Welcome to the Huruma Family… 

By Mama Zipporah – Founder/Director

This December I have valued life more than ever before because, I experienced a situation that made me appreciate life so very much. On the 16^th of December I was going for the graduation of our first child from the Home, David Otieno, who graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Agricultural economics from Moi University. I decided to go a day before the commencement. I really do not know why the driver tried overtaking a huge truck but he did not have a clear view of an oncoming truck and it was too late to slow down and therefore he swerved towards the opposite side of the road and he hit a rock and the front tire burst and the car was thrown in the air and it swerved and faced towards the direction from where we came from. No one was hurt and the amazing thing is that we had so much peace and we thank God because Rufus a friend of the home was able to come all the way from Nairobi so that we could make it for the graduation. I was so proud seeing my son walk down the podium and take his Degree. He has become an inspiration to the other children that they can make it despite where they have come from.

As Huruma we like being part of the community and we do so through sports. On the 1^st to the 3^rd of December we had games at Huruma. Neighboring Children’s’ Homes participated in the sports events and it was a great day for the children to make friends and interact with others. The games included soccer which was a favorite and fun games. We thank God for his protection and good weather during this event.

Two days before Christmas, Me, Moses and Roberta we had a surprise for the children…we took the boys and the girls to shop for new clothes for Christmas. How I wish you were here to hear the squeals and whoops of excitement as the children piled up in our small van. Christmas means a lot to every Kenyan child because it’s the time you can really get new clothes and eat lots of food. The kids were so excited as they went through clothes in our local clothes market and I watched them and joy filled my heart because I knew that the support and prayers by each and every one of you made our Christmas bright. My prayer is that the almighty God will bless each and every one of you because your generosity is amazing.

Also Coca-Cola Africa finance department led by their Director Mr. Erick and all colleagues in Nairobi came and they donated a pair of shoes and socks for each child. This was a very generous gesture especially now the cost of living has gone up and the children needed to go back to school with a pair of new School Uniforms. Nairobi Safari Club Hotel also celebrated Christmas with our children and they ate very delicious Christmas cakes and goodies for our children. We were also honored to have Africa ICT Exhibitions and Conferences LTD who spent the entire day in the Home doing the daily chores with the children. The Giraffe Centre in Kenya also gave our children a treat of visiting the local national parks which was also an educational one whereby they got to ask wildlife questions and that was an awesome treat for the children to see animals in the wild.

When I was in America I met a lovely lady called Andra who had started Nonprofit to make blankets in memory of her best friend. She donated 80- blankets for our children and the children were very happy as they received the blankets which they were so proud of as they made their beds. Thank you so much Andra for making our children smile. Our children were also invited to attend the Diva event in Nairobi which was a celebration of Women and the children had a great time interacting with other children and people.

I would like to thank namely Dick and Carol Von Barandy, Linn and Lisa Winters and the entire Cornerstone Church, Kenya Wildlife Service, Bethany’s Dad, Hoops of Hope, Rev. Emmanuel Twagirimana, Nelson Mwangi Nduki, East Africa ICT Exhibitions and Conferences LTD, Bedan Chege, Mr. Macharia from Lenana school, Nicholas Mwangi, Peter Mwaura from Makini Security, Coca-Cola, Nairobi Safari Club, Mama Shiku, Baba Shiku, Eco Adventures, Xiehe Group (K) Co. Ltd and due to limited space I cannot be able to name everybody but from the bottom of my heart I thank each and every one of you and we anyone value you so much and thank you for being part of our family and making us smile this wonderful Christmas season.

