The world vision of Kenya and its impact on social and religious development: a case study of Dagoretti sub county in Kenya

Abstract

World Vision International (WVI) is a Faith-Based Organization (FBO). Evangelical Christian humanitarian Aid, development and advocacy Organization dedicated to working with children, families and communities to overcome poverty and injustice. It was established in 1950 to care for the orphans in Asia, World Vision International has grown to embrace the larger issues of community development and advocacy for the poor in its mission to help children and their families build sustainable future. It is founded on the principles and teachings of Christianity as propagated by the community of the edifice Jesus Christ. This study is a critical assessment of the gaps between the giver World Vision Kenya (WVK) and the receiver (the Riruta community). The World Vision of Kenya has been in Riruta Integrated Program Area (RIPA) for the last two decades. The main goal of this study was to establish whether they had achieved their intended objectives, that is to transform the lives of the poor and oppressed through Economic Transformational Development that is sustainable and community based, focused on the needs of children, to express God‟s love and care among all people for holistic ministry. The study objectives of the study were; to assess the role played by World Vision Kenya in Riruta Integrated Program Area based/focused on the needs of the child, to investigate the impact of World Vision Kenya on Riruta Integrated Program Area community, to evaluate the achievements of the World Vision Kenya in Riruta Integrated Program Area and to find out the World Vision Kenya working relationship and strategies with the existing partners/stakeholders, to explore the challenges experienced by the World Vision Kenya in their contribution to spiritual concept of Transformational Development. The study adopted a qualitative research design. Secondary data was derived from existing literature, and reports on Riruta IPA community Based Organizations (CBOs), WVK‟s workers, GoK officers in the ministry of Education, children department, church leaders, school pupils, contact teachers, sub-area program coordinators and the Sud-County administrators. The study covered the RIPA (Riruta, Uthiru, Waithaka). From the findings, the study revealed that the world Vision Kenya (WVK) in Riruta Integrated Program Area (RIPA) did not fully meet the needs of the child as evidenced in the study. The study established that; empowerment on the economic activities through engagement of the community in WVK-RIPA has impacted on transformational development; through training in entrepreneurial skills benefiting many families. It was established that, World Vision Kenya has a good working relationship with other existing partners/stakeholders; and it plays a complementary role in achieving their goal. The study found that parents were able to manage illnesses through good diet, warm clothes and Immunization programmes. In order to be more effective and efficient in addressing the economic empowerment for transformational development, World Vision Kenya should emphasize on skills training, economic development and spiritual growth