Friends Of Nyumbani

Members of the Board of Directors, Staff, Children, Friends of Nyumbani

This is the first Foundation Day Celebration since the passing on of our Founder, Fr. Angelo DÔÇÖAgostino, SJ, MD.  You will remember that, on this day last year, Fr. DÔÇÖAgostino handed over directorship to me ÔÇô truly the action of the great leader who cares for succession so that his mission may continue. I believe that all of us are firmly committed to carrying on Fr. DÔÇÖAgostinoÔÇÖs vision and mission, more so since his passing on means that now everything depends on us.



I would like to take this opportunity of Foundation Day to express my personal gratitude to each one for their support during the transition period as, together, we sought to come through the shock and grief of Fr. DÔÇÖAgostinoÔÇÖs unexpected passing on, ensure that our service to our children was maintained at the same quality level and that development went ahead as planned.



During the past 10 months, there have been significant milestones  which I would like to highlight. First, we rejoice in the fulfillment of our mission in regard to Dennis Buluma who, having successfully completed Secondary School, obtained employment, started studying for a Diploma through evening classes, decided to move into his own accommodation.  We will always be there for Dennis as he continues to grow in self-reliance. He is indeed a great model for others to follow.






This November, 11 will sit for the KCPE and we look forward to their placement in further education which will bring the number in this area to 20 ÔÇô 1/5 of Nyumbani Home. Wholistic education is the gateway to the future and I believe that this realization is gradually being embraced by our children.  Growing into self-reliance will soon mark Nyumbani Home as much as the quality care we give our children which ensures a happy, healthy life for each one.




With the approval last year of a further USAID contract for Lea Toto which covers the entire program, the numbers of children we can serve in these resource-poor communities surrounding Nairobi will greatly increase.  We are very grateful to the American People whose funding makes it possible for us to reach out to these children who, otherwise, would not be able to access the services they need. As the program develops, demand on staff also increases as they seek to offer the same wholistic quality services offered in Nyumbani Home to these children under the adverse and precarious conditions of life in these areas.  I truly applaud you all.



The launch of Nyumbani Village on the day after we laid Fr. DÔÇÖAgostino to rest was a poignant but gratifying event as we started to realize his last vision. It is pioneer activity all the way as we seek to identify, welcome grandparents and their grandchildren together with other groups of orphaned children into the Village, and blend the families. The blending of the families so as to afford the children some experience of family living, is the significant characteristic of the Nyumbani Village Vision. We meet the challenge as it comes and believe that its fruit will become apparent in time to come. The other great challenge is the realization of self-sustainability in 5 yearsÔÇÖ time. However, I believe that we are on track despite the unpredictability of virgin semi-arid land.
Christian compassion especially marked Fr. DÔÇÖAgostinoÔÇÖs approach to life. He reached out throughout his life to an extraordinarily wide variety of people in need ÔÇô from medical patients to refugees, adults to children, peoples of all races, economic status, religions, who were in need of his professional services or simply his warm human person. His approach was marked by a trust which he placed in anyone who sought his help, regardless of what might be the outcome. All were GodÔÇÖs people. His call to found Nyumbani, however, he cherished as the most significant mission in his long life of ministry.


These children called out to him in a way that touched his heart so much so that he allowed nothing to prevent him from putting in place the services he knew they needed, be it lobbying governments and funding agencies for support, gaining access to anti-retroviral medicine, obtaining admission to free education in school. We have inherited a tremendous legacy.  I have no doubt, that, together, under GodÔÇÖs providential care, we shall bring the mission to fulfillment.


Sister Mary Owens I.B.V.M

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