18 November: Phyllis Keino (extreme right) is seen here among other award-winners receiving her World of Children 2018 Humanitarian Award at the ceremony held in the prestigious Park Avenue, New York City at the beginning of November. It is in recognition for her work as founder and director of the Lewa Children's Home, KipKeino School and Baraka Farm and ‘mother’ to orphans and abandoned children in Eldoret, Kenya.
Over more than 50 years, Phyllis has been providing a safe home, medical care, a first-class education and a caring family environment to thousands of children.
In her speech at the ceremony Phyllis told the story of Sammy Emon, a 15-year-old Turkana boy who saw his future as a cow herder. After Phyllis took him under her wing, he was enrolled at the KipKeino School, set up to educate the orphans in her care. When he eventually finished school, the story of how he had persevered inspired so many people that he was given a job by the Turkana Government. This is just one of hundreds of stories of children benefiting from Phyllis' unstinting care and concern.
The World of Children receives thousands of nominations from around the world every year, and these awards are recognised by the media as the “Nobel Prize for Child Advocates” and a global recognition and funding programme that exclusively focuses on a broad range of children’s issues including health, education, safety and human rights. In giving the award the World of Children said:” We are proud and honoured to welcome Phyllis to our family of Honourees our 2018 Humanitarian Award recipient”.
This is also a proud moment for Bread and Water for Africa UK. As well as leading a BWAUK project, Phyllis has been our spokeswoman for the last 14 years, so we at BWAUK say "Congratulations and a big 'Thank you Phyllis' ”, for all your work.