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Q. Can you describe a child's transition from his family to the orphanage?

A. Each child is assessed regularly to determine his/her emotional needs and potential adjustment to the home. These children feel as if they have won the lottery by being chosen to live at the orphanage. They are thrilled to be selected for this opportunity!

Q. What can we do to make the child feel "connected" to us? How can we establish a genuine relationship, as opposed to simply being a source of money for them from month to month?

A. It is important to write letters to tell the children about yourself as well as to ask them questions about their lives in Kenya. Relationships are as important to Kenyans as money is to Americans.

Q. How can we communicate from a distance with the children if they do not understand English?

Children in class six and beyond are fairly fluent in english and are eager to assist younger students with translation. The dorm parents will also assist in this process.

Q. Are we able to send gifts to "our" children?

A. There will be opportunities to send items to your children. 58ten will send notices out to sponsors when there is an opportunity to send gifts, and we will also send a list of suggested items appropriate for the children.

Q. If the children still have any family in town, will they ever see them again?

A. The school year is set up with three one-month breaks (December, April, and August). The children are able to visit their family during those breaks. This is important as some need to return to their villages in order to remain eligible to inherit family property in the future.

Q. Does 58ten organize trips to Kenya?

A. Yes! We have organized several trips to Kenya to visit the Children’s Homes. We currently take one to two trips a year. However, many factors are considered when deciding whether we will take a team trip to Kenya. If you are interested in going, let us know!

Q. How valuable to the child is a visit from their sponsor? Is it beneficial for them or a traumatic event to have someone reach out for a week and then disappear from their lives?

A. The sponsor visits are very important. The children are overwhelmed with gratitude for their sponsors and may not be able to put into words their thankfulness for the opportunity they have been given. This time allows for the children to show their gratitude, and for the sponsor-child relationship to grow to a deeper level.

Q. Besides financial support for the children, what are some other physical needs of the homes? (i.e. furniture, equipment, garden seeds, cows, chickens, etc.)

A. This varies between Mulango, Mukaa, and Kitui. Each home is in need of a clean source of water. Sustained Acts is working closely with the Mukaa home to provide this need. We have raised money to drill a well for the Mulango Children’s Home and have completed all but the final steps on this project. There will be ongoing needs for investments for the children’s higher education and revenue generating projects.

Q. What is the average cost of a trip to Kenya?

A. $2,500–$3,000.