Overview

History:

• The vision to operate a home for abandoned babies in Kenya developed in 2001.   Steve Kamau and Jim Powell, the Pastor of Heritage Church,  presented their vision to the officers of Heritage Presbyterian Church in New Castle, Delaware.  

• With the approval from Heritage Church Steve Kamau, Jim Powell and his wife, Sharon Powell, visited Kenya in July of 2001 to explore the implementation of their vision.  

• Happy Life Children’s Home began in January of 2002 under the direction of Pastor Peter Ndungu.  Our first four babies were: Jane, Victor and twin boys James and Bruce.   The facility was a rented home in the Kasarani area of Kenya.  In November of 2002 the owner of the property decided to sell and we began to rent the current property that  we are in the process of purchasing.

• During the past two years the number of children has increased and many improvements have taken place:

• Addition of a full-time Social Worker and a full-time Nurse.
• Improved kitchen facilities; play area outside with a covering; a washing machine; various toys, clothing, and medicines, a van for transportation needs, a small building for schooling.
• An adoption agency in Nairobi has enabled happy Life to expand its ability to accomplish adoptions; as of the fall 06, 13 children are living with their soon to be parents.
• Increased number of volunteers coming to the Home.

• Two committees have been formed to oversee the operations of the Home:  Pastor Peter Ndungu is the director of the Home in Kenya and Pastor Jim Powell is the Director of the Home in America.

• At the beginning the Happy Life Children’s Home in America was under the oversight of Heritage Presbyterian Church in New Castle, Delaware.   Donations to the Home were given through the non-profit status of Heritage.    In September of 2004  Happy Life Children’s Home was officially incorporated in the Sate of Delaware.  The mailing address continues to be: Happy Life Children’s Home Inc., 140 Airport Road, New Castle, Delaware 19720.   We have received our 501c3 non-profit status which will enable Happy Life to operate as an independent non-profit organization.

Vision and Goals:

• The abandonment of babies has reached a crisis level through out the land of Kenya.   Due to many causes:  high unemployment, tremendous poverty, the AIDS epidemic, and social upheavals.   Hospitals around the country are facing the problem daily as mothers walk out of the wards, leaving their babies, and do not return.  It is not uncommon for babies to be abandoned in a plastic bag or left abandoned in a roadside ditch.   These babies often die from hypothermia, dehydration, or illness related to malnutrition.   Unfortunately, even when they are found and rescued, there are not enough facilities to properly care for these abandoned babies.

Vision and Goals:

• To bring hope to homeless children.
• To provide the babies with quality caregivers who love the babies and their Lord.
• To meet the physical, social, and emotional needs of each child.
• To create a “family atmosphere for the children within the Home and within the Church.
• To have each child adopted by a Christian family.
• To find an adequate facility to accept the children who are not adopted as they reach the time for regular education.

Our Future:

• To provide (purchasing / building) a facility to increase our ability to take in 50 abandoned babies and to provide an even higher degree of provision and care.
• To have the resources to provide care for abandoned babies who test positive for the HIV virus.  Currently we only can care for babies who have been tested to be negative for the HIV virus.

Status as of Fall 2006

• Happy Life is caring for 30 children ranging from 3 months to over 4 years of age. Twenty additional children are currently living with families who are in the process of adoption.
• The Home employs daily workers as well as a full-time Nurse and a Social Worker.
• Our operating budget is approximately $5,000 dollars per month.   Additional monies are needed to pay off loans totaling $25,000 and a remaining need of $30,000 to complete the purchase of our current property.
• Our donor base continues to increase through individuals; churches; and a local Christian School.
• We have become incorporated in the State of Delaware and also have been approved to be  a specific 501c3 non-profit organization.

Strengths and Achievements:

• In March of 2003 a lady from  Delaware completed the adoption of the twin boys who came to the home in January, 2002.
• As of June 2006, five children have completed the adoption process with 13 currently in the process.
• Very committed committees and directors both in Kenya and America.
• Dedicated workers at Happy Life who consider themselves as “mothers” rather than workers.  A Kenyan Director who loves the children.
• Team visits to the Home: 10 in August 2004; 5 in October 2005; 20 in June of 2006.
• A growing donor support base in America.
• The number of volunteers who come to the Home.
• A full-time Social Worker and Nurse.
• The children are healthy and happy.
• The Home is becoming better known in America and in the Nairobi area.
• A strong commitment to grow in both numbers and the ability to provide quality services.
• A local church near the Home that is very committed to the ministry.

Opportunities once the property is purchased:

• Structural changes can be made to the existing property to better meet the needs of caring for children.
• A new facility can be specifically designed on the property with the existing potential of adding a level to the existing house.
• An increase in our ability to care for more babies.   It is likely that the need to provide care for abandoned babies will increase into the future.
• The ability of increasing our donor base will be enhanced.
• Potential of buying the adjacent property for expansion.

Moving Ahead / Practical goals:

• To complete the purchase of the existing property and to pay off existing loans.
• To remodel the purchased property to better meet the needs of the children.
• Explore the possibilities of purchasing additional property.
• Explore plans to be able to have a medically equipped facility for the care of AIDS babies.

An exciting reality exists:

     The more people who care in a tangible way the more abandoned babies will be
        given a hope and a home!

      As our giving increases, the greater will be the quantity and quality of our care
        for the babies.

      We will be able to provide care for AIDS babies as donors respond to the need.

   Children are a heritage from the Lord, children a reward from Him.