Why is Double Joy important?

There are a million orphans in Kenya and although the infection rate for HIV and Aids is now decreasing the rate of people dying is increasing. These means there are growing numbers of orphans living in child-headed families. Children are caring for dying parents and their younger siblings. As a consequence of this many are not able to attend school and are extremely vulnerable to abuse. One of the girls now at DJ was taken to be a ‘maid’ at 8 years old once she became an orphan. She was removed to an area totally unfamiliar to her and made to work long hours with no pay.

• DJ provides a home and school for these child headed families that is close to their original family home. It enables the children to live with their siblings in small houses. The ratio of staff to children is high so that the children receive a lot of adult attention, and the class sizes remain small. The teachers are able to develop good understanding of the childrens’ needs and in many ways serve as parent substitutes. 
• DJ provides good health care for the children with a nurse on site and check ups at the hospital in Kisumu.
• DJ also prepares children for independent living once they leave. All children receive further education or vocational training. The boys have their ancestral land registered so that they can return to it when they are ready.
• DJ places strong emphasis on rewarding positive behaviour. Punishment is kept to a minimum and corporal punishment is not permitted. 

Visitors to DJ from Kenya and overseas constantly remark on how happy the children at DJ seem to be. It appears that the aspects of DJ identified above help to make it a joy-filled environment for all who experience it.