Cherish Watoto Kenya

Serving Orphaned & Vulnerable Children through Education & Scholarships, Skills Development, and Mentorship.

Cherish Watoto 2023 Update

Cherish Watoto x Good Shepherd

Cherish Watoto is a primary school and boarding facility in Nairobi, Kenya, providing education, care, and hope to over 250 children from some of the city’s poorest areas. Many of these children come from Kibera—the largest slum in Africa—where families survive on less than $1.90 a day, and access to education and nutrition is scarce. At Cherish Watoto, dedicated teachers and staff demonstrate God’s love daily, offering not just learning but also meals that may be a child’s only food for the day.

By supporting Cherish directly or sponsoring a child, you can help transform lives and create lasting change for these children and their communities.

Sponsorship Opportunities

Cherish Watoto has over 250 Primary students, and currently we help support 90 Secondary students throughout Kenya.

There are many options to sponsor a student:

$40/month sponsors a Primary student (Preschool – 8th Grade)
$75/month sponsors a Secondary student (Form 1-4 (9th – 12th))
$100/year covers the cost for uniform and a pair of shoes

100% of your funds go directly to Cherish Watoto Kenya. There are no administration fees or overhead costs.

All funds go through the church which are 100% tax deductible. Good Shepherd wires funds monthly with direct accountability from Cherish Watoto Administration, no middle man.

One-Time Gifts
For those who don’t feel called to sponsor a specific student monthly, one-time contributions are welcome. These gifts go towards child nutrition, operational expenses, school supplies, and uniforms for the children. This general fund allows us to provide education and care to over 100 unsponsored children.

Payment Options

Option 1 — Pay Online with Realm
If you already have a Realm account established, you can designate a recurring payment for Cherish Watoto sponsorship.

Option 2 — Payment via Text
A quick and easy option to give using your mobile device — just text “GSHEP CWK” to 73256. You can make a one-time donation, or set up a monthly automatic payment.

NOTE: This number will never send unsolicited texts to you. To cancel further messages, text STOP. If you need assistance with text giving, text HELP. Standard text message and data rates may apply.

Option 3 — Payment via Check
Make your check payable to Good Shepherd, and note “CWK Sponsorship” on the memo line.

Send to:
Jeannine Allen
C/O Good Shepherd Church
1310 Shepherd Drive
Naperville, IL 60565

Latest Updates

Land Purchase

Through our Forward generosity initiative, we are committing to being For the World, For our Neighbors, and For the worshipping community at 1310 Shepherd Drive. This commitment led us to purchase new land for Cherish Watoto, expanding their ability to serve more children. This is not just an investment in a piece of land—it’s an investment in the lives of children who will grow up to be leaders in their communities, empowered by the love of Jesus.

Meal Kit 2025 Celebration

This Christmas, we had an ambitious goal of providing meal kits for the 130 families at Cherish Watoto Kenya. With Good Shepherd and Cherish staff's generosity, what we intended for 130 families, God used to bless over 800 individuals. Our God provides!

Recap Podcast from Latest Trip

After returning from their first trip to our mission partners in Nairobi Kenya, Pastor Tara Beth Leach and Creative Arts Executive Minister Ryan Hammer recapped their experiences with Missional Engagement Executive Minister Jeannine Allen who joined them on their trip, and Pastor Greg Wenhold, who was on the team that started this partnership in the first place.

Listen to the Podcast

Podcast: Opportunities for Impact

In this special episode of the podcast, host Ross Cochran sits down with Missional Engagement Executive Minister Jeannine Allen and Bernard Wandera from Cherish Watoto Kenya. Bernard shares about what life is like for the kids who are connected to the school where he serves as the director, and how he sees God at work. Bernard and Jeannine also discuss the many ways those of us listening can get involved in supporting all that God is doing at Cherish Watoto. Thanks for listening!