Strengthening a Partnership Built in Kenya Since 2012
How SNI and Family Care Missions collaborate to support children and families in Mombasa
In the summer of 2025, members of the Sponsorship Network Intl. team traveled to Mombasa, Kenya, to visit long-standing partner projects supported through Family Care Missions (FCM). This visit marked an important moment in a partnership that began in 2012 — not only to reconnect in person, but to personally ensure that the sponsored funds are reaching the children and families they were intended to support.
For SNI, on-the-ground visits are an essential part of responsible sponsorship. Being present allows us to listen, observe, and confirm that local initiatives align with shared goals of dignity, transparency, and long-term impact.
Seeing impact firsthand
During the summer visit, the SNI team spent time at the Olives Rehabilitation Center in Bombolulu, an education center serving children from nearby informal settlements, as well as engaging with the wider Family Care Missions team. These conversations and observations helped reaffirm that support was being used effectively — and just as importantly, that local teams were responding thoughtfully to real needs on the ground.
The visit also highlighted areas where facilities and resources were under increasing strain due to rising living costs, aging infrastructure, and growing demand for basic services such as school meals.
Continued impact through local leadership
Following the SNI team’s visit, the local Family Care Missions team continued implementing project activities throughout October 2025, using SNI’s support to address the most urgent needs identified earlier in the year.
This included targeted improvements at two education centers:
The Olives Rehabilitation Center, which currently provides basic education to around 80 children from the Bombolulu area
Coast Green Garden Nursery School, a newer initiative in a rural village near Mtwapa, serving approximately 75 young children from low-income families
At the Olives Center, urgent repairs were carried out — including kitchen restructuring, replacement of termite-damaged poles and benches, new roofing sheets, and repainting of classrooms. New desks, chairs, and blackboards helped improve learning conditions, while the school lunch program received support during a period of heightened food insecurity.
At Coast Green Garden Nursery School, SNI’s contribution enabled the construction of three toilets, installation of a 1,000-liter water tank, provision of classroom furniture, and supplies for school lunches — ensuring a safe and dignified environment for young learners.
Supporting families beyond the classroom
Recognizing that education is deeply connected to household stability, the local team also distributed food care packages to 150 of the most vulnerable families in surrounding communities. Many of these families are affected by serious illness or unemployment and have been hit hard by inflation and rising fuel costs.
In addition, SNI’s support contributed to modest stipends for 13 low-income teachers and staff, helping schools retain experienced educators during a challenging economic period.
Why this approach matters
What makes this partnership effective is the balance between personal oversight and local leadership. The SNI team’s visit in summer 2025 ensured accountability and alignment, while the continued work by Family Care Missions demonstrated the strength and reliability of locally led implementation.
Over the years, students from the Olives Center have gone on to secondary education, vocational training, and employment — a reminder that sustained support, combined with trust in local partners, creates pathways that last well beyond a single project cycle.
Looking ahead
As Family Care Missions approaches its 30th year of service in Kenya, SNI remains committed to supporting initiatives that respond to real needs with care, integrity, and long-term vision.
