Child Empowerment

Community Care Soweto East, Nyayo Highrise Ward, Lang'ata, Nairobi Active

Every Saturday, ETCO feeds approximately 350 children, 100 elderly individuals, and 50 youth in Kibera. Beyond meals, children engage in music, dance, art, computer lessons, sports, and life skills training.

Child Empowerment

Our Flagship Programme

The Children Feeding Program is the heartbeat of ETCO. Every Saturday in Kibera's Soweto East, we gather approximately 350 children, 100 elderly individuals, and 50 youth for a nutritious meal — and much more. What started as a simple feeding initiative has grown into a holistic programme that addresses food insecurity, child development, and community wellbeing.

More Than a Meal

Before the food is served, children dive into a rich programme of activities. They participate in African cultural music and dance classes, drawing and painting sessions, computer lessons at our Computer Centre, sports, drama, and life skills training. These activities nurture talent, build confidence, and provide constructive alternatives to the negative influences that surround young people in informal settlements.

For many children, Saturday at ETCO is the highlight of their week — a safe space where they are seen, fed, and encouraged. During school holidays, numbers swell as parents who are out working know their children will be looked after, engaged, and nourished.

A Safe Space

Kibera faces compounding challenges — from El Niño flooding and disease risks to economic volatility and the everyday pressures of poverty. ETCO's Saturday programme provides a reliable anchor. Children come knowing there will be food, play, learning, and adults who care. That consistency matters: it builds trust, belonging, and emotional resilience.

We have also taken children beyond Kibera on learning trips, including visits to the Nairobi National Museum, where many experienced history, nature, and culture outside the settlement for the first time.

Partnerships That Multiply Impact

The programme is sustained through ETCO's own fundraising, donations, sponsorships, and partnerships. Organisations like the Uebert Angel Foundation, Good News Church, and Victory Farms Kenya have partnered with us to serve record numbers — on one occasion reaching over 920 children, 230 elderly people, and 125 youth in a single day.

Visitors regularly join our Saturdays to lead life skills sessions, donate supplies, and share encouragement — turning feeding days into community events that grow stronger every week.

What Children Receive

  • A nutritious weekly meal, often their most reliable food source
  • Music, dance, art, drama, and computer education
  • Life skills training and mentorship from volunteers
  • A supervised, safe environment away from harmful influences
  • Exposure trips and learning experiences outside Kibera

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Field reports

  • Day of an African Child 2026 field report image
    16 June 2026

    Day of an African Child 2026

    The Day of the African Child brought together stakeholders from Kibra and Lang'ata, including the Kibera Gender Advocacy Network and Kibera Law Courts, to champion children's rights and welfare.

  • Most welcome field report image
    12 June 2026

    Most welcome

    ETCO and the Lang'ata Local Water Forum are hosting partner organisations for the Day of An African Child, with a procession from Kibra DC ground to Canaan Estate.

See all field reports for Child Empowerment

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