New Hope Children's Centre, Uplands, Kenya
Anne is a Kenyan lady who, after raising 4 children of her own, felt called to leave her job with Barclays Bank and set up a home for orphaned girls. Her vision was to provide a home and education for a ‘few’ girls in her local area. Anne was working for Barclays Bank and took early retirement to fulfil her calling. Barclays ran an article explaining what she was planning to do and included it in their in-branch magazine. Someone read it and contacted Anne to tell her that he was relocating to Europe and he wanted her to have his house for ‘God’s Work’
In 2000, New Hope began and Anne and her husband Tirus moved to Limuru to the donated four-bedroom detached house, with 20 girls, which very quickly grew to 40. With Anne and Tirus’ heart for needy children, and Anne’s compassion to not turn anyone away, they quickly out-grew the house. With the support of UK Christian Charity Hand in Hand, a plot was purchased nearby, and a purpose built, three story dormitory was completed in 2007 with a capacity for 200 children. There is a large ‘shamba’ or piece of land on the plot to grow the majority of the vegetables they eat. There are now 119 children at the orphanage.
There is a small school on-site providing the first three years of primary education then every child has a place in a local school. If the student’s grades aren’t high enough for secondary education they are supported into vocational training in nearby training centres. Every child is encouraged to go on to further education.
There is a mother and baby unit, where young mothers who have been disowned by their families can continue with their schooling while the babies are cared for.
Teams from St Paul's have visited on several occasions, most recently in 2019 - they are always welcome and can support the children in many ways, such as holiday clubs.