Meet James Otieno of Fortune Learners' Centre
Meet James Otieno of Fortune Learners' Centre
December 8, 2022
Kenya / Kayole Slum -Nairobi
by Charles Owino, Director of Fortune Learners’ Centre
My name is Charles Owino and I am the Director at Fortune Learners Centre (FLC), a nonprofit community-based organization dedicated to serving orphans and vulnerable children. Our school is located in Kayole, an informal settlement in Nairobi. I am happy to introduce you to one of the orphan children served by FLC in partnership with Global Orphan Relief.
Meet James Otieno, 6 years old, who came to the Fortune Learners’ Centre (FLC) in 2020 with his two cousins -Dylan age 14 and Neola age 7. James was born when his mum was single, so he grew under the care of one parent. The mum was diagnosed with cancer and underwent two unsuccessful surgeries. During a third surgery she didn’t make it.
James was now left under the care of his Aunt who was an unskilled laborer and widow. James’ Aunt also had two of her own children in which to care for. She was earning 150-200 Kenya Shillings a day, which is less than two dollars, and this income was erratic. With such a small income, sending her now three children to school was not an option. Pastor George, who leads our pastoral program, and is also a parent at Fortune, heard about the family’s struggles and was filled with compassion. He brought them to FLC, forever changing their lives, which is only made possible by the supporters of Global Orphans Relief who who provide support for many of our orphan children. One of the most basic challenges that families like this face is the ability to provide daily meals. The families also struggle throughout the year with a lack of adequate nutrition in the meals they do eat at home.
Another concern for James was the need to go to school. Often, the only way to improve his situation is to have an education.
“It was hard enough for me to manage food for my new enlarged family. Sending children to school was not possible when having food from one day to the next is the priority and this wasn’t even possible. The days we went to bed hungry were many in those days, and outnumbered the days we had food” explains James’ Aunt.
Parents like James’ Aunt work hard to put food on the table, but often what little food they can afford is poor in quality and lacking in vital vitamins and nutrients needed for growing children. As a result, many children like James become sick with malnutrition, which can cause a variety of health issues, including stunted growth.
Making matters worse, malnutrition often prevents children from being able to stay in school. Because education is so critical to a child’s ability to achieve a brighter future, a lack of nutrition only perpetuates the cycle of generational poverty.
Global Orphans Relief Scholarships at Fortune Learners changes all this through their faithful support. James receives a variety of blessings: nutritious food, education, clean water and much more.
James no longer visits the hospital regularly as he did in his earlier days at Fortune. He has grown strong, healthy and happy and this has ben made possible by the supporters of GO!.
When you choose to sponsor a child or provide support for GO’s Education or Nutrition Initiatives, you aren’t simply helping that child, but you are impacting lives of many children, families and their entire communities as they work towards a better future . Your support really does make a difference, and the impact will be felt by everyone in the community.
It is my wish that our good Lord will bless all the GO! Supporters to make it possible for the organization to continue transforming the lives of the orphans and other poor and vulnerable people around the world.
We provide aid to 1,725 orphan children in Ethiopia, Kenya, & South Sudan through our Field Partner Network.
Global Orphan Relief (GO) has been serving orphaned children since 2005. We have accomplished this work to date through local partners in each country that provides oversight and distribution of care.
As of October 2022, we serve 6,559 vulnerable children in Ethiopia, Kenya, Pakistan, South Sudan, and Zambia. We provide this aid through our Field Partner & GO! Ambassador networks in our Home-Based Care, Education, Nutrition & Church Mobilization Initiatives.
We support 130 orphan children at Fortune Learners’ Centre through our Nutrition Initiative, which allows for these children to receive both breakfast and lunch at school. In 2023, the number of children will increase to 142. In addition, our plan in 2023 is to provide support for these children in our Education Initiative which will require 2.5 times the level of support provided in 2022.
You may send support or other correspondence to Global Orphan Relief, 16352 Prairie Farm Circle, Parker, CO 80134 or you may give also give electronically at 2023 Education Initiative or give on this website at the upper righthand corner under ‘Donate’ by choosing Education Initiative under the Fund designation.
Movement of FAITH | Voice of HOPE | Act of LOVE
Global Orphan Relief (GO!) is a Christian relief agency serving vulnerable children and is a recognized U.S. public charity, tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3). All donations to GO!, or any charitable contribution processed through Network For Good Donor Advised Fund, are tax deductible to the extent of the law. If you prefer, you may provide gifts of support by sending via mail to the address above.