Nyumbani Kwetu Children's Home

Nyumbani Kwetu in Malindi, Kenya, began as the personal initiative of Nina Chung who was on a volunteer posting in Kenya. Nyumbani Kwetu means "our home" in Swahili.

Nina started out supporting a grandmother and her 4 grandchildren. Today Nina supports 12 children who are grandchildren or great-grandchildren of this grandmother. Some are orphans and others have no support due to illness, abject poverty or abandonment.

In 2008, Nina hired someone to act as "house mother" as the grandmother's health was not up to managing a household with so many children. She also hired a cleaner and two teachers. Nina's goal is to provide the children with the best possible education at a reasonable rate and to offer them a stable and positive living environment in order to grow their self-esteem, confidence and physical and mental health.

As Nina is a former parishioner at Holy Cross Parish in Ottawa, the group felt very confident about supporting this project. When she received word of the funding, she wrote "I am so moved and honoured by your very generous offer of support. Please be assured that I will take the best possible care of your contribution and of these children."

For more information about Nyumbani Kwetu Children's Home, go to www.elimu.ca

Read excerpts from an e-newsletter that Nina sent on April 4, 2011.