The Kenyan Orphan Project was started in 2001 by a group of Nottingham medical students in response to the Aids global situation. KOP works on health, education and social welfare projects in Kenya.

KOP believes that:

• people are entitled to live free from poverty, disease, prejudice, isolation, hardship and suffering
• all people have a role to play in the support of those who are in need of help
• individuals and communities have the potential to improve their own lives
• the needs of communities and individuals must be identified and responded to through active participation of all concerned
• support of vulnerable children such as orphans and street children
• establishment and support of self-sustaining income generating activities and community schemes
• provision of and access to adequate healthcare
• assisting with the provision and support of education prevention of HIV/AIDS and support for those who are affected
• raising awareness of development issues in the UK

Good partnerships and collaborations between international groups and local non-governmental organisations seem to offer the best possible working solutions. On this premise, Kenyan Orphan Project's position is clear in its efforts to work independently in the UK but in Kenya to work only in partnership with local groups.

The essence of the Kenyan Orphan Project is about the support of communities and people who are suffering or disadvantaged through poverty and burden of disease and lack of access to adequate health care and education. It is also about empowering individuals and communities to be self-sufficient and to build a future free from that which currently disadvantages them.

Small projects working on a small scale need to continue alongside larger scale national and government initiatives. Because, as these smaller projects expand, there will be lessons to be learned and models to be followed by local authorities and these may eventually translate into bigger and more inclusive initiatives. Funding and resources in the form of large-scale governmental and international aid and investment alongside fairer trade and economic conditions are certainly a pre-requisite to a brighter future for African (and other) countries but this should continue to be complemented by the work and contribution of local NGOs working with international groups. This is where the Kenyan Orphan Project has a continuing and meaningful role.