Kag Mathare Child Development Center (KAGMCDC)

The Kenya Assemblies of God, Mathare Child Development Center (KAGMCDC) project began in 1995 when Rev. Nuthu Mwangi and his wife Jane Wanjiku, started by donating money to buy food and clothes for street children living in the Mathare slums. Shortly after, a volunteer joined the couple and became responsible for preparing the meals for the children. The project idea was later shared with the Kenya Assemblies of God - Mathare and was eventually supported by all members of the congregation.

Today, 300 street children benefit from this program that is operational once a week. KAGMCDC operates from Kenya Assembles of God Church-Mathare, which is located off Outer Ring, opposite Kariobangi Light Industries. The project's vision is to enable street children to become responsible and productive members of society. Its mission is to rehabilitate and re-unite street children with their families, provide for their basic needs such as food, clothing, medicine, education and spiritual counseling. Through business training, the project tries to economically empower the families it works with.

The program's main objectives are to support the national policy to assist children in difficult circumstances, and to rehabilitate street children by providing them with relevant skills that will contribute towards strengthening and improving their chances in life. The program is managed through a board that consists of a patron, a seven-member committee and a chairperson

Current activities:

• Provision of food, clothing, medical care and counseling services to 300 street children

• Spiritual nurturing for street children and their parents/care takers

• Awareness creation, destigmatization, advocacy on HIV/AIDS and other reproductive health needs

• Education and outreach against drug abuse

• Informal education and vocational training (for school drop outs and those too old to attend formal school)

• Education on environmental protection

• Economic empowerment (revolving loans to slum parents)

• Enhance national goals of assisting children in especially difficult circumstances

• Rehabilitation of street children and training on relevant skills will contribute to reduce school drop out and improve self-reliance

Activities that require further funding:

The organization has requested funding from the Hope for African Children Initiative for the following HIV/AIDS focused activities:

• Food, clothing, medical care for the children

• Educational Materials

• Vocational training

• Awareness creation, destigmatization, counseling on HIV/AIDS