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You will have heard OHMH’ers talking about college and university for your girls and maybe wondered “What about the girls who don’t want to go to college or university?” Well the answer is…Juliana. Juliana is one of our older girls and has just graduated from her vocational course in hairstyling and we have helped her find a job in the nearby town of Kilifi. You have helped Juliana has grow from a harrowing childhood into a beautiful and charismatic young woman who is earning her own money and building a real life for herself. Her story is of a young girl, who had been taught that she was worth nothing, learn that she is a precious and talented woman. Thank you.

Join us on Thursday 29th April from 7.30-9pm at Kumo in Knightsbridge, 11 Beauchamp Place, London SW3 1NQ to hear OHMH founder Thomas Keown tell the OHMH story and learn how you can get involved in the new UK chapter.

Final dates to be announced but keep your nights May 12 – 15 free if you live in Boston or New York or Washington, DC. Anthony Mulongo, the vision behind OHMH will be visiting from Kenya and we invite you to come meet him. By abandoning his lucrative journalism career to rescue and educate orphaned girls, Anthony inspired Thomas Keown to found OHMH and his sacrificial words “When we have shoes we all have shoes, when we have no shoes, we have no shoes together” give a picture of the man and the mission. He’ll make your hairs stand up so don’t miss him.

As we prepare to expand our family to 60 children in the new home you helped build, we want to give you the opportunity to continue what you started by teaming up with four friends to support direct care to one girl with a dollar a day. If you and four people who care about you commit to just $30 per month ($7 per week/skip a meal out once per month) that equates to food, clothing, medical and support care for one of your girls. Think about it, ask 4 friends and then visit http://www.onehomemanyhopes.org/help.html to commit your team to a childhood.

Says Catherine (our counselor ) “Our ‘last born baby’ Mapenzi turned one this month. Those who remember Mapenzi when she arrived at mudzini at one month of age can reckon with us that it has taken the hand of God to be where she is today. She is able to sit down on her own and we expect her to start crawling soon. She is also “speaking” in a foreign language that only her and her age-mates can understand! She responds to her name whenever she is called, and she has such a lovely smile. Your giving not only saves lives it also transforms them in a unique way. Be praying for her as she continues to grow.”

School is out for the Easter holidays and there is a beehive of activities at home now. In the last couple of days we have been studying, and sowing, and knitting and learning the piano and singing and dancing and all manner of activities with OHMH volunteers. Talent show to come…

Back to school - The long December holiday is finally over, and it is now time to go back to school. Every child is going to a new class and there is excitement everywhere. This means new books and uniforms but it’s exciting. We have a resolution this year, to do our very best in school. Santa and Pauni initially could not go to school at the beginning of the term because they had chicken pox. Dr. Said gave them quarantining instructions for decease control reasons. They are now well.

Boston OHMH'ers Tara Craft, Dwan Horn and Ashley Winn visited Mudzini at the beginning of January and saw the building of the new home progress and helped with homework and teaching and some labor around the facility. You can see a two minute video of the building progress and meet some of the children by clicking here. And make sure your sound is turned up, the music is top class. Thanks to volunteer Roger Tunsley for the footage and to Neil Edwards for editing.

The school exam results are in and, while our younger girls enjoyed their Christmas holiday playing and thinking of anything but the classroom, Gift and Riziki Big were waiting nervously to see if their results would be good enough to get them into a good high school. They were and we are now seeking the appropriate school for them as they continue towards college.

OHMH volunteers Tracy Wemett, Kathy and Roger Tunsley, Vanessa Leong, Brian Shinn, Matt Sinarski, Sulafa and OHMH founder Thomas Keown visited the girls before Christmas and brought your greetings and cards with them. And took many more back. The children spent hours braiding their hair and preparing for their traditional Christmas celebration including a two day stay at the beach provided for the second successive year from a long time American friend of Mudzini Kwetu.

Our annual autumn 'Breaking Ground' campaign ended with events in New York, Boston and Washington DC. And included an unexpected visit and jam session from Frederic Yonnet, harmonica player for Prince at our Silver Spring, Maryland event. Thanks to the generosity of hundreds of donors and the hard work of nearly 200 volunteer fundraisers we have started to build the girls their new home. Keep an eye on this website for videos and pictures of the new building you have broken ground for.

We are building a home for the girls and we need you to build from your house. Visit www.breakinggroundkenya.org and join a crew.

During the month October 18th to November 20th, individuals, small crews, and schools across the U.S. and the U.K. will raise small or big amounts of money to add up to $70,000 (£50,000) needed to build an adequate home for our girls.

Right now all 32 children and 3 house mothers share our one 4-bedroom house.

