There are two million orphans in Kenya, an East African country of about 30 million people. Some of these children can be found in Mathare Valley, pit of heartbreak and despair, home to some 600,000 people within six square miles of Nairobi, Kenya. At the bottom of this human heap of misery are abandoned babies; AIDS orphans cowering in abusive relative’s homes; and ragged street kids sniffing glue to escape hunger, physical and emotional. Many will enter and leave the world here, perpetuating a vicious cycle of generational poverty and hopelessness.

In the midst of this relentless suffering, Pastor and Mrs. Karau, Hope’s Promise Kenyan Country Coordinators opened Sanctuary of Hope #1 in October 2006, a children’s home for eleven orphans from Mathare Valley.  Sanctuary of Hope #2 opened in September 2008 to receive a family of ten more children. Working together, we are enfolding forgotten little ones into homes of security and love.  

Enjoy this glimpse into the early days of SoH.  Our thanks go to Melissa Berry for creating this video, as well as to songwriter, singer and musician, Brendan Jamieson.  To see and hear the SoH family describing the heart of Hope’s Promise Kenya’s mission, take a few moments to view a more recent video.  Many thanks to the video’s creator, Daniel Barassa and also to songwriter, singer and musician, Brendan Jamieson.  If you would like to know more  about what is currently going on at SoH, click on this link to read the most recent SoH Newsletter.

You are invited to vicariously join a Hope’s Promise 2010 Mission Team to Kenya through photos and a team member’s travel journal posted at the following links:

 Visit pamba toto… learn about a unique way to support Sanctuary of Hope.  Discover the Taraja project.  “Taraja” is Swahili for “giving hope” and the project is designed to empower single mothers with HIV, who hand-make native Kenyan crafts such as beaded jewelry and textiles, to support their families.  Additionally, Taraja generates funding for Sanctuary of Hope (SoH).