Our Mission
Who We Are:
African Orphan Outreach is a Christian humanitarian response to the orphan crisis in Africa. AOO exists to connect people who want to share the love of Christ by providing a home and care and education for orphans amid the AIDS crisis in West Kenya.
Help The Oppressed. Defend the Orphan. Fight for the rights of Widows.
Isaiah 1:17
About Us
The AIDS crisis in Africa has been going on for a long time. As a result, the overwhelming number of children being orphaned everyday is more than we can wrap our heads around.
The reality is that MOST of the children becoming orphaned are not being cared for. Without care, these children suffer from spiritual, social, economic, and physical poverty. Malnutrition, begging, drug abuse, and human trafficking are all high risks for their future.
We are on mission to bring these Kenyan orphans opportunity. Our vision is to rescue them from all of those possibilities. AOO wants see all children grow into responsible, fulfilled, God-loving adults. So, as a non profit, we raise funding that supports Homes, Christian Educations, Churches, Meals, Medical Treatment and other necessary provisions that the children of West Kenya needs.
our Story
The mission of African Orphan Outreach began in 2004 with a mission vision team trip to Kenya and Uganda. President of AOO, Darren Cote' and Vice President of AOO, Dr. Edward Roth were part of this vision trip. The goal was to help support an orphan ministry work that had a significant need and that dedicated supporters could commit to for the long term.
One of the Christian orphanages visited was the Ushindi Children's Homes in West Kenya (established in 2001 through the ministry support of VOM). A top need of this orphanage of 80 children was to build another home for the over 200 orphans on their waiting list. AOO, through the financial and prayer support of individual members of Church of the Woods, in Lake Arrowhead, helped support a grass-roots mission to build a new orphanage home for these orphans on the waiting list. Land was purchased and two large homes were built near the first Ushindi 1 Children's Home.
AOO became a nonprofit ministry in 2005. The new orphanage, Ushindi 2 Children's Homes opened their doors in February of 2006, with the help of a AOO missionary team from the US. The first group of 55 orphans came into the home, followed by more by the end of 2006. In 2007 another 40 children were added to bring the total children cared for in the homes to over 200 children.
In July 2011 the AOO Baby & Toddler Home was opened in Kakamega, Kenya. The first group of twelve babies through age 5 little ones, some with HIV, now live in the 7-bedroom home on 1 acre.
Other AOO Outreach Programs include support for the Widow's Outreach, Children's Choir, College Fund for our kids graduating from our sponsorship program, and Church Ministry & Pastor's support.
God continues to meet the many needs of this growing ministry to orphans through the many loving supporters of the African Orphan Outreach ministry who partner with us.
Our Faith
We believe in the one God and Father, maker of heaven and earth. We believe in Christ, His resurrected Son, our Lord and Savior. We believe in the Holy Spirit, the manifestation of the living God in us. We believe that Christ was crucified and buried, and that on the third day He rose. We believe in the forgiveness of sins, and in this free gift of salvation He offers us.
We believe that we believers are the body of the church, and that we must go to the ends of the earth to share the sweet message of Christ in word and deed.
We believe that Jesus instructs us to care for the orphans and the widows, for the poor and oppressed. It is from these instructions that we joyfully carry out His kingdom work in Kenya, seeking no glory for ourselves, but only for His mighty name.
AOO purchased land to build another orphanage in western Kenya. The Rafiki Cottage will move to the new Christine Compound, named after and in honor of Co-Founder Christine Coté- AOO's Late Director of Operations and Sponsorships. Momma Christine's passion for these kids is a reason this ministry has become what it is today. All glory to God!
Blessed to Partner and Serve with you,
Darren Coté Co-Founder