Dago Dala Hera Orphanage is a non-profit, non-political, non-religious,
non-governmental, indigenously inspired and created, voluntary
community organization. It is situated in Western Kenya in Nyanza
Province, about 50kms from the town of Kisii.
Dago Village, affected by the global health challenges posed
by HIV/AIDS, is currently home to 37 total orphans and 38 partial
orphans. (In Kenya, children who have lost both parents are
referred to as total orphans, and children who have lost one
parent as partial orphans. As large families are the norm, when
one parent dies a single parent cannot meet the total needs
of the family.) The ages of the children range from 6 to 17-years-old. 32 of the children are girls and 43 are boys.
Education on living with HIV/AIDS is an integral part of the
program. Children who are found to be HIV+ are given the best
nutritional, medical (including anti-retroviral therapy), psychological,
academic, and spiritual care available.
The orphanage also operates
a daycare feeding program for primary school children during school days.
This program began in 2005 and feeds 26 to 40 orphans, 2 meals a day for the
39 weeks the children attend school.