Hope Through Education Bike Tour : Day Two: Juja Farm Orphanage and Wazee Home

Day two of the Hope Through Education Bike Tour. It was almost dark and we decided to pass by the Emmanuel Orphanage run by the Dominican Sisters. I first came to this orphanage 6 years ago with a friend of mine who was a refugee from Ethiopia here in Kenya at the time. We met Sister Luisa (from Germany), who was well know among the Ethiopian, Eritrean, Oromo, and Sudanese refugee communities. Back then, 6 years ago, Aga and I were invited to spend the night and eat a delicious dinner here. I have been coming back every year just to pay a visit and see how Sister Luisa is doing. She is back in Germany now, but a younger nun, Sister Serena, is taking charge. Today we bicycled to Juja Farm where there is another orphanage and an old people's home (Mzee Home). In the orphanage, about 15 children live in each house with a house mother. The house mother is responsible for all the needs of the children in her care. As you can see from the pictures, the cottages are sturdy and beautiful. Inside, there are about 5 bedrooms with bunk beds and a closet where the children neatly fold their clothes. The sitting room is clean and equipped with sofa and chairs. These kids are being brought up in dignity and I am impressed by the quality of the care they get. In case you were wondering about the names on the buildings, each house is named for the person who donated the money to build it. After we toured the orphanage, Toto, Stefanus, and I took a look at the old people's home (Mzee Home). There were 7 residents. The compound has a huge garden, 2 milk cows, rabbits, chickens, and a bakery. Each resident had their own room and were well taken care of.I don't know who orchestrates the whole shebang but I am in awe.