Mathare is located in the Eastern
quadrant of Nairobi.
The most prominent orphanage in the area is the
Sister's of Charity orphanage, which houses about
500 children. It is located less than one mile
from Huruma Rescue Mission. There are no other
orphanages that we
know of in the area.
(When Huruma began in 1998 there were 10,000 street
children
in Nairobi. AIDS had orphaned many. With the
election of a new President of Kenya in December
2002, the government diverted funds to house, feed,
and educate many children who otherwise would have
been lost on the streets of Nairobi. We are very
thankful to God for this transformation and will
continue to work towards helping those children
still on the streets. )
Huruma Rescue Mission began very small.
Huruma's President Aloys Kamwithi enlisted the help
of his family members to take in our first street
children. They were 3 sisters, ages 10, 8, & 3,
their names were, Mbithi, Nduku, & Mwangeri. They
were living amongst the trash that is so prevalent
in Mathare. They were not complete orphans. Their
mother was still alive, but finding it impossible to
care for her children.
We offered to take her children in for an extended
period of time, to permit her to return to her rural
village and establish herself enough to care for her
children. We sheltered her children for 2 years.
She was able to marry and claim her children. The
children are now well, and being cared for by their
mother and her new husband.
Without Huruma's intervention the two oldest
daughters would have been resigned to a life of
prostitution, the AIDS epidemic would have made this
lifestyle a death sentence.
Approximately one year after the start of the
orphanage, four more children were brought into the
home. These were four street boys of varying ages.
Robinson, Kamau, Njorge, Mwangi. One year after
their arrival Muthone, a young girl, was brought
into the home.
Unfortunately we have lost one child. Robinson found
the rules of the house, and the mandatory schooling
too restrictive, he ran away and went back to the
streets.
John (Kamau) is 13 years old. He is very mature for
his age, and seems to be a magnet for all the
children in his boarding school. He has an engaging
sense of humor, is quick witted, and relates very
well to the other three children.
Susan (Muthone) is also 13 years old. She is the
orphaned daughter of Esther's (our Kenyan Director)
sister. Esther's sister Tabitha was Muthone's first
adoptive Mother. Tragically she died two years ago.
Muthone is the "little mommy" of the group. She is
patient with the younger children, and very mature.
Njorge 12, is the quietest of our group. He has had
to attend to many adult activities since his parents
died. He had to make arrangements for his mothers
burial, place his older brother into a foster home
for severely disabled children (his brother
subsequently died), and a variety of other
activities that a 9 year old boy should never have
to do.
Mwangi is the little star of our children. He is
giggly and affectionate. He is well known in his
boarding school. When we arrived at the boarding
school to drop the boys off after a safari, the
girls playing in the courtyard ran up to our van,
and yelled Mwangi, Mwangi, Mwangi.
We presently have four children. They have all
matured to the point of being able to enroll in
excellent boarding schools. These children are
amazing. Any one of these children in an American
classroom would stand out. They are very polite,
mature, studious, and grateful for the chance they
have been given to rise above the poverty and make a
difference in Kenya.
Change
the world for a Child
