We collaborate with individuals and groups who have demonstrated a desire and commitment to developing and implementing sustainable solutions in their communities to problems such as poverty, deforestation, discrimination, and violence.

Please read on to learn more about our current partners in Kenya.

Nicholas Kimorgo
Amos Kantai
Charles Njoroge
Mary Njoroge
Mama Asha

Nicholas Kimorgo
In-Country Partner, Ewaso Ngiro, Western Kenya

Nicholas Kadipo Kimorgo was born (and presently lives) in Lemek, located approximately 50 km from the infamous Maasai Mara game reserve in Western, Kenya, with his wife, Margaret Namunyak, their two sons, Cris and Lemashon, and their newborn daughter, Justine Sereya.

Nicholas earned a diploma from the Kenya Institute of Special Education. He also holds a certificate of Arts and Leadership from Strathmore University College. Appointed as senior teacher in 1998, and deputy head teacher from 2000-2005, Nicholas is currently the principal of Olooltoto Boarding Primary School – one of the leading schools in Narok North District. Despite his professional success, he has remained concerned about, and committed to addressing the lack of access to education in his home village of Ewaso Ngiro.

Nicholas played a lead role in drafting a proposal and budget for the building of Oleleshwa Primary School, believing strongly in the importance of cultivating Kenya’s future leaders and innovators, as well as providing opportunities for young girls and women, beyond the fate of early marriage and pregnancy. It was a fortuitous meeting between him and H4H founder and director, Kyla McMullen-Dent, which finally pushed the project off the ground.

Nicholas has been an invaluable advocate and leader, holding meetings with the village chief, elders, and residents of Ewaso Ngiro, to discuss the importance of providing future generations with an education, and to explain the benefits this will bring to their village. The community is now very enthusiastic about the school, and have demonstrated their commitment to its realization, through the collective donation of a 30-acre parcel of land to be used solely for this purpose. Furthermore, in June, 2009, residents of Ewaso Ngiro gathered to build the fence for the school compound, which is required by Kenyan law before a school can be opened. Construction is planned to begin in February, 2010.

H4H will continue to work closely with Nicholas, leading up to, during, and following the school’s construction, to ensure it remains a community-led and supported venture, and to identify other opportunities for collaboration, that will further strengthen and empower the people of Ewaso Ngiro.

Amos Kantai
In-Country Partner, Ewaso Ngiro, Western Kenya

It was an encounter with Amos, and his recommendation that Kyla McMullen-Dent and her husband Greg meet with Nicholas Kadipo Kimorgo, that led to preliminary conversations regarding the need for a primary school in Ewaso Ngiro, and the eventual building plans for Oleleshwa Primary School, currently underway.

Once a primary school teacher for a short stint, Amos, who now works as a safari guide (the capacity, incidentally, in which he, Kyla, and Greg were introduced), remains passionate about learning. Amos believes that his people – the Maasai, particularly in light of external threats to their traditional, semi-nomadic way of life, such as globalization and climate change, require access to education in order to achieve their full, autonomous development.

Amos, in partnership with Nicholas, played a lead role in drafting a proposal and budget for the building of Oleleshwa Primary School, believing strongly in the importance of cultivating Kenya’s future leaders and innovators, as well as providing opportunities for young girls and women, beyond the fate of early marriage and pregnancy.

Amos has contributed to this project over the past two years, and will continue to assist us by liaising with the community, acquiring building estimates & materials, and by participating in construction.

Amos lives in Ewaso Ngiro with his wife, Nairesiae Kantai (Mama Asha), and their four children Saruni, Asha, Kitilai, and Sam.

Charles Njoroge
In-Country Partner, Maragua District, Central Kenya

Charles Njoroge lives in the village of Mathare-Ini, just over 100 kilometres outside the Kenyan capital of Nairobi, with his wife Mary Wanjiru Ndungu, and their son, Greg Edward Kiagiri Njoroge. Charles’s unrelenting dedication to the betterment of his community, and that of all Kenyans, in spite of the many personal challenges and difficult circumstances he and his family have had to overcome, is a continuing source of inspiration for all of us involved with H4H. A critical thinker, and remarkably open-minded and generous human being, Charles has devoted countless hours, and his own resources, to leading and coordinating such projects as the Tree Plantings and Community Gardens in Maragua District, which were developed in response to the 2007 post-election violence, and the destruction and hopelessness, which threatened to destroy the community, as well as the Women’s Cooperative - Washable Sanitary Pads Project. Charles is a faithful correspondent, constantly keeping us abreast of what is happening in Maragua with his detailed, poetic emails, in which he never fails to earnestly inquire about our well being, regardless of his own troubles and hardships. Charles has been appointed “Patron” of the community-established Love and Peace Community Trust (LOPE) Foundation, which seeks to combat poverty, illiteracy, and environmental destruction in Kenya.

