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 by supporters including international students, came at a time when the institution continues to face growing needs in caring for children drawn from difficult 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 well-wishers in extending support to the home.
Speaking during the visit, Siyuan said that in a world facing conflict, hatred, and many difficult realities, acts of kindness such as supporting vulnerable children remain meaningful because they create visible change in people’s lives.
“With everything happening in the world—so much hatred, wars, and hardship—I think the fact that we can come here and make a noticeable difference in these children’s lives is really beautiful,” he added, “even if, in the grand scheme of things, it may seem small.”
For the children, the Easter visit offered more than donations. It brought encouragement and a reminder that their welfare continues to matter to people beyond the institution.
Founded in 2001 by director Mr. Moses Ndugu, Children’s Gardens Home and School began with only five children after the couple felt compelled to create an opportunity for less fortunate children within the community.
Today, the institution hosts about 250 children in the home and supports nearly 600 learners across the school, reflecting its role as both a rescue centre and an educational facility.
According to Mr. Ndugu, the children admitted into the institution come from highly vulnerable situations. Some are orphans, others have been abandoned, while many are former street children, children whose parents are in prison, and victims of abuse.
He says many of the cases are referred by police stations, courts, hospitals, and members of the community who intervene when children are found in distress.
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, outcomes Mr. Ndugu describes as some of the strongest success stories of the project.
One such beneficiary is Sophia Zaina, who arrived at the institution 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 later volunteering as a teacher and social support worker.
Her journey continued when she 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 gave her stability, education, and direction at a time when her future was uncertain.
Despite the visible progress, Mr. Ndugu says the institution still faces serious operational challenges.
He notes that caring for 250 children daily requires continuous support in food, education, shelter, healthcare, and emotional care.
Although many donors provide food and basic items, some expenses require direct financial support, including electricity, water, and medical bills.
He openly appeals to well-wishers and the wider Kenyan community to continue supporting the institution, saying financial contributions remain essential to keeping the facility running.
One of the most urgent needs currently is a boys’ dormitory.
Mr. Ndugu explains that when the Competency-Based Curriculum was introduced, the building that previously served as the boys’ dormitory had to be converted 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, the institution invests heavily in counselling, spiritual guidance, and emotional healing because many children arrive carrying trauma and deep emotional wounds.
Operating under the slogan “A place for all,” Children’s Gardens continues to position itself as a refuge for children who have nowhere else to turn.