KILIMANJARO KIDS COMMUNITY
Giving orphaned children home at the
base of Mt. Kilimanjaro
IMPACT
Education, stability, community, and a bright future for 32 CHILDREN
PROJECT HISTORY
The Kilimanjaro Kids’ Community (KKC) started from an empty piece of land that Dean curated into a large-scale operation offering housing, meals, and private education to orphans in need. This last year, a new building was built to house all sports equipment safely and neatly. From soccer nets and balls to badminton and brand-new mountain bikes– donated by KÜHL– we have expanded our sports offerings onsite and continue to add more movement and fun to the lives of each child. This year we also worked diligently to finalize plans for building a boy’s dorm. This project would allow us to separate our girls and boys, offering more privacy and allowing us to increase the number of children at the KKC to around 50, furthering our ability to leave a lasting positive impact on this wonderful community where we trek. It makes it all the more impressive knowing that this entire operation started as an empty plot of land with nothing around it. The KKC has expanded to house 32 children and bring electricity and water to the surrounding area. An entire community has cropped up around the facility, making it all the more special. Thanks to the continued dedication and support of our U.S. and Tanzania staff, we are excited to continue expanding and hope to enhance these programs for many years to come.
We’re also proud to note the KKC is very self-sufficient, with solar power, rainwater collection, gardens, and livestock that not only provide a self-sufficient way of life at the KKC but also educate our children on valuable Tanzanian life skills. In our garden, there are several fruit trees; mangoes, oranges, lemons, avocados, pawpaw, and bananas which help the kids and staff receive some nutrition.
Looking Forward
As the children grow and we bring more orphans into the family, we plan to build additional dorms to allow the older children more privacy. The children have enjoyed being roomed together by gender, but the teenagers must have the chance to feel independent before heading off into the world as adults.
How Can I Help?
The Kilimanjaro Kids Community is at the base of Mount Kilimanjaro. Visiting the orphanage is easy to do and recommended! The children love meeting new people and our guest house provides comfortable accommodations to stay in. You’re welcome to help with projects around the property, or simply enjoy being welcomed by the KKC family. We can easily build an ideal itinerary for your desired visit.
We often get asked about specific sponsorship ideas to direct your donation towards a project or effort that moves you.
- Sponsors can make a set annual donation, all of which goes directly toward paying for clothing, food, books, building maintenance, KKC staff salaries, and basic necessities for children at the KKC.
- $1500 per child, per year covers all necessities at the orphanage.
- $1000 supports one child’s primary school education
- $1200 supports one child’s secondary school education
- $3000 would be a generous contribution towards building construction of the new dormitory.
CHILDREN OF THE KKC
Africa has a significant amount of orphaned and homeless children. Medical care is marginal and often parents are lost to illness and injury. In some cases, the parents are still alive but live in such poverty that they cannot afford to care for their children. There are 32 beautiful, smiling children at the KKC ranging from six to eighteen years old. This family provides education, family life, and opportunities to children who would otherwise go without it.
Abel
Amana
Angel
Augostino
Jessica
Arnold
Calvin
Kennedy
Meshak
Naomi
Neema
Rhoda
Samuel
Steven
Nehemia
In 2023, all children on the KKC are finding success in their education, and are thriving as individuals.
Joshua
Rose
Ally-Seif
Athuman
Ibrahim
Angel
Loren
Amiri
Irene
Mhina
Brighton
KKC STAFF
Without a dedicated and supportive staff, running the KKC would be impossible. Many staff members live on-site, while some come in a few days a week to take care of their duties. Human Outreach Project hopes to continue to provide a stable and supportive work environment, including being able to care for life outside of work for the staff with opportunities such as continued education and health coverage. More than anything, the staff is the role model and leader for the children. Standing in a parental role, they help guide the children into adulthood. They have built amazing relationships with the children and are loved deeply by them.
Anna
Peter
Jessica
Big Abel
Mary
Jerome
Ndekwa
Claudia
Ray
Harieth
Goddy
KKC PROPERTY
After years of building, development at the KKC is still in process. As the kids and HOP grow, needs at the KKC become more complex. Our goal for the property is to continue to find ways to sustain itself. In 2015, we equipped most of the buildings with solar power and installed a massive rainwater storage system. Our garden hosts fruit trees and produces garden vegetables while our cows, goats, and chickens provide sources of food. In 2019, the KKC facility added an official reception to better assist and direct visitors. We also completed the construction of the fish pond and purchased 2,200 Fingerlings to stock the pond. The Fingerlings take 11 months to grow to maturity and will then be ready to harvest as needed. The mature Tilapia fish will provide fresh fish to eat for the children at least twice a week. Any extra fish can be sold at the market and in the local community as a source of income to buy other needed supplies for the Kilimanjaro Kids Community.
Pavilion
The pavilion was the first building to be put in at the KKC in 2009. Since then it has served as a meeting place for the kids and community, a learning center, and a storage area. When we host large groups, we often set out here to eat and hang out. Next, we built the student dorm!
Kids Dormitory
The kid’s dorm went up along with the pavilion and was finished soon after. The dorm is separated into a girls’ and boys’ side. There is a living room and a place for them to do their homework. They all take turns doing house chores and sleep comfortably in their bed. The new dormitory is currently under construction.
Kitchen and Dining Area
The kitchen and dining areas are separate from the kid’s dorm but provide a place for the kids and staff to gather for meals. The dining area was added in 2016 so that cooking, eating, and cleaning could all happen in one area. The kids are involved in every aspect of meals. They help the mamas pick the food from the garden, prepare it in the kitchen, set the table, and clean up afterward. Proper table manners are always enforced by the Mamas.
Staff Dorm
After years of rotating staff between their homes and the KKC, the staff quarters (built in 2016) give the KKC staff a private room of their own to avoid commuting. One mama always sleeps in the same building as the children, but the mamas rotate the responsibility. The “off-duty” mamas now have their room in the staff quarters.
Guest Quarters
After hosting group after group at the KKC, it was time we created a living space for guests. Whether they are students, volunteers, or visitors, we wanted to ensure the people who visited the KKC get the full immersive experience of staying the night. Nestled in the corner of the property, the furnished building boasts an astounding view of Mt. Kilimanjaro and safely houses our guests.
Animals & Agriculture
Throughout the property, there are many gardens where we grow maize, tomatoes, cucumbers, squash, papaya, banana, avocado, and many other fruits and vegetables. In the northwest corner of the property are the cow corral and chicken coop, where we have cows, goats, and chickens. We get all of our milk from the cows and most of our eggs from our hens. Peter, working as the livestock handler, spends most of his time tending to our animals.
Welcome Center
This building is directly inside the front gate to the left and is the first building a guest will see while visiting. The two rooms inside serve as a storage area and administrative office, while the wall outside displays important information about the KKC.
Fish Pond
We completed the construction of the fish pond and purchased 2,200 Fingerlings to stock the pond. The Fingerlings take 11 months to grow to maturity and then are ready to harvest as needed. The mature Tilapia provide fresh fish to eat for the children at least twice a week. Any extra fish is sold at the market as a source of income to buy other needed supplies for the KKC.
