Kelem's Family

Unable to afford rent, Kelem and her family now live in a makeshift shelter of scrap wood and plastic sheets.

Kelem has known poverty her entire life.  She is the second oldest of eight children, and her chronically ill father resorted to begging on the streets to keep his children in school. After his passing, Kelem was forced to leave her education behind and began working as a cleaner and babysitter to help support her family.

Six years ago, Kelem married Efrem, and together they have two young children.  Kelem cares for her children at home, while Efrem works as a day laborer. For several years, they rented a small house, but as rent costs climbed beyond their reach, the family was forced to move to a small plot of land on the edge of the garbage dump. After clearing away trash, they pieced together a fragile shelter with no electricity or running water. Despite repeated government orders to leave, they remain in this unsafe settlement simply because they have nowhere else to go. Every day is a struggle to find enough food, and too often, the family goes without meals. 

Monthly sponsorship will provide Kelem’s family with holistic support such as food, housing, medical care, spiritual care, counselling, education, health and life skills training, income generation and business development opportunities. Being part of HFK’s Family Empowerment Program will also give this family an opportunity to participate in many of our youth, daycare, education, and community programs.

Current Need per Month $260: Sponsor $260 per mo.| $130 per mo.| $65 per mo.