Since 2003
Building Trust and Restoring Dignity
Our History
In 2001, three friends united in response to the ravages of HIV & AIDS witnessed in a remote village along the banks of Lake Victoria, Kenya. Together, they provided health education & disease treatment in numerous rural villages.
The initial focus on health soon expanded into activities to create positive experiences and to restore dignity for orphaned children who experienced stigma, discrimination and the painful isolation because of HIV & AIDS. A small group of community members joined hands and were trained to run beekeeping, chicken & dairy farming and craft projects that generated income to support 80+ orphaned children with breakfast, school uniforms and weekend psycho-social support activities.
And, this was just the beginning…
Children educated
People Accessing Clean Water
Accessing Health & Social Services
Families with Improved Livelihoods
What Drives Us
Our Mission
When people believe in themselves and work together, they can build a vibrant community. Our mission is to empower these communities to create positive change, especially for children and youth.
Guiding Our Work
Our Values
Innovation
Collaboration
Excellence
Respect
Integrity
We demonstrate high standards of ethical conduct including honesty, accountability, transparency & trust.
Make a Difference
Why Participate?
Lasting Change
We believe children are our future. Encouraging their engagement as active participants in positive community development initiatives nurtures them to become change-makers and leaders for the future.
Responsible Change
Good Stewards
Collaborative Development
Global Endeavor
Teamwork and positive partnerships with dynamic and compassionate individuals from our communities and partners from all over the world create a healthy exchange of ideas and best practices.
Team
Board of Trustees
Michele Ostertag
Founding Trustee
Michele Ostertag was born in the US to Swiss parents. Her educational background includes international business and marketing, homeopathic medicine and Bach Flower Remedies. She worked in the US and Europe before moving to Kenya in 1998 with her family. Having lost her mother at a young age, she has a keen interest to help children, especially orphans, and she began working with local communities soon after arriving in Kenya. Using her combined skills and experience in business and holistic health, she identified capacity development initiatives that emphasize participatory processes focusing on the multi-dimensional needs of humans as learning beings and the importance of individual and community transformation going hand in hand. She started the first of these community projects in 2002.