5 ways in which Faraja helps kids with cancer

It is a sad fact of life that vulnerable children get cancer too. Just 1 in 10 children survive cancer in Kenya compared to 7 in 10 in developed countries. Clearly there is much to do.

Faraja ensures that our services reach children and their families as they go through this difficult time by providing practical and emotional support. The below gives you a snapshot of 3 ways we do this:

Through our Craft for Cure Programme - A Picture Paints a Thousand Words

Children can get pretty miserable and bored having to stay for months on end at a hospital for cancer treatment. The Crafts for Cure program takes place every Wednesday morning and Friday afternoon at Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) run by Faraja and Nairobi University's AIESEC students.

Craft for Cure enables these kids a welcome distraction from treatments, the chance to hang out with fun people and just get to be kids for an afternoon. Art therapy is used to demystify complicated terms like chemotherapy and as an outlet to deal with the side effects of cancer treatment. 

Around 300 children attend the Craft for Cure sessions which target in-patient children at Level 1e, Level 3 and Level 9 at KNH. 

Through Providing Life-Saving Treatments

On November 12th 2016, Faraja officially launched the Faraja Medical Support Fund The funds vision is for all children and adults who have been diagnosed with cancer in Kenya, to be able to access the right affordable treatment at the right time. This brings hope and real chance of recovery. Through the fund, more children like 12 year old ( diagnosed when he was 9yrs) Kevin Githinji  can get the right treatment at the right time. 

All proceeds from Renuka Patel's popular book "Chef at Home" have been donated to Faraja's Medical Support Fund for supporting children with cancer. To date a total of Shs 1.5 million has been raised through sale of the book. In 2017 with Funds raised by Wigs and Turbans, other well wishers and funds from the Faraja Medical Support Fund we have supported medical treatment for 20 children. 
 
Read more amazing testimonies here

Milk and Fruit Donations- Every Friday 

Faraja Cancer Support Trust began giving fruit and milk donations once a month in 2015. The donations are offered to the children in level 3   which accommodates approximately 50 children. Due to the positive feedback we have received, the donations have been extended to level 1 e and level 9 paediatric and a total of 300 packets of milk and 300 apples are donated every Friday. 

We are thankful to Fruity Fruits Ltd who donate two cartons of apples twice a month to the program and cash donations from many well wishers.

Through our Music and Dance Therapy- Harmonies that heal 

As many children in hospital do not feel well enough to come out of bed to participate in the art and craft programme we have expanded our therapies to include music and dance.

 Twice a week, on Wednesday and Friday, we tap into the inherit play in children by singing and dancing, an activity that has proven to be very popular. Since the classes begun in July 2017, we have witnessed a steady increase in attendance not only from the children but also from the parents and care givers. 

Music therapy is in partnership with Daraja Band and Muziki Changa. In 2017 we had 30 melodious and joyful classes.

Through Special One-Off Projects

We are always open to explore ideas with individual and corporate supporters who are keen to help children living with cancer.

From time to time day trips will be organized so children can have a welcome break from medical treatment regimes. In the past this has included a trip to the Animal Orphanage in Nairobi.

Another initiative has seen Braeburn School brought yogurt and gifts to the children at Kenyatta Hospital oncology ward.   A very special day with happy memories created!

See how you can help us continue to provide hope and support to more children here.