There are an estimated 2.6 million Orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVC) in Kenya, of whom 650,000 are orphaned by AIDS. More than one million households care for an orphan. In the absence of a coordinated multi-sectoral response, OVC are at risk of: (1) not knowing their HIV status; (2) delayed treatment; (3) economic difficulty due to caregiver illness and death; (4) family separation; and/or (5) situations that put them at greater risk of protection violations and HIV infection (school dropout, early marriage, risky behaviors). 

MWENDO (Making Well-informed Efforts to Nurture Disadvantaged OVC) is a $70,390,253, five-year USAID funded project that targets OVC in 13 Counties in Nyanza, Western and Rift Valley. Catholic Relief Services (CRS) leads a consortium that also includes Maestral International and Family AIDS Care and Education Services (FACES). MWENDO aims to ensure children remain healthy, safe, stable and schooled by: addressing the social determinants of health to improve the wellbeing of children orphaned and made vulnerable by HIV; enhance the capacity of caregivers and communities to sustainably provide care and support to OVC; and strengthen institutional capacities of formal and informal structures to respond to child welfare and protection needs.