New Boys' Dormitory
In late 2006, the Government of Kenya notified the management committee in Kakamega that it is against government policy for boys and girls to live together under the same roof in group homes. As a result, they have given until early 2008 to remove one of the genders from the Care Center. After a desperate scramble, the management committee in Kakamega found a small parcel of land eight minutes' walk from the Care Center, and fundraising began to finance a new boys' dorm. As of late 2007, the land has been purchased and construction of the new dorm has begun, but there remains a need for funds to complete the project.
While separating boys and girls by building—and not just by floor—does seem like an unhelpful government demand, there is a positive element to this development. By building a new dormitory for boys, beds will be added to the project, and a large number of new girls may be brought to the main Care Center building. Orphaned girls are almost always in the most need, and relatives are often more reluctant to care for them than boys; thus, the beds freed up by the new boys' dorm will open badly needed new space for young girls.
Read more about this topic: Kakamega Orphan Project