About Us and History
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Learn about Huruma and our history as an organization helping deserving kids find a way out of poverty and deprivation. Our story begins in 1998 during the AIDS epidemic in Africa. The resulting deaths left thousands of children orphaned and alone on the streets of Nairobi. We started to gather the support needed to house these children.
Our Founding
The rescue mission was founded in the Mathare Valley, which had become one of the most impoverished slums in all of Kenya. The Sisters of Charity orphanage, which is the only one that serves the area, houses just 500 children. The orphanage is located near our mission and is the only known establishment of its kind. That leaves a gulf of need in between.
At the time of our founding, the mission was small in scope. The funding and volunteer efforts of our supporters slowly began to turn the tide. The president of the mission, Aloys Kamwithi, enlisted his family's help when he started to look for children to take in for care. The three sisters, aged from three to 10, were named Mbithi, Nduku, and Mwangeri.
They were lost, but their mother was still alive, as she was forced to give them up as she could not provide the care they needed. When we took the children in at the mission, it allowed their mother to return to her village. The time away allowed her to re-establish herself. During the intervening two years, she remarried and eventually reclaimed the children. They now live happily as a unified family.
Our Structure
We have structured our mission as a 501(c)(3) organization to ensure transparency and accountability here in the United States. Our group is also a registered NGO with the government of Kenya. We are always eager to talk with you about our standing and our stewardship of your donations and time.
Progress has been measured and noticeable during our time in East Africa. In late 2002, the election of a new President in Kenya led to increased funds for housing, feeding, and educating these children. We are eternally grateful for this increased focus on our efforts, and we continue to work to change the world, one child at a time.
