Our Story
"What began in 2008 as support for a traditional orphanage has become one of Kenya’s most inspiring examples of how children flourish when they grow up in strong, loving, and supportive families."
At Kickstart Kids International, we believe every child deserves what every parent wants for their own: love, safety, stability, and the chance to thrive within a family. Since 2008, Kickstart has walked alongside vulnerable children in Kenya, helping transform lives and rewrite futures through Olturoto Children’s Village (OCV).
What began in 2008 as support for a traditional orphanage has become one of Kenya’s most inspiring examples of how children flourish when they grow up in strong, loving, and supportive families. Guided by years of learning and compassion, and backed by Kickstart’s committed governance and support,
OCV was opened in 2014 as a residential care facility that reintegrated children into families and transitioned to a fully family-centred model with no more residential care, a shift recognised by both the Government of Kenya and UNICEF as best practice in care reform.
Why We Focus on Families, Not Orphanages
Of the 34 children supported through OCV’s reintegration process, 85% safely returned to their parents, extended family, or moved into independent living; a milestone few organisations globally have achieved.
Only a small minority required long-term specialised care, and we are supporting their active transition to independent living.
This reflects something every parent understands deeply: children thrive when they feel loved, cared for and that they belong. Today, OCV no longer houses children on-site because we have adopted a globally recognised model to keep children in families, as evidenced by our current work.