In the places where we work, children often face many obstacles from poverty and abuse. At Irish Jesuits International (IJI) we believe everyone has the right to education including children on the margins.

Upendo is the name of an educational and rehabilitation programme based in Kangemi in Kenya, a slum, home to more than 100,000 of Nairobi’s poorest people.

The projects’ main objective is to rehabilitate, educate, and integrate orphaned and abandoned children and low-income families who face various abuses within the Kangemi district.

Since 1995, the programme has supported the education of vulnerable children. Our director, John Guiney SJ, founded Upendo after witnessing the hardship and suffering of the poor while based there for over a decade.

Single mothers were often forced into the street to feed their children and HIV was rife, often leading to children losing their guardians and ending up on the street desperate and vulnerable to abuse.

John rallied the local community and gathered St Joseph’s parish to identify Kangemi’s most poor and vulnerable, and outreach began to save the lives of children.

Today, St Joseph’s Secondary School is a beacon for those at the margins giving children the tools and skills to take ownership of their lives and pursue professions, trainings and further education.

Faith is a student at St Joseph’s and thanks to the generosity of Irish donors, she has been supported in a school feeding programme which provides children with school meals – a meal which sadly for many children may be their only meal of the day.

“I take this moment to appreciate you all for your mighty deeds in Saint Joseph Technical School” Faith writes. “You have really supported us with the food programme”.

You have shown us your kindness and we are grateful for that.”

“Sometimes we come to school so that we may get just that portion” she explains, “In our homes it is very hard to get food and if we get it, it’s just hand to mouth”. 

“It is very certain that, food is needed for survival. You have given us not only food, but also a nutritious one. May the heavenly Father bless you abundantly and fulfil your heart desires”.

This Lent we are excited to launch our Red Chair Campiagn which is an education fund dedicated to supporting the education needs of the most marginalised communities of our world including Kenya.

This education fund is about leaving no one behind and support and donations will pool monies to continue to bring education to those who need it most.

The fund covers several aspects, all of which are vital to building brighter futures now and for future generations to come. The Red Chair campaign will support teacher salaries, teacher trainings, school lunches, learning materials, uniforms and even classroom construction in South Sudan, Nigeria, Uganda & Kenya.

With your help we can continue to support children like Faith, from school meals for growing bodies to books and learning materials for students trying to make something of themselves.

Watch this space & join a campaign helping children facing unimaginable challenges!

For more on our education projects, visit: www.iji.ie/education