Our Story

Where we started

Hands of Love Development Centre is a local initiative, started in 2008 by Indiana-born, Kenyan resident Terry Little, as a place where working mothers in the low-income residential estate of Kariobangi in Nairobi, Kenya, could leave their children as they went to work. Families living in poverty in Kariobangi face a difficult decision of where to keep their young children during the working day. They typically have one of two options: 1. Leave their children home alone for up to 7 hours a day; 2. Drop off their children at an unlicensed,congested pre-school with untrained teachers / caregivers for a fee. In both scenarios, the healthy growth & development of the children is compromised. When they enter Primary School they are already behind and at a greater risk of school failure. This often results in them being locked in an inter-generational cycle of poverty that is all but impossible to escape.

Where We Are Now

Without access to quality early childhood education, children who live in poverty have a high probability of being unsuccessful in school, often getting locked in an intergenerational cycle of poverty that is near impossible to escape. We are committed to expanding access to quality early childhood education for such children in Kariobangi so they have a better chance of completing their education and breaking free from the grasp of poverty. I am pleased to say that we have been able to impact and change educational outcomes for many children. Many of our graduates are now in upper primary school education and being very successful. The first group to graduate from the center will be joining high school next year. We serve 151 children providing them with a safe, warm and clean environment where they receive education, nutritious food and other vital necessities

Where We Are Going

The work that we have done so far is incredible, but we realize there’s more that needs to be done to support the children we serve and their families. We see ourselves growing into a center of excellence for early childhood care and education. In addition, we would like to do more to support and strengthen families. As Nelson Mandela said “education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world” with your partnership, we can change the future of Kariobangi one child at a time.