The Turkana people of northwest Kenya are among the poorest in Africa. Severe, long-term droughts, limited access to clean water, medical services and education leave thousands of children exposed — malnourished, at risk of disease, and often living on the streets.
For seventeen years, Pastor John and Pamela Eyanae have lived and worked at TNCH, serving the most vulnerable children and families in Kakuma and four surrounding villages. What started as a pastoral outreach has grown into a community development initiative serving more than 2,000 people.
The Kakuma Project channels Australian and global support into TNCH's sustainable, locally-led programs on the ground — with donations processed through Interseed International (DGR) to ensure they are tax-deductible.
Serving four villages:Kakuma sits in the far northwest of Kenya, near the borders with South Sudan, Uganda, and Ethiopia. The four villages we serve surround the town.
All program delivery happens on the ground in Kakuma, led by TNCH. Australian donations flow through Interseed International — our charitable financial partner — so they qualify for an Australian tax deduction.
A registered community-based organisation operating on a 10-acre property provided by the Kenyan Government. Registered with and reporting to Kenyan Social Services, TNCH sponsors children through primary, secondary, and tertiary education and runs the daily meals, teaching, and mentorship programs in Kakuma and the surrounding villages.
A registered Australian charity (DGR) and one of TNCH's partners. Interseed processes Australian donations as the project's tax-deductible giving pathway, with no administration costs deducted from Kakuma Project funds. Visit interseed.org.au →
A small, hands-on team across two continents — Australia for fundraising and governance, Kenya for delivery on the ground.
Leads project direction and fundraising from Australia, working closely with TNCH on strategic growth.
Partners with Prof. Drew on Australian fundraising and outreach, and is establishing the Kakuma Project's mentoring program — connecting volunteers with sponsored students through structured study support, encouragement, and career guidance.
Chairperson of Kakuma pastors fellowship. Has served the Turkana community and TNCH for seventeen years.
Has served alongside Pastor John at TNCH for seventeen years, caring for orphaned and vulnerable children and leading the day-to-day life of the children's home.
Day-to-day work on the ground is carried by the wider TNCH team — including Zipporah Esekon, our social worker, who visits sponsored children in their schools, walks alongside their families, and runs TNCH's vital ministry to street-connected youth.
Sponsorship pays the fees — but the children of Kakuma also need consistent encouragement, study support, and a sense of what's possible beyond the village. We're building a mentoring program that pairs volunteers in Australia with sponsored students in Kakuma, supported by Zipporah and the TNCH social work team on the ground.
The program is being designed by Innocent Ladu and rolls out in stages through 2026 — beginning with secondary and tertiary students who are preparing for further study, scholarships, and work.
If you're interested in becoming a mentor, get in touch.
Express interest →
Mentoring · Study support · Career guidance
Financial statements (income and expenditure) are made available through Interseed. 100% of designated Kakuma funds go to program delivery.
All program delivery is led by Kenyan staff on the ground — culturally appropriate and community-rooted.
Our vision is not aid dependency. We build systems — schools, teachers, mentors — that create lasting change.
Individuals, churches, businesses, and community groups — every partnership counts.