she continued to visit, she was better able to meet the children on their own ground and to strengthen the friendships that had begun years earlier.

“There are a couple of kids who have been able to express to me as they’ve grown older, that they feel abandoned,” Jennifer said. “They are becoming better at expressing what it means to have lost their parents as they struggle with feeling alone in the world.“ The kids gifted her a book of poetry that they had completed together.

For Jennifer, her time spent on the ground at Cura and the keeping up with the orphanage via Facebook, maintains her confidence in and enthusiasm for this small orphanage and it’s bold vision: “providing a loving home for orphaned children where they find safety, health and a new family.” The orphanage’s Facebook feed shows a great selection of photos, documenting everyday life and milestones like secondary school graduations and birthdays. Blue Chip Foundation has committed to supporting the kids after they leave the home by providing scholarships for vocational training or university.