The problems affecting the children of Taveta were many, and we understood quickly that much of their suffering resulted from adult problems such as poverty, unemployment, parent abandonment, HIV/AIDS, substance abuse, illiteracy, and the commercial sex trade. As part of our goal to help the most vulnerable children in Taveta, we also needed to help the adults in their lives.
Taveta Children Assistance (TCA) began in 2008 and later registered in 2009 by the Kenya Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Development. The Director, Pastor Samson Kiriinya is also the pastor of the Taveta Christian Assembly.
The idea to form TCA arose from the needs of the community, most of them widows, single mothers, those with HIV, and the elderly. In the wake of the HIV pandemic, many grandparents are left to care for orphaned children, often vulnerable themselves, and struggle physically and financially to raise young children. It was evident to us that their various needs were also just as desperate.
TCA began feeding programs for the children every weekend and food ration distributions for the guardians to carry home.