Back-to-school season looks different when a child’s “neighborhood” is a maze of high-rise concrete, narrow walkways, and relentless survival. In the Embakasi (Pipeline) area of Nairobi, many children grow up surrounded by hardship so intense that some live and die without ever leaving the slum. For the most vulnerable—children abandoned, neglected, or found alone—school is often not an option. It’s a luxury their world does not offer.
That’s why, at JEHO Safe Home (John E. Halgrim Orphanage), back-to-school is not a routine event on a calendar. It’s a rescue story still unfolding—one uniform, one notebook, and one courageous step at a time.
JEHO operates in the Embakasi District of Nairobi and serves 46+ children, ranging from infants to teens. Many arrive through hospitals or government agencies, and some are found discarded and abandoned on the streets. When they come, JEHO provides immediate care—fresh clothing, meals, and a safe bed—then helps them re-enter education through local schooling.
When school feels impossible, education becomes an opportunity they cannot miss
For children who have survived the streets, school can feel like stepping into a different universe. Some have large gaps in learning. Others have missed years of classroom instruction. JEHO openly acknowledges this reality: many children arrive with little or no schooling and are years behind their peers.
And yet—this is the miracle—education is still possible. At JEHO, directors Pastors Miriam and Peter hold a deep conviction: these children are not defined by where they came from. They are defined by the God-given future still ahead of them. Their mission is to rescue vulnerable children and provide a strong Christian foundation along with emotional, educational, medical, and social support—so each child can experience life “just like any other child.” Back-to-school is where that mission becomes visible.
Preparation matters: dignity starts with the basics
Before a child can focus on reading, math, or science, they need the basics that make school possible. Uniforms. Shoes. Backpacks. Supplies. Transportation plans. Proper meals.
For many JEHO children, these are not small needs—they are the bridge from exclusion to belonging. A clean uniform says, “You’re not an outsider.” A backpack says, “You are expected to learn.” A notebook says, “Your future is worth writing down.” But at JEHO, the team knows preparation is only the starting line.
Progress is sustained by people and daily habits
School success is not sustained by supplies alone. It is sustained by caregivers who create structure, by tutors who rebuild foundations, and by social workers who support the emotional weight children carry into the classroom.
That’s why JEHO has been intentionally building stronger wraparound care—adding key roles like social work, tutoring, and psychological support as part of the home’s long-term growth.
One example is Veronica, JEHO’s social worker, who focuses on supporting children academically so they receive the guidance needed to excel. She also provides computer science training, helping students develop practical digital skills for future opportunity—while also attending to social work needs that strengthen overall well-being.
This is what back-to-school looks like at JEHO: not simply getting children into classrooms, but building the habits and support systems that help them thrive once they are there.
A “safe home” in a business district—and a rooftop full of hope
JEHO’s setting is unique. The home is located in a bustling district surrounded by towering buildings. In that kind of environment, even play requires creativity. JEHO’s team established a rooftop play space, providing children a safe area for outdoor activity despite the dense urban surroundings.
It’s a beautiful picture of what JEHO does in every area of life: when the environment limits children, the team finds a way to expand their world—safely, wisely, and with joy.
Kayera’s steady work: helping students rise, one grade at a time
In recent years, educational progress at JEHO has been strengthened through committed mentoring and advocacy. Kayera, a long-time HOHI supporter and a member of HOHI’s Board of Advisors, has invested deeply in JEHO’s older students as they move toward independence.
For the past three years, Kayera has worked closely with JEHO transition students—communicating directly with schools to ensure placement and progress, supporting the onboarding of a social worker, and helping coordinate key health supports that remove barriers to learning and stability.
That kind of behind-the-scenes work changes outcomes. It’s the difference between a teenager quietly dropping out and a young adult stepping forward with a plan, a diploma, and confidence.
This school year, your support becomes a child’s “yes”
Back-to-school at JEHO is more than a season. It’s a lifeline in the middle of a hard place.
When you support JEHO—through sponsorship, giving, or prayer—you help provide:
- uniforms and school supplies
- tutoring and academic support for children who are behind
- social work and emotional support that makes learning possible
- the stability of a safe home where children can finally focus and grow