Here are a few phrases in Swahili that you might in want to use in your correspondence with your kenya sponsored child: Seventy-eight percent of Kenyans are followers of Hujambo, habari? (45 percent Protestant; 33 percent Catholic). Hello, how are you? Ten percent of the population are Muslim.

Mzuri Christians are followers of Jesus, a carpenter and a Good Jew from the city of Nazareth in present-day Israel. Rafiki Christians believe that Jesus is the only son of God, born Friend of a virgin woman (Mary) in a stable in Bethlehem. His Nyumba story is told in the New Testament of the Christian holy House book, the Bible. The Christian symbol—the cross— reminds the faithful that Jesus died for them, for the Holidays forgiveness of their sins. Christian holidays include Christmas (December 25), which celebrates the birth of Holidays are very important to your sponsored child Jesus; Good Friday (March/April), which commemorates and family. The most important ones have religious the death of Jesus on the cross; and Easter (March/ significance: April), the most holy of Christian sacred days, which January 1 celebrates the resurrection of Jesus on the third day New Year’s Day Population 43 million after his death. May 1 Capital City Labor Day are followers of . Islam is an Arabic Official Languages Swahili/English October 20 word meaning “submission to the will of Allah (God).” Mashujaa Day (formerly Kenyatta Day) Muslims believe that Allah’s will was revealed to the Per Capita Income US$840/year prophet Muhammad more than 14 centuries ago December 12 Youth Literacy Rate 83% male/80% female Jamhuri Day and was captured in the Islamic holy book, the Koran (Qur’an). Together with the Sunnah, a collection of Access to Safe Water 83% urban/54% rural December 25 Christmas sayings attributed to Muhammad, these texts provide Under 5 Mortality Rate 73/1,000 live births a firm basis for religious and social life for all Muslims, including rules for diet, dress, hygiene, and more. Source: The State of the World’s Children 2014 (UNICEF)

The Republic of Kenya is located on the east coast of central Africa. It extends from the Indian Ocean deep into the interior of Africa, with the equator running through Additional sources include the CIA World Factbook and State Department websites. the center of the country. Its coastal is a hot and humid tropical region. Beautiful beaches, lagoons and swamps, and patches of rain forest line the coast. Inland, a vast Plan International USA is part of a global organization that works side by side with communities in 50 developing countries to end the cycle of poverty for children. We develop solutions community by community to ensure long-term sustainability. Our plain stretches over about three-fourths of the country. It is within this plain that the level of community engagement, long-term outlook, and constant focus on the needs and priorities of children is unique among heart of the natural untamed wildlife of this region thrives. Grasslands and diverse animal international development organizations. Our solutions are designed up-front to be owned by the community for generations to species predominate in the . Life in the highlands of the southwest come, and range from clean water and health-care programs to education projects and child-protection initiatives. supports extensive farming. Most Kenyans live in this region. The altitude, the direction Promising Futures, Plan International USA of the winds, and the nearness to a sea or lake have resulted in three types of climate in Community by Community 155 Plan Way • Warwick, RI 02886 Kenya: a hot, wet climate with high temperatures in the coastal and lake basin regions; a 1-800-556-7918 • planusa.org cool, wet climate with low temperatures in the Kenyan highlands; and a dry, hot climate in the north and northeastern areas. A Brief History Child protection

Scientists have found some of the earliest known This program focuses on fighting violence against remains of human beings in the Great Rift Valley children in school, at home, and in the community. of eastern Africa, including parts of Kenya. Kenya’s As part of our Learn Without Fear campaign to end location along the Indian Ocean made it a stopping violence against children in schools, we have launched place for many seafaring peoples, including the an SMS campaign through which children who have and Portuguese. For centuries, they traded extensively been violated can receive help. We are also working with the people of this region and ultimately gained with teacher organizations to address the issue of control of much of the land. The colonial history of corporal punishment in schools. Kenya, predominated by the British Empire, dates from the Berlin Conference of 1884-85, when the European Education powers first partitioned East Africa (Kenya) into spheres of influence. During this year, the British government Plan works with communities to improve the school Sanitation Family Structure established the East African Protectorate. Soon after, environment so that children can receive a quality it opened the fertile highlands to white settlers. From education. We focus on teacher, pupil, and parent Poor sanitation causes disease and can kill. Plan is Kenyan families are predominantly patriarchal. In the 1952 to 1959, Kenya was under a state of emergency relationships; train teachers; and promote good pioneering a radical new approach: Community-Led rural areas, extended families exist in a big way. Aunts, arising from the Mau Mau rebellion against British governance and inclusive and democratic decision- Total Sanitation (CLTS) educates communities about the uncles, and cousins are close and important members colonial rule. The first step toward independence took making in the running of schools. importance of sanitation and helps them to construct of the family. In some rural areas, children call their place in 1957, when the people of Kenya voted for their and maintain their own latrines. This approach gives maternal aunts “mother” and their paternal uncles own Legislative Council. Kenya became an independent Child participation individual community members the confidence to “father.” Polygamy is common in rural areas. As the nation on December 12, 1963. enforce a total ban on open defecation in their villages. extended family is a source of security and stability, This program helps children to speak out on issues polygamy has evolved through the ages to meet the that affect their lives—through radio, video, and other Plan’s work to improve children’s Economic Security labor needs of daily life and provide security for the forms of communication. It also helps to foster dialogue future. lives in Kenya covers seven core between the generations at family, school, community, In Kenya, agriculture remains the leading sector in areas: and national levels. stimulating economic growth. The most important Language foreign exchange earners are coffee and tea. In the Child survival arid and semi-arid areas, which form 80 percent of the Swahili and English are the official . Child protection Youth economic empowerment Kenyan land, the dominant agricultural activity is raising Many of the sponsored families that Plan works with Education Plan works with young people to link them into business livestock. Sisal (a strong fiber used in making twine), speak their own tribal languages in addition to Swahili. Child participation development services and help them secure a livelihood. cashew nut, and coconut are also grown in these areas. It is very likely that you will encounter a language Youth economic empowerment A wide range of crops are grown in the highlands: corn, barrier in communicating with your sponsored child, HIV and AIDS prevention HIV and AIDS prevention wheat, and export crops such as coffee and tea. Due as the majority of the children do not know enough Sanitation to the depletion of soil fertility, many men migrate to English to write a letter. Those who do not know English Our approach focuses on HIV and AIDS prevention the cities in search of work, while women and children will be assigned community workers and volunteers Child survival and mitigation. Using schools as the entry point, we stay on the land and farm. Still, the families are highly who will explain your letters and help the children help children, youth, and caregivers to enhance HIV Plan works with communities to reduce child mortality dependent on the success of their crops. Farmers compose their responses. prevention. We also support services for the infected by preventing diseases and other conditions, such as rely heavily on credit systems to buy grain in time for and affected, enabling them to access health care, malnutrition, that lead to poor child development and planting. In many rural areas this credit is either not anti-retroviral treatment, education, shelter, nutrition, premature death. available to them or they must pay high interest rates. protection, and psychosocial support.