By November 20th 2009 they will have a proper home thanks to the ‘One Home Many Hopes’ ‘Breaking Ground 2009’ campaign. (That means you)

Yes that’s right. OHMH is now in the Big Schnapple. First Boston, then San Francisco, then London and now NYC.

On August 26th more than 150 New Yorkers showed up to our launch event in the Galway Hooker in midtown and heard the One Home Many Hopes story from Daniel Grant (NYC Director) and Thomas Keown.

Dozens of lads, ladies and gents signed up as volunteers and crew leaders for the October and November ‘Breaking Ground’ campaign. And for growing the OHMH chapter in the city. But there is still room for you. And more than you. Visit www.breakinggroundkenya.org and get your crew together.

Oh and look out for a launch event in your city. Or e-mail thomaskeown@onehomemanyhopes.org us to help organize one.

When Jamila came to Mudzini last July, she was so badly malnourished that no one thought she would survive more than a few days. Her legs were so thin and weak we were doubtful she would ever be able to walk. She was timid and would scream at the sight of anyone but "Aunt Madam" -- our resident teacher who Jamila would cling to when she saw anyone else.

But thanks to you, Jamila is a transformed little girl. A year later she is friendly, happy and miraculously walking. The new challenge is to keep an extra eye on her because she is so eager to walk everywhere and chase everything in sight!

We thank you for giving this little girl the opportunity to walk, to know love, and to have a future that blossomed from such bleak beginnings.

We now have 2,000 fish in our pond! With your help, we can shortly reach our target of 10,000 tilapia.

OHMH aims to use your gifts to make our home as self-sustaining as possible. By investing in our fish project, we will be able to provide your girls with protein-rich food and also sell fish to local people to help meet our operating costs. Thank you for getting us this far. Fish puns always welcome.

Mapenzi, who came to us with a broken hand, has undergone an operation and keeps getting stronger by the day. She is healing perfectly and had her cast removed. We are delighted in the fact that our littlest girl has recuperated from this injury, and that she will grow up in a home filled with love and family. Thank you for making healing like this possible by supporting OHMH.

"I've been changed. I've seen girls that need love so much, yet simultaneously give love without discrimination. How can girls that have experienced unfathomable struggle in their life be the exact same girls that express so much joy to others. It simply doesn't add up."

"Anthony taught me the value of following the whisper in your head when faced with a decision. Be the 'more hands' Anthony has asked for and you will never regret it, not for one moment. You will only find more purpose in life, and maybe (like me) even experience emotions you never you had before."

-- Tim Sayegh, volunteer from Boston

"I asked Anthony (founder of Mudzini) what stands between our home's current state and the vision we've established for it -- as a self-sustaining, fully functional entity which more adequately meets the needs of our girls. His response: "more hands." For us, "hands" translates to $10/month.

"After spending a few days in Mudzini, I am confident that we hold the key to the next phase of life for the girls. Anthony's ideas for this home and our dreams for these girls are hinged upon our ability to involve more people in monthly support. The dream is already a reality. I saw it. I slept within its walls, I dug holes in its soil, I ate mangoes from its trees. I am convinced that we are building the next stage of reality for the girls of Mudzini. Who wouldn't want to be involved in that?"

-- Daniel Grant, volunteer from New York

May 2009

Mapenzi Kahindi (her name means beloved) became part of our family on May 7th. But without your support she would almost certainly be dead today. Her mother was raising her alone and became mentally ill. Both mother and child were living on the streets of Mombasa with its drastic weather changes. At her tender age, Mapenzi has endured great pain, hardship and hunger and, even worse, the absence of love. Your support meant that we were able take her to the doctor when she arrived, give her one of the first real meals of her life, and provide a home where she can sleep safely and warmly for as long as she is with us.

There are many more like Mapenzi. We need your support to reach them and help them. For $20 a month, you can provide monthly medical care for Mapenzi.

Children Helping Children: Massachusetts to Mtwapa

"When I was part of the "One Art Show" to help raise money for OHMH, I decided what better way to give back than to have our children help these girls in Africa," said Abbi Lione of the The Lawrence Extended Day Program in Brookline, Massachusetts. "Through letters, our students have become pen pals with the girls and are eager to raise money for them so that they can have toys, clothing, school supplies -- all the things we take for granted everyday.

"When talking to kindergarten and first grade students, they say they help the girls 'because they don't have a lot of things and we want them to be happy.' Helping the girls makes them feel 'happy.' And, best of all, one kindergarten boy said, 'I love the girls....I want to marry them!' It has been a wonderful experience to have children helping children."

German Generosity and Epilepsy

Thanks to your support and generosity, Brendah started to experience life in a whole new way this month.

