Holidays at St. Irene: Joy, Learning and Care Beyond the Classroom

Look closely at the smiles in these photos. Every one of them is there because of you.

The school year is over, and the children of St. Irene Orthodox Mission Centre are heading into the holiday with memories they will carry for a lifetime. Many of these children came to us from homes where there was not enough food, no school fees and little hope. This term, thanks to your kindness, they travelled, learned, laughed and simply got to be children.

You opened a window onto the wider world

Because of you, our children boarded a bus and travelled all the way to Nairobi on an educational trip. They stood in front of the great railway terminus, saw the busy city with their own eyes, and began to imagine a bigger future for themselves. For a child from rural South Kinangop, a journey like this changes what they believe is possible.

You gave them a day of pure joy

Then came fun day. Slides, swings, carousels, paddle boats and a games day full of tug-of-war cheers. Our caregivers were right there beside them, helping the youngest up the giant slide and cheering every brave first try. For a child who has known hardship, a day like this says something powerful: you matter, and you are loved.

The holiday is here. The need does not stop.

When school closes, the children in our care still need three warm meals a day, a safe place to sleep and the loving attention of their caregivers. That care continues every single day of the holiday, and it continues because of friends like you.

“Every child deserves to be a child. Thank you for giving them that gift.”

Will you help us keep this joy going? A gift today, or a monthly sponsorship, keeps a child fed, cared for and ready to learn when the new school year begins in January.

With heartfelt gratitude in Christ,
Fr. Constantinos Eliud
Priest in Charge & Director, St. Irene Orthodox Mission Centre & Orphanage

P.S. Even a small monthly gift makes a big difference. Sponsors receive updates on the child they support, so you can watch them grow.