Children’s Gardens Home and School received Easter donations from local and international well-wishers, bringing renewed hope to hundreds of vulnerable children sheltered and educated at the institution during a season associated with compassion, sharing, and renewal.
The donations, delivered during an Easter visit that included international students, came at a time when the home continues to face growing needs in caring for children from challenging backgrounds, including orphanhood, abandonment, abuse, and street life.
Among the visitors were Siyuan Ren and Nina Sihan Ren from China and Lukas Christof Aliferis from Greece, who joined other supporters in extending help to the children.
Speaking during the visit, Siyuan said that in a world marked by conflict and division, acts of kindness such as supporting vulnerable children remain deeply meaningful, as they create visible change in lives that need it most.
Siyuan added that every child deserves equal opportunity and that assisting children in need reflects a shared human responsibility.
For the children at the home, the Easter visit offered more than material support. It served as encouragement and a reminder that their welfare matters to people beyond the institution.
Founded in 2001 by director Mr. Moses Ndugu, Children’s Gardens Home and School began with only five children, following the couple’s vision to provide less fortunate children with a chance to live with dignity and access education.
Today, the institution hosts about 250 children in the home and supports nearly 600 learners across the school, reflecting its dual role as both a rescue centre and an educational facility.
According to Mr. Ndugu, the children admitted to the home come from highly vulnerable situations. Some are orphans, others have been abandoned, while many are former street children, children whose parents are in prison, or victims of abuse. Cases are often referred by police stations, courts, hospitals, or concerned members of the community.
Over the years, more than one thousand children have passed through the institution, with many progressing to universities, colleges, and employment. Several former beneficiaries are now professionals, parents, and independent adults—a testament to the institution’s lasting impact.
One such beneficiary is Sophia Zaina, who arrived at Children’s Gardens at the age of nine after her parents separated. She joined Grade One in 2009 and progressed through primary and secondary school within the institution before volunteering as a teacher and social support worker.
Sophia later secured sponsorship to join Kenya Medical Training College, where she studied Clinical Medicine and Surgery for three years.
She has since completed her studies and is preparing for her board examinations to qualify as a clinical officer. Sophia says Children’s Gardens provided stability, education, and direction at a time when her future was uncertain.
Despite the success stories, Mr. Ndugu says the institution still faces significant operational challenges. Caring for 250 children daily requires continuous support in food, education, shelter, healthcare, and emotional care.
While many donors provide food and essential items, some costs—such as electricity, water, and medical bills—require direct financial support. Mr. Ndugu openly appeals to well-wishers and the wider Kenyan community to continue supporting the institution, noting that financial contributions remain essential to keep it running.
One of the most urgent needs currently is a boys’ dormitory. When the Competency-Based Curriculum was introduced, the building previously serving as the boys’ dormitory had to be repurposed for school use, forcing the boys into temporary shelters.
The institution also runs a special unit for children with disabilities, including autism and other physical challenges, ensuring that children with special needs are not left behind.
Beyond shelter and education, Children’s Gardens invests heavily in counselling, spiritual guidance, and emotional healing, recognizing that many children arrive carrying trauma and deep emotional wounds.
Operating under the slogan “A Place for All,” the home continues to position itself as a refuge for children who have nowhere else to turn, providing hope, education, and a chance for a brighter future.