Brendah is one of our oldest girls and has suffered from severe epileptic seizures for as long as we have known her. We never previously had the resources to provide her with treatment. But your gifts, and the support of German friends, meant that Brendah could receive professional medical treatment this month. Here is what Anthony, our founder, had to say:

"It has gone so well for Brendah. We are really pleased and we need to thank God for that. She has been able to get rid of the attacks that had her falling over and biting and blacking out. Now it just happens for a few seconds. Compared to what she had been experiencing, this is something to celebrate. It has been a blessing to all of us. Thank you."

Yes folks it's official! One Home Many Hopes this month received confirmation of our 501 (c)(3) tax exempt charitable status. Can you hear the trumpets? What that means in English is that the organization you created is now officially approved by the U.S federal government as a tax-deductible charity. All donations made since February 13th 2008 – and from now on – are fully tax-deductible. CONGRATULATIONS! Look out for an invite to the celebration party later in the Spring.

The girls like to say they have 'banana smiles' when they hear from you. Well now those smiles are wider and whiter. Earlier this month the Children's Officer for the Kilifi district sent some volunteer dentists to check our teeth and do some basic dental work over a weekend. The growing good relations between Mudzini and local government officials contributed to the mobile dental unit's visit and we hope to repeat it. For many of the children it was the first time they have ever had their teeth checked out. Are you a dentist? Ever wanted to visit Kenya? Hmm...are you thinking what we're thinking?

Clarks shoes will this month supply each child with a new pair of shoes for school. Simple black with laces, but a luxury for our ladies. Our volunteer group from Boston and New York will take the footwear to Mudzini Kwetu when they visit April 30th &ndash May 12th. Anthony Mulongo, our founder once summed up the family spirit so important to us at Mudzini when he said "When we have shoes, we all have shoes. When we have no shoes, we have no shoes together." Well this month, we all have shoes.

Thanks to your financial support Catherine has joined the staff of Mudzini Kwetu on a part-time basis. Catherine is a Kenyan Social worker, psychologist and counselor. So severe and deeply traumatizing have been some of the early life experiences of the children that professional help is vital to help them thrive and grow and reach their full potential. We are fortunate to have found Catherine. Because of you we can hire her. Thank you.

OHMH supporter Jon Ellison is now back practicing law in New York after visiting your children earlier this month. His account of Mudzini Kwetu's newest arrival, Saumu, is below.

"One afternoon while staying at Mudzini Kwetu, I accompanied Anthony to visit a temporary shelter for abandoned and abused children. I didn't know we would bring home a new family member that day - I'm not sure anyone did - but that's what happened.

"After a tour, the administrator came to us leading 7-year-old Saumu by the hand. She wore her best Sunday dress with all her worldly possessions bunched in a small cloth bag dangling from her wrist. We couldn't coax her to say more than a few words. But there was a shy smile.

"I don't know when Saumu realized she was going to a new home or how much of her troubled history she understands. Before the ride home, she clung to the administrator's skirt. Yet, by the time we reached Mudzini, her shy smile was spreading. Within hours, she was playing with her new sisters and chattering happily as they took turns on the swing set.

"I don't speak Swahili. I was just a strange "mzungo" sitting in a corner. But I witnessed a new chapter unfolding in the great redemption story: a young girl rescued from abuse and neglect, taken into a new home, given hope and a future."

~ Jon Ellison

The smallest- ever new arrivals at Mudzini Kwetu are the 10 tilapia swimming in your new fish pond. Thank you for helping us take our model of self-sufficiency and sustainability up a notch.

Last year OHMH supporters Lionel and Una Kirvella told their friends not to get them wedding presents, but to give to your daughters instead. This enabled us to dig a fish pond -- and we just got our first tilapia to start to farm. Good nutrition is essential for your daughters to perform well in school and shortly we will have home grown fish to eat with our home grown fruit and vegetables.

"When they arrived they were as big as my finger," said Anthony. "Now they are as big as my palm." It's hard to resist using the cliché that you're not giving fish but a rod because, well, you are. Thank you. And come eat with us.

December 2008 – The School Prize and the Cow Dies

The reality in Mtwapa is that extreme poverty and extreme luxury live side by side – just a short walk from the slum are ritzy resorts. This month we saw contrast up close and personal within the walls of Mudzini Kwetu.

We were delighted to celebrate the success of many of our girls at school prize day. Of particular pride was Salama achieving the top award for 'cleanest, best performing and most disciplined' child. This was all the more special as it was less than two years ago she had been rescued from an early and abusive marriage and had never attended any form of school before joining us at Mudzini Kwetu. For this 15 year old to receive a tangible reward for the remarkable obstacles she has overcome was of immeasurable importance.