Home News

By Caroline

I wish you were there to see me partake of the wonderful Christmas feast…This is the only day we see Mum in the kitchen. With the help of the few girls who did not have anywhere to go she prepared a very delicious meal and the children were smiling and happy as they ate sausages, bread, cake, soda amongst other delicacies. We don’t take this for granted because this has been a very tough year for Kenyans with the high cost of living and many did not have the blessing of celebrating like we did. We were reminded by Mama Zipporah to be thankful and not see it as a right to enjoy good food, clothes and shoes for Christmas. We went for the Christmas service and we thanked God for the amazing providence through you our friends and partners. The children were happy to receive new shoes and wear new clothes that Mama had helped them shop for two days earlier. I smiled as I watched them smiling and trying each other’s shoe. It was a precious sight.

The Integration program has been one of our greatest successes whereby some of children go to spend the holidays with friends of the home and if possible their distant relatives and we pay for all travelling expenses of the children. Due to this, there was no correspondence going on between the sponsors and the children during the month of December but will resume in January.

On April last year Mama Zipporah had the blessed opportunity to take care of a New Born baby girl who was abandoned on the wayside immediately when she was born and Mama fondly called her Baby Angel. We are happy to say that Baby angel has found a great family and she has been given up for adoption and even if we loved her so much, an opportunity to have parents and a home is the best for her. We thank God for Newlife children’s Home in Nairobi who opened their doors for us so that her adoption process can go through. We are grateful for the great patience and love you have shown and my prayer is that the almighty God will bless you.

Home Health News

By Nurse Mary Manyara

The clinic continued serving the children as usual. We thank the Lord for the inclusion of Roberta in this Ministry and she has been very Great blessing to Mama because when I am not around she fills in for me. Roberto is busy in the clinic updating the medication and keeping the clinic information up to date. The children’s health is good and they are thriving well. I thank you all for all the prayers you have prayed on our behalf and we still need syrups, pracetermals and antibiotics for the minor ailments and we love and care for you.

College News

The good news is that one of our children, David Otieno, graduated from University and currently we have 7 children in college. There will be four more students joining them namely Jacqueline, Michelle, Moses and Daniel are joining college and University next year.   Jacquelyn and Michelle will be joining Zetech College which   is a branch of Jomo Kenyatta University and pursue Hosptality in food production.   Moses will be going to Maseno University to pursue a course in Business administration and Daniel will be going to Mount Kenya University to pursue a course in Business Administration.

We thank God for:

• Provision of food.
• Provision of school fees for the school year that just ended
• Provision of clothing
• Continued support for the dormitories and the boys entering the new dormitories
• Provision of salaries
• Provision of school shoes
• Provision of beddings
• Good health
• Care and protection
• Provision of finances to pay our monthly bills
• Enabling we open up our new secondary school and providing for all the school’s resources
• The starting of e-learning at Huruma Primary and High schools by Safaricom
• The Biogas project

Prayer Items

• All our Friends and partners and friends all over the world
• Provision of school uniform
• Good health and long life for Mama Zipporah as well as the staff that supports her
• Good health and long life for the children at Huruma
• Food supply of food throughout the year because the food prices have spiked 

• Ability to complete the rest of the dormitories 
• *Payment of internet bills which is very vital for communication  
• Provision of salary for the entire Staff at Huruma 
• Favor with our Government 
• Our Pastor, Joseph Kanyiri 
• Our children especially those in adolescence stage 
• God’s favor to be upon us all the time
• Our Country Kenya for peace and prosperity 
• The new high school class, grade eleven, next year 
• For peace during the next year’s elections in the year 2012 
• The plans that are set up will be prosperous and go well 

A Note of Thanks

In conclusion we would like to tell you how much we love and care for you. You mean a lot to our children and we appreciate everything you do from the bottom of our hearts. The prayers and service you have shown to my children have shown how you truly love and care for my children. You are forever in our prayers and our may the desires of your heart be fulfilled and you are always treasured in our hearts.

To all our volunteers all around the world, we love you and we always remember the wonderful times we spent together. It is such an honor to spend time with us despite our diverse backgrounds and we hope and pray you will be able to come back. Blessings to you all and may God’s love and favor be upon you and your families.

For more pictures and more information you can also visit Mama Zipporah’s facebook page under the name Zipporah Wanjiku Kamau