Ajuuja is a place very near and dear to my heart for a number of reasons. Over the last several years, I have been able to spend a good amount of time there and really get to know some of the kids and staff.
And I got to meet a lot of cool kids like this little guy. And we all know what we think an orphanage looks like. Lots of kids and bunk beds. And that’s true, sure, but there’s so much more when you meet these kids and staff.
You’d find out that M has a stuffed Tigger that she carries around all the time, and is quite protective of it.
And you’d learn the individual personalities of a lot of these little guys. You’d find out that D, who is 5, is really a sweet little boy, but really enjoys aggravating his friends to see their reactions.
Or that E enjoys toys being put on his head and watching them fall off.
And you’d be confused one morning as you walk in the compound a pack of toddlers run up to you and all start talking excitedly at once. Until someone explains that they’re telling you a monkey was in the orphanage this morning.
And you’d be slightly disturbed as a group of boys found a beetle that they argued over and poked with a broom.
And then remember that they’re just boys.
The staff there is fully committed to pursuing the best life for the children who come into their care. Ajuuja’s staff includes guards, cooks, cleaning staff, nurses, social workers, and nannies.
Each and every individual who works there loves the children and is passionate about what they do. It is more than just a job. The nannies, nurses, guards, social workers, cleaning staff and the cook care for the children entrusted in their care as if they were their own.
One doesn’t have to spend much time to see the love the caretakers have for the kids, and the love the kids have for their caretakers!
Another thing I love about Ajuuja is the selflessness of the staff. They are committed to doing what is best for the children, even when this means parting with kids they have grown to think of as their own. The best place for a child is in a family, this is an idea supported and pursued by all of Ajuuja’s staff.
Their first goal is to keep children in their families, or when possible reunify them so that the family can remain intact. When this is not possible, local adoption is the next best option. Having been on post-placement visits with Ajuuja social worker Addisalem, I can say with full confidence that these children are being placed in loving homes, with parents who can, and want to give these kids a good childhood. When the children leave Ajuuja to go to their new homes, there is a celebratory ceremony that the staff attend. It is a time of joy as the kids get to start their new life with their forever families.
I support Ajuuja because I know the children are loved, and I know their best interests are sought. I encourage you to consider supporting a place that is all-in when it comes to providing better lives for children in need of homes.
Not just for some random faces on a computer screen. But for kids that I love. Kids that need food and shelter. For them.
If you’d like to support the care of these children until reunification or local foster/adoptive families are found, please do so below
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