Meet Caroline Wanjiku, Hope Center Therapist in Kenya!
Discover how Caroline contributes to empowering vulnerable children, families, and community.
How long have you been at KAI, and what inspired you to join?
I joined KAI in September 2022, and it’s been two incredible years of service to humanity. I was inspired by the work KAI does to serve children in a Christ-centered way. I wanted to be part of an organization focused on empowering families, and KAI has been a perfect fit.
Can you share a fun fact about yourself that most people don’t know?
I actually love playing and having fun! People often assume I’m very strict and serious because of my demeanor, but when I’m in the right environment—like around children’s energy—my inner child comes alive. One of my greatest joys is being able to tap into that playful side while working with children in my role.
What are some of the biggest challenges you face in your role, and how do you overcome them?
My role involves helping our beneficiaries process trauma and make difficult decisions. Sometimes, progress isn’t as quick or as smooth as we would hope. In those moments, I lean on my faith in our Lord Jesus and the support of my colleagues to stay encouraged and focused.
Can you share a story about a specific child, family, or program that shows how God is working through KAI?
At the KAK Nairobi Hope Center, we run a mentorship program that focuses on life skills and guidance. This program addresses various challenges that many of us face while creating a safe space where children feel loved, heard, and seen. It strikes a beautiful balance between nurture and structure, making it my favorite program so far.
What advice would you give to someone looking to get involved in nonprofit work?
The rewards of serving God are first felt internally, long before they manifest externally. Be patient—with yourself, with those you serve, and with the people you serve alongside.
What does KAI’s new tagline mean to you personally in your work?
Justice that heals. Bonds that mend.
The tagline resonates deeply with me, as it reflects the thoughts, feelings, and actions that follow. It challenges me to foster relationships and interactions that promote healing and prevent harm. It also reminds me of the influence I have through my decisions and how I show up in both my personal and professional life. As a mental health professional, I know awareness is the first step in any healing process, and KAI’s tagline encapsulates this beautifully.
For César and Jaqueline, serving at Kids Alive began with a season of unexpected change. After the pandemic, both lost their jobs and began praying about their next steps.
Their connection to Kids Alive already ran deep. Their son had attended one of the ministry’s community programs, and through that experience they became more aware of the realities facing children who live in residential care. As they learned more about the children’s stories, they began sensing something. "We felt God calling us to serve in a more direct and committed way," César recalls.
Jaqueline remembers how one child’s story deeply affected her. Hearing about a child who had no parents opened her eyes to a reality that many people never see. "That experience moved us to get involved and to open our hearts to serve children who need care and protection," she says.
Today, more than four years later, they serve faithfully as caregivers and mentors at Kids Alive Peru's Juniper Tree Children's Home.
A Heart for Attentive Service
Both César and Jaqueline bring unique personal experiences that shape the way they care for children.
César’s childhood was marked by unequal treatment among siblings within a difficult family environment. That experience left a lasting impression on him. He takes care to treat each child with fairness, dignity, and love, "as if they were my own children."
Jaqueline describes herself as naturally open and service oriented. She strives to be present not only for the children but also for the Kids Alive staff around her. Listening, supporting, and helping wherever she can has become part of the culture of care she tries to create.
Together, their shared commitment helps shape an environment where children can experience stability and belonging.
Navigating Trauma-Informed Care
Caring for children who have experienced trauma comes with its own complexities. For César, one of the greatest challenges is preparing kids for life beyond the children’s home. While they are protected within the KAI home environment, the outside world often looks very different.
Part of his role is helping them develop discipline, responsibility, and respect so they can navigate the realities of adulthood while still feeling supported and loved.
Every day, Jaqueline is working to establish healthy boundaries. Each child carries a different story and healing process, and caregiving requires constant discernment.
What sustains them both is patience, persistence, and the willingness to keep walking alongside children even during difficult moments.
Witnessing Transformation
Over the years, César and Jaqueline have seen many lives change, but a few stories remain especially meaningful to them.
