HoL Alumni - Ann Njeri

Since 2014, more than 250 children have graduated from Hands of Love and joined other schools in Kariobangi and other parts of Nairobi. 

We caught up with Ann Njeri who joined Hands of Love in January 2015 and left in November 2017 to find out how she is doing and what impact Hands of Love had on her life. 

Ann is the first child with special needs that we admitted at Hands of Love in 2015. We first met her during a routine home visit and were moved by her plight. Her mother, a single parent of three would leave her locked - sometimes tied to the bed - in their one room house as she went to work. Ann’s muscles had atrophied because of spending so much time in the house and she didn't know how to interact. Despite the challenges that we would face taking care of her,  we did not hesitate to take her in. After a few months at Hands of Love Ann transformed into a Jovial, loveable and very active - sometimes too active - girl.

After two years at our school we were able to place her at a special needs school in Ruaraka where she continued with her education for one year. While at that school she was assessed and placed at Mathare Vocational Training school where she is training as a tailor. 

Today Ann has learned all the skills that she needs to live independently. She will be graduating from the vocational school in July 2021. Her mum credits Hands of Love for the progress that her daughter has made. “Without Hands of Love Ann wouldn’t be in school today” she says.