At Kids Alive, we walk alongside vulnerable children as they navigate the harsh realities of trauma such as abuse, sexual violence, and neglect. Our team is committed to providing a place of safety and protection - safe havens - to heal those traumatic wounds and build communities where violence and trauma are reduced. As a Safe Haven Champion, you support our family strengthening, protective care, and justice advocacy programs. These programs involve residential homes, reunification, job skills, parent trainings, government collaboration, and victim advocacy and restoration.
As a Safe Haven Champion, you are walking alongside KAI staff like Hilda as she ministers to children in difficult places.
Hilda Peña is a Child and Adolescent Psychologist at Ark Jarabacoa.
As a Child Psychologist at Kids Alive, it gives Hilda great satisfaction to see children transformed by God’s love. She can see the palpable change in their behavior, physique, and even their smile.
Hilda has been working in the ministry for 14 years. She chose Kids Alive because of its mission to work with our community's most vulnerable children and adolescents. Hilda wanted to positively impact the lives of children who need help.
Hilda is passionate about modeling the love, compassion, and mercy that God has had for her in her own life. To teach children that their identity is in Christ, Hilda uses resources like Christian books with specific topics and Bible studies.
Hilda’s work has a significant impact on the community. She works with the children in Kids Alive’s care and also directly with their families. She contributes to helping families become healthy enough to reunify their children with them. Hilda helps introduce God to kids and sees children accepting Jesus as their only Savior.
Karin Hernández is a Psychologist at Families Together Team, Kids Alive Guatemala.
Karin Hernández embodies service, compassion, and the love of Jesus. Her journey from caregiver to psychologist at Oasis, Guatemala reflects a strong commitment to serving the marginalized. She creates a safe environment at Oasis, walking alongside vulnerable children and communities towards healing and well-being.
Karin’s upbringing in a small village instilled a profound calling to serve vulnerable populations. Karin started working on staff as a caregiver at Oasis, giving credit to God for the opportunity and His perfect timing. She transitioned into her role as a psychologist a year and a half after being at Oasis.
At the heart of Karin’s work lies her faith. She navigates the complexities of trauma and restoration, intertwining psychological principles with faith-based approaches. Karin’s journey is marked by spiritual growth and reliance on guidance from the Lord.
The Lord has given Karin the ability to create bonds and secure attachments with the girls. It gives her joy to witness the transformation in their lives, as they find their voice, reclaim their identity, and embrace their worth. Through therapy, she creates a safe space for healing, meeting the girls where they are.
Iris Medina is Director at Juniper Tree Residential Home.
Iris loves seeing a look of hope in the eyes of the children and receiving their gestures of affection, which are a reflection of Kids Alive sharing the love of Jesus and caring for them.
Iris has been with Kids Alive for almost three years. She desires to share her knowledge and past experience working with girls and adolescents. Iris sees her work as a dedicated service and an opportunity to be an instrument of God in restoring the lives of children.
Iris cares deeply about restoring the rights of vulnerable children to grow up within a family environment. She works to ensure families are prepared with positive parental competencies and establishes connections with community institutions to provide additional support.
She sees the fruits of the biblical principles imparted when the children actively participate in devotionals. A young woman deciding to get baptized and alumni serving others in the ministries that served them are beautiful testimonies of the work being done through Iris and Kids Alive.
Esther Ouma aka ‘Aunt Esther’ is a Social Worker at Karundas Hope Center.
Esther works with people to empower them to be self–reliant in life. As a child of God, she uses her skills to assess and address the community's needs.
Esther is known lovingly as ‘Aunt Esther’ by the children at Kids Alive Kenya. Aunt Esther chose to join three years ago, believing her skills and experience to be an excellent fit for the Kids Alive team. She eagerly contributes to the success and growth of the organization.
Aunt Esther is passionate about inspiring people to do what motivates them. She firmly believes she is God’s child and is honored to share Kids Alive's mission, identities, and values. Esther finds the KAI Value Cards and trauma-informed tools helpful resources.
Since joining, six children in Kids Alive’s care were baptized, having professed Christ as their Savior. Esther participates in daily morning devotions with the Kids Alive team, enjoying a vibrant, life-changing relationship with God.
Wendy Kafumukache is a Social worker at Misisi Care Center.
Wendy takes great joy in mentoring children at Kids Alive. She is passionate about tracing families of lost children and reuniting the children with their families. She compassionately shares the love and hope of Christ.
Wendy has been with Kids Alive for three years and four months and loves working closely with the children. She creates a child-friendly environment where children can open up to her and share their innermost feelings. She helps kids draw closer to God.
Wendy is passionate about providing children with a safe space, enabling them to have decent meals and clothing and get the best education without any challenges. Wendy incorporates participatory Bible devotion sessions with songs and Bible stories.
She promotes education and helps children grow into resilient young adults who can make informed decisions in school, life, and communities. Wendy has seen God work in the children's hearts, seeing them stop fighting and loving others.
