The Chinese embassy in Kenya on Thursday donated living necessities valued at over 9,000 U.S. dollars to a Nairobi-based children's home.
The donation to the Thomas Barnados Children's Home included foodstuff, detergents, stationery, milk, juices and beverages that will be used to cater for the needs of over 200 children to whom the facility is the only home they know.
The orphanage is the flagship project of Kenya Children's Homes and is home to up to 200 orphaned, destitute and abandoned babies and children ranging in age from infancy to above 18, some of whom are now studying in universities and returning to stay on weekends.
Guo Ce, Economic and Commercial Counselor at the Chinese Embassy in Kenya, said caring for children is not only a common concern of both Kenya and China, but also an important cause that has been constantly promoted by the Chinese Embassy over the years.
"Since its establishment, the institution has been tirelessly and earnestly working to help children so that they can feel the warmth and care of home. We hereby express our sincere gratitude to you for your dedication," Guo noted.
In recent years, under the guidance of the embassy, Chinese enterprises and individuals have been actively fulfilling their social responsibility to help Kenya enhance its self-development capability.
They vigorously support education development such as the Beijing School that is located deep inside Mathare Slum in Nairobi and which was funded and expanded by China.
Besides educational support, Chinese enterprises hire large number of Kenyan employees in a bid to meet the local young people's employment needs.
Collins Oywera, the Chief Administrator of the Kenya Children's Homes, said the partnership between the home and the embassy is a special one that goes a long way and has defied time.
"There are so many children's homes around Kenya, but you chose ours and for that we are very grateful," the overseer said.
Nancy Wanjiru, 20, who has lived at the facility since she was 10 years old, said the donations over the past years have comfortably sustained them at the home.
"You are the reason why we eat to our fill because of the food donations, wear clean clothes because of the detergents and have somewhere to write on because of the stationery in order that we can accomplish our goals and dreams in life," she narrated.
Last year, the embassy donated commodities amounting to 700,000 dollars for the same cause.