West of the Rift Valley Region
West of the Rift Valley Region (WORVR) was established in 1986 soon after the General Chapter had passed that the Institute elevates the Areas to Regions. The WORV Region has its headquarters at Bungoma. The Current Regional Superior is Sr. Angeline Simatei who is assisted by Sr. Teresa Kalee as the Vicaress and Nazarine Wandia is the Council Member while Sr. Adelaide Chepkemoi is the Substitute Councillor
The Region is comprised of the ecclesiastical dioceses of Bungoma, Kitale, Eldoret, Kericho and Kisii.
The main apostolate of the Little Sisters of St. Francis in West of the Rift Valley Region include. education from nursery schools to Secondary education, health care services at one hospital and four health care units; social services to the mentally challenged, the hearing impaired, the physically challenged and the orphans; and pastoral ministries in assisting the priests in evangelization and cathecisation of the people of God.
MINISTRIES
Health Programme
The Little Sisters of St. Francis WORVR is running 3 health units: St. Damiano Medical Center, St. Clare Medical Centre and St. Joseph’s Amukura Hospital.
St. Damiano Medical Centre
It was started in Nov. 2001. it is located in BungomaTown on Busia Road with a population of a proximately 500,000 people. Services offered include
- Out-patient care
- In-patient Care
- Maternity Services, e.g. deliveries, ANC, Child Welfare Clinic
- Outreach e.g. Primary Health care, VCT, School Health Programme
- Theatre Services/Surgery
- HIV/AIDS Programme
St. Clare Medical Centre
- The Centre began in May 2008; it is located in Nambale- Kisoko Parish with a population of 250,000 approximately. Services offered include;
- Out-patient care
- Maternity Services, e.g. deliveries, ANC, Prevention of Mother to Child treatment
- Outreach e.g. Primary Health care, VCT, School Health Programme
- Theatre Services/Surgery
- Eye clinic
St. Joseph’s Amukura Hospital
It is a Diocesan Health Unit but managed by LSOSF. Amukura is located in South Teso
Services offered
- Out-patient care
- In-patient Care
- Maternity Services, e.g. deliveries, ANC, Child Welfare Clinic
- Outreach e.g. Primary Health care, VCT, School Health Programme, VCT
- Theatre Services/Surgery
- HIV/AIDS Programme-Community Based Health Care
Education Programme
LSOSF owns and manages two nursery schools and a primary school with approximately 350 children
Mother Kevin Nursery and Primary School
Located in BungomaTown, it was started in 2002 with eighteen (18) children. In the year 2008, it was transferred to its new location and class one was started. At the moment the school has reached Class 6. Total population of the school is 315 with qualified staffs who offer quality Education. The school has two buses for transporting children to and from school.
St. Theresa’s Nursery School
The School was started in 2004 with 17 children. In 2005, the enrollment doubled and steadily increased. The nursery is located in Kisoko on Bungoma – Busia Road
Social Services
Amukura Babies Home
The orphanage is the very first programme that Mother Kevin established in 1952 when Little Sisters came to Western Kenya. It is located in Amukura South Teso District and beside the compound of Amukura Hospital. It has taken care of hundreds of children who have been reunited with their families while others were adopted by worth parents. The Home takes care of children aged 0-5 years however; there those who stay in the home until 8 years old when we cannot find appropriate parents to adopt them or immediate families are no ready to take them back.
St. Anthony’s Small Home for Mentally Challenged Children
The home is located in Kisoko Busia District. The programme was initially started by the Mill Hill priest in 1987 to provide care and shelter to mentally challenged children. In 1992 it was handed over to the Little Sisters. It had 15 children by then. The number of children gradually increased and a bigger dormitory was built for boys and girls in a plot bought by the Sisters. At present the home has 70 children, some are not only mentally challenged but has multiple disabilities. Some are enrolled in a regular primary school but most of them are enrolled in a special school beside the home. They are taught basic living skills and vocational school such as carpentry.
While in the home, they are given different responsibilities as part of their rehabilitation scheme. The girls help in the kitchen while the boys assist the grounds man in tending the farm and the animals. The government Physiotherapist comes regularly to provide reflexology and exercises to improve coordination. Majority of the children excel mostly in music and Art.
St. Elizabeth Vocational School- Bungoma
The center was initially intended for single mothers in Bungoma however, when it opened in 2008, majority of the students were youth with disabilities; hearing impaired, physically and mentally challenged. The centre offers dressmaking and tailoring, knitting, computer lessons and agriculture. Recently 17 graduated from the 2 year course and did well in the government grade test. They can pursue to get the higher qualification and be qualified to teach in vocational school.
St. Francis School for the Deaf- Kitale
The school was opened on 18th January 2011 with 12 children. The enrollment is still ongoing the children have to pass through assessment centers first before joining the school.
Pastoral programme
It includes catechism for children, youth, adults who wanted to join the catholic faith. To follow up on the learners, home visits are done especially to those who wanted to solemnize their union in the church. For the elderly sisters, their apostolate is visiting the sick at hospitals or in homes to pray with them.
To encourage more young women to join sisterhood, vocation promotion is being carried out in schools and parishes. Home visits follows once an individual shows that she has inclination for religious life.