César remembers supporting a teenage boy through a difficult transition as he prepared to leave the children’s home. They stayed closely involved throughout the process. Later, the young man returned to visit them at their home and has remained in contact. César says, "It showed us that the love you invest truly leaves a lasting impact."
Jaqueline recalls a young boy who arrived carrying deep wounds of rejection. At first, he struggled to trust the people around him. Over time, as the couple intentionally made him feel like part of their family, his behavior began to change. Eventually, he started calling them “mom” and “dad.” "He started to feel loved," she recalls.
Serving With Faith at the Center
When asked what advice they would give to someone considering nonprofit work, both César and Jaqueline point to the same foundation: faith.
César believes this kind of service requires humility, forgiveness, and a deep spiritual grounding. "Without God, it would be very difficult to sustain this kind of work."
Jaqueline agrees. For her, understanding God’s forgiveness is what enables caregivers to extend grace to children who are still processing pain and loss. The work demands selflessness and daily reliance on Christ.
Living Out “Justice that Heals. Bonds that Mend.”
Kids Alive’s tagline resonates deeply with both César and Jaqueline.
For César, justice means protecting children who have come from deeply unjust circumstances. It means "loving them, guiding them, and providing holistic care—creating bonds that allow their hearts and lives to be restored."
Jaqueline sees restoration happening through everyday relationships. Healing begins when people acknowledge mistakes, ask forgiveness, and create safe spaces built on respect, listening, and love.
Together, they're working every day to help children experience the healing that comes from belonging.
Thank you for making it possible for caregivers like César and Jaqueline to provide loving homes where children can experience safety, belonging, and hope. Your support helps create justice that heals and bonds that mend for children all around the world. Want to learn more? Become a Safe Haven Champion today!
For the past three years, Kabukabu Ng’uni has served with Kids Alive Zambia, guided by a deep conviction that vulnerable children and families deserve protection, dignity, and hope. Long before joining the organization, those values were already shaping both her personal aspirations and professional path.
What drew her to Kids Alive was our commitment to advocating for children whose rights are often overlooked. That mission aligned with her own desire to see justice and care extended to those living on the margins. Today, her work reflects a calling rooted in skill and purpose.
A Heart That Listens
Kabukabu's role comes with moments that require deep emotional awareness. One of the most challenging aspects of her work is walking with children during seasons of transition, especially when they're being reunited with family.
In those moments, she carefully navigates the space between empathy and sympathy, remaining present without allowing emotion to overwhelm the child. It's the kind of work that requires self-reflection and trust in God’s guidance. Through it all, her focus remains on supporting children in ways that are meaningful, healthy, and restorative.
A Story of Transformation
One child’s journey stands out clearly to Kabukabu. Mary (name changed for safety) arrived at Kids Alive Zambia about three years ago after experiencing deep loss at a young age. After her mother’s death, her father abandoned the family, leaving Mary to care for her three siblings. The weight of that responsibility eventually pulled her out of school.
When Mary entered Kids Alive care, she was enrolled back into school and provided with the support she needed to begin again. At first, she struggled academically, but over time she began to catch up. She later completed her exams and performed exceptionally well. Today, she's at a mission boarding school.
Beyond academics, Mary has flourished socially and spiritually. She joined both her school and church choirs. "Mary shows so much passion when it comes to singing for her God," Kabukabu comments. Earlier this year, Mary was selected to participate in a special choral competition.
The girl who once arrived withdrawn and unhappy is now expressive, joyful, and confident. For Kabukabu, her growth is a powerful example of how God works through consistent care, opportunity, and belonging at Kids Alive Zambia.
Serving With an Open Heart
Kabukabu believes nonprofit work requires a willingness to give more than you receive. Serving in this space means aligning with the mission and values of the organization, understanding that "the ultimate reward for any good deed is from God."
To her, the work is not about personal gain, but about commitment, humility, and faithfulness in the small moments that shape a child’s life.
