Gift of H.O.P.E. / GECC AIDS Care & Support

The Gift of HOPE (Helping Children Orphaned by AIDS by Providing Essentials) program in Meru, Kenya, provides life's essentials to vulnerable Kenyan children in six main areas: health, shelter, nutrition, education, safety, and personal support.  
 
A $200 gift ensures school fee payment, uniform purchase, nutritional assistance and/or other needed support for an entire year. Not an orphanage, this program, run by the Kaaga Synod of the Methodist Church of Kenya, is led by Glorie Gitonga, a social worker, whose passion is uplifting children. Gitonga's salary is paid for by the Center. These vulnerable children, who often live with a grandparent, aunt, or other guardian, each receive individualized care and support. Currently, 330 children affected by HIV and AIDS are supported through the Center.
 
The program knows 1,300 children by name, and many kids have finished their basic education and have received training beyond the secondary level. Under the leadership of Bishop David Muthuia, the Kaaga Synod of the Methodist Church of Kenya, has a Director of AIDS ministry, and 42 community health workers, who help to identify vulnerable children throughout the Meru area. The project in Kenya is periodically visited by the Center's Executive Director, board members, and donors, including a July (2025) visit. Our friends at Hope United Methodist Church from Greenwood Village, CO, are visiting in 2026. Accountability and transparency are fundamental to the operation, as well as caring and compassion for the children.