HOPE FAMILY HOMES

We are a registered UK charity (Reg No 1067317) set up to help needy children in Kenya.

It was founded by Heather Purser when she visited Kenya in 1996. She was deeply moved seeing children trying to survive by eating the contents of fly-infested dustbins in Nairobi and watched their despair as they inhaled solvent glue or petrol to numb the pain of their hunger. When she witnessed the death of a very young child in his own waste, she felt called to do something practical for these children. This was the start of Hope Family Homes' first home, 'Bethlehem', based in Limuru 30 kilometers North of Nairobi. Together with her husband Alan and a Kenyan national, they care for the medical, educational and emotional needs of the children in their care.

Of the children currently in their care six have lost their parents to AIDS, three have been abandoned by their mothers, and the others have been referred by the local Social Services. Hope Family Homes has given them hope, a stable family environment and emotional support.

The children in their care now have access to a good education, clean water and a healthy diet.

Heather and Alan have seen the need to expand to house up to twenty children and have now moved to a new location and permanent home. They run the home with a smallholding, teaching self-sufficiency and life skills.

We are very grateful to all those people who have helped us to build the new house. All the funds have come in for us to complete the property and the dream has become a reality!

The new home requires a substantial budget every week to continue operating, since the civil disturbances in Kenya have tripled the cost of basic living. This is for a family community of over 20 people, including clothing, food, services, education and school uniforms. This is only possible because of the voluntary unpaid status of all the directors and trustees in Kenya and the UK. The only paid staff are the Kenyan workers.

All the money paid into Hope Family Homes is transferred to Correct Kenya a registered NGO in Kenya (No OP.218/051/0044/1616). Correct Kenya is audited every year and copies of this report are returned to Hope Family Homes in the UK. Our constitution states that our administration costs will not exceed 5% of our gross income. To date the only administration costs in the UK are for audit of accounts and architect fees for plans for the planned building. In Kenya the administrative costs reflect those in the UK and are Accountant and auditors fees and NGO Board subscription (required by law).

Please check us on the UK Charity Commissioners Website www.charitycommission.gov.uk search for Hope Family Homes or charity No.1067317.

TO HELP US IN THIS PROJECT PLEASE CONSIDER MAKING A DONATION BY CLICKING THE HIGHLIGHTED LINK ON THE "DONATE" PAGE OR CLICK HERE.

Please consider "Gift Aiding" your donation as this helps us even more.

OUR ADMIN COSTS ARE LESS THAN 1% at present.

Many Thanks.