By contrast we lost one of our precious four-legged assets. One of the cows we rely upon for milk died giving birth. The calf survived but must feed from the milk of other cows meaning that we are not producing enough milk for the girls' breakfasts and must buy extra until we can replace the cow. This is an expense we cannot easily afford.     

"We here on the ground would therefore like to share the joy with you who do the bulk of the work of fundraising, sacrificing and altruistically supporting the children here at Mudzini. You are the parents that have actualised this joy and without there could actually have been not only loss of talent but even life like in the case of baby Macharia*."

~ Anthony Mulongo, founder of Mudzini Kwetu

(*Macharia passed away in late 2007 aged 8 months. Abandoned with his twin sister Agnes at only a few months old, so severe was the damage he had endured in his infancy that we were unable to save him. We carry his memory and he is a motivator to us daily.)

Your innovative efforts on behalf of your daughters were today profiled in one of the most highly respected charitable publications in America – the Chronicle of Philanthropy. Read the story of your 'Race to 20k' here.

November was a formative month for One Home Many Hopes. You helped us win the 'Race to $20k' by racing to 40k and you spread the mission and the need of One Home Many Hopes to more than 1000 people in 38 states and 8 countries. Bloggers blogged, twitterers twitted, and, most importantly, people talked.

Read about what you have done for the girls in the Chronicle of Philanthropy, Banker and Tradesman, and the Boston Metro.

Good news from Boston! Your efforts were endorsed by the editorial of 'Banker and Tradesman', a weekly publication of record in Boston. Click here to read the feature.

Sad news from Kenya but news that reminds us why we do what we do. And reminds us of the tangible help your gifts are providing:  "Thanks for the sacrifice into the work and the hope you bring. We are fine apart from Kimberly that has been diagnosed with stomach ulcers and Gift who the real problem has not yet been recognized. Gift is on pneumonia treatment while tests are done to try and establish the real problem. Kimberly is on treatment and needs special diet and should be fine."

At 9pm on Wednesday June 4th we welcomed a new daughter into our home. The police brought her to us. She is about six months old and has no known name. The girls, her new sisters, have called her Margaret. We are trying to find her mother. Your support is helping us do that. Thank you for being part of our family.

In early February 'One Home Many Hopes' received official approval and recognition by the Massachusetts Office of the Attorney General of our status as a non-profit organization. Our next step is federal approval and the same NYC law firm will be guiding us through that process pro bono.

We had 4 new arrivals at Mudzini Kwetu in late January and thanks to your help we have been able to reunite these young lives (aged from 1.5 - 4 years) with family members by the end of February. Their mother, in desperation, abandoned the 4 to fend for themselves because she could not cope. Your support enabled us to take them in when their fate would otherwise have been hunger or juvenile prison. One Home Many Hopes makes every effort to find family for all the children we can and so save our limited capacity for those girls who are utterly destitute. Thank you for bringing about this happy day for these 4 children.

The post-election violence in Kenya made your gifts even more critical than we could ever have imagined. Prices of food and goods we cannot grow or produce ourselves skyrocketed -- for example a single cabbage rose from 20KSh to nearly 300KSh in the slum. Your being with us at such a critical time has been a huge blessing to the girls. Thank you and please know the depth of gratitude and love felt for you from across oceans.

In January 2008 the funds and toys provided by 'One Home Many Hopes' in December 2007 were safely received at Mudzini Kwetu. Among many uses of your financial gifts, they helped feed the girls through the crisis of post-election violence which has seen food prices increase five-fold and families starve in their homes. Your generosity has also connected Mudzini Kwetu to the internet making it easier to communicate with the girls and possible for them to update you on events in their lives. Check back regularly to see your gifts in action.

Ian Williams, a supporter from the United Kingdom, helped build a play area for the children during his visit to Mudzini Kwetu in 2007. His wife Naomi helped to organize the office and assisted with daily management tasks.

Alice has joined the staff as a manager to assist Anthony; Christine as a replacement financial worker; Ali as a permanent builder on site; Grace, to help Saida, the house mother, and Alice, the cook.

We have built a farm from which we are harvesting fruit and vegetables from to complement the eggs and milk provided by our chickens and cows. We are in the process of constructing a fish pond to harvest fish in order to provide the children with an even better diet. Many of the girls are malnourished when they first arrive at Mudzini Kwetu.

We have recently purchased a new pump and a vehicle, in addition to two new cows. Bedwas and Sophia are becoming fast friends with our donkey, George!

Anthony Mulongo, our founder, has moved to separate living quarters, so the older girls now have a room separate from the younger ones and with new bunk beds.

Alice has joined Mudzini Kwetu as assistant manager; Christine is a valuable new addition to the financial staff; Ali is our resident carpenter; Grace has joined Saida as a house mother, and we have a new cook.