Living Out “Justice that Heals. Bonds that Mend.”
Kids Alive’s tagline holds deep meaning for Kabukabu. "It sparked a hidden flame in me to make every effort as I serve the children under our care." She sees it as an invitation to ensure that every interaction with a child carries purpose. The laughter shared, the time invested, and the love shown are not just ways to connect, but building blocks for belonging and joy.
Through her service, Kabukabu strives to help children experience more than attachment. She hopes they discover fulfillment, identity, and the freedom to live fully as God intends.
Thank you for making it possible for dedicated team members like Kabukabu Ng’uni to walk alongside children in Zambia with compassion and care. Your partnership helps create justice that heals and bonds that mend for children discovering hope and belonging. Want to learn more? Become a Safe Haven Champion today!
For two years, Sasha Reyes has served as a caregiver at a Kids Alive Peru home, offering gentle, consistent support to children in their restoration journeys. But her desire to serve others began long before arriving in Peru.
Back in Venezuela, Sasha worked with children and youth as a scout leader and often felt drawn to work rooted in care and guidance. When she learned about Kids Alive, she saw both the need and the opportunity to serve in a Christian organization, which made her decision even more meaningful.
Today, she sees her work as part of God’s invitation to walk closely with children who need compassion, stability, and hope.
Joy in Everyday Moments
Sasha brings warmth to the home in simple but meaningful ways. Earlier this year, she adopted a cat that had once lived on the property. Sasha cared for her and the kittens she had. "I’ve since found homes for most of them," she says. "It’s been a really sweet experience."
Walking With Children Toward Hope
Some of the deepest work Sasha does happens in the quiet, slow process of helping children learn to trust again. One of her biggest challenges is connecting with kids who find it difficult to receive love. Many have lived through seasons when they did not feel safe or valued, and they guard their hearts as a way of protecting themselves.
Sasha responds by being a present source of love in their lives. Sometimes she attends school activities outside of work so the children know they matter. Her approach is simple but powerful: demonstrtrating that each child is important and worth showing up for. "It’s about showing them that they can trust and that they are truly seen," she says.
Restoring Confidence Through Encouragement
One moment Sasha will never forget happened during a visit from Chef Giacomo Bocchio earlier this year. A girl under Kids Alive's care who usually hid her artwork decided to share one of her paintings. Giacomo’s wife noticed, called her husband over, and together they encouraged the girl to continue developing her talent. They even offered support for her artistic growth.
Sasha mentions, "That small moment was powerful — it gave her so much confidence and helped her see herself and her gift in a new light. It was truly moving." Moments like these remind Sasha of how God uses everyday encounters to restore hope and identity in children’s lives.
A Life of Service Rooted in Faith
For those considering nonprofit ministry, Sasha believes it must be a calling from God. The work is full of blessings, but also moments of weakness and self-doubt. In those times, she turns to prayer, asking God for the strength to love well, to be patient, and to understand each child’s needs. "He asks us to deny ourselves, to follow Him, and to delight in Him so that our desires align with His."
She has seen many prayers answered within the staff as they support one another. "It’s a life that only makes sense when it’s rooted in faith," she says.
Living Out “Justice that Heals. Bonds that Mend.”
When Sasha first read Kids Alive’s tagline, it resonated deeply. "I used to think justice was only about lawyers and judges," she says. "But I’ve come to understand that what we do here — being present, caring, and consistent — is also a part of Justice that Heals."
Bonds that Mend are at the very heart of Sasha's work. Children at Kids Alive Peru learn they are loved and valued, even if their past might be filled with pain. Sasha sees it as an honor to help bring healing to their lives through caring relationships. "I never imagined God would use me for something so meaningful."
Thank you for making it possible for caregivers like Sasha Reyes to walk alongside vulnerable children with love, steadiness, and hope. Your support helps sustain work like this all around the world. Want to learn more? Become a Safe Haven Champion today!
Because of you, healing is happening all around the world.
