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What is the Brydges Centre?
Kenya has a severe, generalized HIV epidemic. According to the Center for Disease Control, *6.1% of Kenyans between the
ages of 15-49 are infected with the HIV virus. There are nearly 140,000 estimated AIDS deaths each year, and 1,100,000 orphans
currently as a result of the AIDS epidemic.
The Brydges Centre was
established to help address this problem and make sure that these orphaned children are not forgotten. It is a place where
these children can be assured a safe place to sleep, food to eat, and a clean environment with running water and people who
care about them. Rosemary named the Centre after Bob and Nancy Brydges because she said she saw their commitment to helping
people in need in Kenya and was inspired by them. The Centre is registered under the Kenyan Ministry of Social Services and
is run entirely by Kenyans. Rosemary has assembled an excellent board and staff to help her help the children.
*Source: UNAIDS Epidemiologic Fact Sheet 2006 Update
The Brydges Centre Mission It is the objective of the Centre to provide the necessities of life,
food, shelter, clothing, and medical attention and an education to homeless street children. These kids from the streets go
to a local school in Ngong Town and many are becoming the top students in their class. The Centre's aim is to help the children
become morally, spiritually, economically and socially self-reliant. It brings together children from different backgrounds,
tribes, clans and family circumstances with the hope that they can join together into a single-family unit embracing Christian
values as the foundation for becoming responsible citizens in the future. The hope is that they will become role models to
help other vulnerable children in the future.
The Brydges Centre is helping street children in Kenya that need help
desperately. We have started a capital campaign for the new building. You can help. Just write "building fund" in the memo
of your check if you would like your donation to go toward the new dorms. If you would prefer your funds go straight toward
"current operating costs" please indicate that in the memo of your check. We are working on more ways that you can help The
Brydges Centre. We'll keep you posted on possible sponsorships and upcoming events.
For Information on how to make contributions or questions concerning
the Brydges Centre, please contact:
Kenya:
Rosemary Wafula
Executive Director, Brydges Centre
UK & Europe:
Sean Pelling, Board Chairman, Brydges Centre
US & Canada:
Bob & Nancy Brydges
Thank You and God Bless You!
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Where is the Brydges Centre?
The orphanage is located in Ngong Town just outside Nairobi. Most of the children are from the Dandora slum. Loving care,
counseling and a place to call home have made remarkable improvements in the children's attitude and sense of social responsibility.
We currently rent two houses with 25 kids in each house. We have purchased property adjacent to one of the houses where we
hope to build a facility to accomodate up to 60 children. The plan and hope is to consolidate both centres on the new property
by early 2009.
It costs close to $4,000 per month to operate both existing centres. That includes rent, food, school fees, medical expenses
and modest salaries for the staff. Unfortunately monthly shortfalls of $500 to $1,000 are not uncommon. A little better than
half of the Brydges Centre funding comes from Kenya and the UK, the balance coming from generous benefactors in the US and
Canada. Based on the plans we have for the new building,(see proposed building plans under the link above,) the cost estimate
is between $250,000 and $300,000.
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