A Day of Chores, Chapatis & Connection in Kakamega

We didn't come to drop off a parcel and leave. On 31 May 2025, a team of seven made the journey to Grace Alliance Ministry Children's Home in Kakamega for a day planned carefully over two months. The goal was simple but deliberate: meet real needs, yes — but also stay long enough to be present, to listen, and to build something that lasts longer than a single visit.

A warm welcome

We arrived just before noon to eager smiles and curious questions. A short round of introductions let each volunteer share who they were and why they'd come, setting a tone of openness and trust for the day ahead.

Rolling up our sleeves

Before anything else, we got to work. Volunteers and children washed clothes and cleaned out the hall together — a dusty, cluttered space transformed into somewhere bright by the afternoon. Scrubbing and folding side by side turned chores into something else entirely: shared purpose, and a lot of laughter.

Breaking bread together

At midday we gathered for a communal lunch. The meal was simple, but sitting among the children — listening to their stories and dreams — turned it into something bigger than food.

Songs, skits & dreaming big

The afternoon filled with games, songs and skits, then a series of motivational talks on resilience, education and self-belief. The children listened with a focus that was hard to miss — eyes full of hope and determination, encouraged to dream big despite their circumstances.

Honest conversations

We split into separate sessions for boys and girls — safe spaces to talk through personal growth, hygiene and self-esteem. Volunteers shared their own experiences and practical advice, and the children met it with thoughtful questions and real gratitude. Throughout the day, the quieter moments mattered most: one-on-one conversations, games, simply listening as children opened up about their hopes and struggles.

Gifts, chosen with care

We handed out gifts matched to the children's real needs — school supplies, sanitary pads, food staples, and small treats like biscuits and lollipops. We tried to do it with humility, keeping the focus on the children's dignity rather than the giving.

Ending in the kitchen

We closed the day the best way we knew how — cooking. Volunteers and children made supper together: chapatis and lentils, recipes and laughter shared over the stove. The smell of the meal filled the air and, for a few hours, the place felt like home. We left at 7:30pm, tired and full, the children with warm stomachs and warmer hearts.