The Mathare Community Outreach Project has grown tremendously over the past years in the numbers of children being reached. Our Outreach has now spread into three centers:

Mathare 4B- This is our main Center serving over 750 children where we have been renting rooms for classes. The rooms are extremely small and congested. We are currently building new classrooms to help with the congestion, however we need a new Dining Hall as the older children have to take their meals and eat in the classrooms. The total cost of the building project is estimated at Ksh 3,310,962 (US $43,800). This is the total cost for four new classrooms, a library,  a store room, and new bathroom. 

Mathare 10- This is where our Church is located and where we are currently serving 200 children in very temporary classrooms (some without any walls). We need permanent classrooms and a kitchen for these children. 

We need more support for our Teachers as well. Market rates for teachers salaries are Ksh 15,000 (US $198) including benefits per month.  The highest salary that we are able to pay to our teachers is Ksh 8,000 (US $110) per month. They are very underpaid and also need medical benefits.  We need more books for the classrooms, office equipment, and computers as well.

Kariobangi- This is where we house 72 orphans as well as classes for 300 students. We need larger facilities for classrooms as well as housing for the orphanage. We only house the younger orphans here and prefer to support the older orphans by providing rent for them in Mathare Valley. Those orphans are provided lunch through the school feeding program and we provide them with food for their other meals. We need rent to pay for these orphans in Mathare as well.

We need help for the ongoing costs of: 

We need support for uniforms as well. We apply cost efficiencies to make the school uniforms.  Cloth is purchased in bulk and taken to a tailor who sews the uniforms. This enables more uniforms to be made much more cheaply than would otherwise be the case. Many  of the children in the school don’t have school uniforms.  A uniform includes a dress (girls) shorts and shirt (boys), sweater, socks, shoes and school bag, PE gear - including rubber shoes.

A new uniform- a sponsored orphan at MCO pictured with social workers: Magdaline Ogutu and Grace Abanga)  

Visitors to Mathare Valley are escorted by young men whose lives have been changed as a result of the ministry; young men who were formerly drunks, drug addicts and criminals who now actively follow Christ.  As they escorted you down into the slum you may learn of their stories and how their lives had been transformed and also of their hopes for the future for a chance in life – to finish their education and gain a skill in order to pursue a better way of life and to further God’s kingdom.

So much is already being done in Mathare … but so more could be done if additional funds, resources, and personnel were available.  The ministry of MCO is growing.  Resources are being stretched as far as they can go... and then some.

As of August of 2006, of the 1250 children being fed and educated, there is only support for about 820. There are 430 who do not receive vaccinations, books or school uniforms. They get fed but are "auditing" their classes. Currently support for this project comes largely from Compassion International, Compassion Canada  and Bridge Ministries. 

Please pray about how God would have you participate in helping those who are dear to His heart. If you have questions directly for Pastor Daniel, he can be reached at the following:  danogutu@africaonline.co.ke

If you are in the United States you can contact Bridge Ministries in Carson City Nevada. Bridge Ministries exists solely to direct support for this work of God. Bridge works hand in hand with Compassion International, Compassion Canada and Christian Mission Aid to assure that 93% of every all money given goes to assist the children and needy of Mathare Valley.  Bridge can be reached at 775-267-3020 PST.