Charles’s resilience, heart, and intimate understanding of the importance of working alongside women, and empowering the youth, in order to achieve sustainable change, are just some of the reasons we feel very blessed to have him as part of our team. We look forward to continuing to collaborate with Charles to develop and implement innovative and appropriate solutions to some of the challenges facing the residents of Maragua District, including deforestation, the oppression of women and girls, and inter-tribal conflict.

Mary Wanjiru Ndungu
In-Country Partner, Maragua District, Central Kenya

Mary first met Kyla and her husband Greg, in 2006, while working in Langata outside of Nairobi. Shy in nature and unsure of her English, Mary’s curiosity about a strange country compelled her to ask questions and to engage in conversation. Mary was particularly intrigued by the photographs that depicted the four Canadian seasons, wildlife, and the families of Kyla and Greg. Mary, in turn, shared stories about the life of her family in the rural area as well as the urban setting of Kibera slum where she resided. Mary’s strength to overcome challenges was deeply rooted in her faith, the love of her future husband and the desire to provide for her father and siblings. Mary’s kindness, resilience, and gentle nature made an impression on Greg and Kyla, resulting in a friendship that continues to this day.

In the year, 2007, Mary and Charles were joined in marriage and looked forward to the birth of their first child. It was this special event, amidst the post-election violence, that would connect

Mary to the work of H4H and eventually see her take on a leadership role among the women in the community of Mathare-Ini.

Following a controversial Kenyan election in December, 2007, a disputed vote sparked violent riots and destruction of property across the country. The Kibera slum of Nairobi was one of the places most adversely affected by the ethnic violence that gripped the country. Despite having just given birth, Charles and Mary were forced to leave the hospital and their home in order to seek safety in Charles’ village located in Maragua District. Ethnic tension continued to mount across Kenya and the village of Mathare-Ini also fell victim to violence and the destruction of homes and crops. H4H provided emergency relief through the purchase of seeds and began working with Charles and Mary to begin the healing and reconciliation of the community.

Mary worked alongside her husband, leading, informing and coordinating the women of the community on the re-planting of short term crops as well as methods to generate income for their families. Mary’s leadership and determination have played an integral role in the growing success of the Washable Sanitary Pads Project. Groups of women are now working together to sew and to sell washable sanitary pads in order to ensure economic opportunity, health, education, and dignity for all girls. Recently, Mary informed H4H that Charles, on behalf of the group, had distributed over one thousand pads to women refugees in Northern Kenya.

H4H will continue to work closely with Mary to learn from the group’s success and to determine how their community model can be shared with other women’s co-operatives across Kenya.

Nairesiae Kantai (Mama Asha)
In-Country Partner, Ewaso Ngiro, Western Kenya

Nairesiae Kantai, respectfully known as Mama Asha, is a beautiful woman in spirit as well as outer beauty. She is married to Amos Kantai and together, they are raising four children, ranging in age from three to fourteen. Mama Asha works tirelessly to maintain the home, fetch water, cook meals, work in the shamba (farm), run a small business in Ewaso Ngiro, and provide much needed support to single-headed households in her community. True to her convictions, both she and Amos have worked very hard, despite the economic challenges, to ensure that all of their children are enrolled in school - regardless of gender.

In July 2008, Kyla McMullen-Dent travelled to Ewaso Ngiro to meet with community members to discuss the construction of Oleleshwa Primary School. Mama Asha, a well respected friend, emerged as a strong community leader and advocate for the rights of women and girls in her community.

While working in her shamba, she discussed the structure of the women’s group who gather on a regular basis to support one another and to discuss opportunities for their economic advancement. She explained how the women must work together to overcome basic cultural norms as well as find solutions to the difficult challenges that resulted from Kenya’s post-election violence. Families in Ewaso Ngiro were also suffering from the increased cost of food and petrol and the shortage of rainfall. Mama Asha shared various business initiatives that the women in her group wished to pursue but she highlighted the lack of capital to support these business ideas.

Mama Asha, leader and business woman, chaired a meeting where H4H had the opportunity to provide some initial information to a group of women regarding microloans, the importance of environmental sustainability, and the success of women’s co-operatives in raising chickens, sewing washable sanitary pads, and knitting. Mama Asha led a lengthy discussion on the viability and personal benefits of the Washable Sanitary Pad Project.

It was decided collectively that the women would sew, market and sell the pads, as well as make a personal, financial contribution, to ensure the project was both sustainable and profitable. As the women demonstrated great enthusiasm and support for the idea, Mama Asha joined the H4H director in Nairobi to purchase a Singer sewing machine, serger, sewing accessories, and other materials needed to support the development of the project in her community.

H4H will continue to work closely with Mama Asha to learn how we can best anticipate and overcome obstacles that may present themselves in the future. We will continue to discuss how we can facilitate training and support for this motivated group. In terms of women’s co-operatives, Mama Asha will play an important role in the exchange of business plans and ideas between the communities of Ewaso Ngiro and Mathare-Ini.

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