Program Background
The Our Lady of Grace Children’s Home and School (OLGCHS) is located in South Imenti Constituency, Marimba sub-location in Meru County. The program is run in partnership with the Catholic Diocese of Meru, Action for God’s Love (AfGL), and the Sisters of the Good Shepherd.
OLGCHS runs a Primary and Junior School, providing affordable basic education for boys and girls. It also operates a residential Home for girls in need of care and protection, the majority of whom are victims of neglect, sexual, physical, and emotional abuse.
The program continues to have a positive impact on the lives of many children in South Imenti Constituency, especially girls in need of education, care, and protection.
Education
Between 2022 and 2024, the program made considerable growth in education. By 2024, there were 256 children enrolled in Primary and Junior School, 79 of whom were girls residing at the Home.
122 children in lower primary (Play Group to Grade 3)
63 in upper primary (Grade 4 to Grade 6)
71 in Junior School (Grade 7 to Grade 9)
The Junior School was introduced in 2024 with a special focus on Computer and Home Science as guided by the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC), following the phasing-out of the 8-4-4 system.
Child Protection and Advocacy
OLGCHS rescues girls from:
Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)
Early marriages
Teenage pregnancies
The program provides renewed hope for a better future by offering care, protection, and education. Greater milestones have been achieved in rescuing, rehabilitating, reunifying, and reintegrating at-risk children.
OLGCHS actively advocates for the rights of children, working collaboratively with
Government agencies
Civil Society Organizations (CSOs)
Families
The aim is to promote child safety and preserve their dignity.
Care Reforms
In compliance with the Government’s national strategy on Care Reforms, OLGCHS strengthened its partnership with the Directorate of Children Services (DCS) at both National and County level.
Activities included:
Family tracing
Reunification
Reintegration of girls back into family care
OLGCHS is recognized as an exemplary best practice organization in Care Reforms in Meru County, leading to benchmarking visits by other Charitable Children Institutions (CCIs). In preparation for stronger family-based care, OLGCHS worked with the County DCS to:
Identify, train, and register three foster parents.
These families will provide alternative homes for children who cannot be safely reintegrated.
Key Achievements
- Successful provision of basic education to children, especially girls in need of care and protection
- Strengthened partnership with Government agencies and other Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) for rescue and protection of girls at risk of/or survivors of physical, and sexual violence, neglect, and emotional abuse, Female Genital Mutilation, and early marriages.
- Successful rehabilitation, family tracing, reunification, and reintegration of girls to families.