Stories of hope from Ngoliba

Who are you? It's a simple question, but Clinton Kamau takes his time answering it. First he says he is a Christian. Then, after a short pause: "I'm an orphan."

During an earlier visit to The Ark, I noticed something. The boys have plenty of ideas — good ideas, too. But between "what if we…" and actually doing it lies a gap, and it turned out to be too wide to cross on their own. An idea doesn't turn itself into a plan. Something more is needed.

Clements had told me about his first encounter with The Ark, and how he wanted to set up a foundation that could support it from the Netherlands. A foundation needs a board, of course, and I can't say no — so one and one makes two, or maybe even three!

While the sun beat down relentlessly on Ngoliba, the firewood was running low and the kitchen was at risk of having to stop cooking hot meals. Almost all the children were able to spend the holidays with family outside The Ark, returned safely and went back to school.