Our Story
1999: Raphael Etenyi
began working
with 7
orphaned and
vulnerable
children from
his community in
the Kangemi slum
of Nairobi,
Kenya. With a
background in
early childhood
education, he
formed a primary
school which
became the
Hamomi
Children's
Centre.
2000:
Hamomi, earned an
excellent
reputation for
its students'
good marks.
Raphael
recruited two
other passionate
individuals,
including Hamomi's present
principal
Musumba Esau, to
join Hamomi. We
expanded to 24 pupils.
2005:
Still between
the same three
full-time
volunteers,
Hamomi capped
off its numbers
at 100 pupils.
They managed
this on no
salaries, no
Feeding Program,
no medical care
and no hope for
going on to
secondary school
after primary
school.
2007:
Hamomi added a
team of American
volunteers who formed the
US Board and
committed
themselves
to the
long-term,
sustainable
development of
Hamomi.
2008:
Hamomi began its
On-site
Volunteer
Program
which has grown
more popular
each year. We
have a steady
stream of
volunteers who
play an integral
role at Hamomi.
We also began
the
Item Delivery
Program
which has been a
huge success.
2009:
With a growing
base and the
introduction of
solar cookers,
Hamomi began a
Feeding Program.
First only
offering lunch 5
days a week, and
later expanding
to breakfast and
lunch 6 days a
week. Through
the
Support-a-Teacher
Program,
Raphael and
Musumba began
taking their
first ever salary
with Hamomi.
Hamomi also
celebrated its
first graduating
class. Graduates
must pass the
Kenya
Certificate of
Primary
Education exam in
order to
continue on to
secondary
school. All of Hamomi's
graduates
passed.
2010: Due
to the success
of the First
Annual Dinner
and Auction, Hamomi
expanded to a
complete
Feeding
Program of 3
meals a day, 7
days a week.
Raphael and
Musumba began
earning a
livable wage and
the remaining 6
staff members
began earning
salaries as
well. Thanks to
the
Support-a-Graduate
Program our
6 graduates
began Form 1,
(freshman
year) of high
school.
