History

(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. Esthers sister Tabitha was Muthones 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.