John E. Halgrim Orphanage (JEHO)

Embakasi District, Nairobi, Kenya (46 + Children) 

John E. Halgrim Orphanage (JEHO)

Meet Executive DirectorS Miriam & Peter

Through the leadership of Pastors Miriam & Peter Njuguna, the children of JEHO are learning of their God-given talents and the necessary life skills to build a better future for themselves. Their mission is to rescue abandoned and vulnerable children and provide them a strong Christian foundation along with emotional, educational, physical, medical, and social support needed so that they may enjoy life just like any other child.

They are in the process of building their team of support including Social Workers, Psychologist and Tutors for the children.  Many children arrive with little or no schooling and are years behind their peers.  

John E. Halgrim Orphanage

The final wish of a 15-year-old Ft. Myers, FL, teenager suffering from an inoperable brain tumor was to build an orphanage in Nairobi, Kenya. News of his wish reached Help the Least of These, a nonprofit founded in 2008 and funding was raised to honor the wish of John E. Halgrim.

Today, JEHO operates in partnership with Glory of Christ Church. It is located in the Embakasi District of Nairobi. This inner-city home serves 46-50 children ranging from infant to 18 years of age. Children are brought to JEHO from hospitals or government agencies or have been found discarded and abandoned on the streets.  The home provides a health assessment, fresh clothing, meals and a bed in dormitory style accommodations.  Children attend the local school. 

John E. Halgrim Orphanage (JEHO)
John E. Halgrim Orphanage (JEHO)

Thanks to generous donations from sponsors - major renovations have been implemented since 2020, moving this home from barely surviving to thriving.  The home was 10 years, and most of the areas were in need of major rebuilding or refurbishment—beginning at the front door and extending to the roof. 

Renovations included - providing sinks, running water in showers, water tanks with filters and solar hot water, rooftop kitchen and dining areas, electrical repairs, balcony repairs, tile on entire second floor replacing old concrete floors and fresh paint in the living quarters and new mattresses. In addition first aid kits, fire extinguishers, computers for education and assistance with organizing children's files. 

How You Can Help

With your monthly support, HOHI can continue to transition this home from barely surviving to thriving.  Monthly sponsors enable the children to have access to the critical support they need including dental, optical and medical care and for the older children, access to high school.  In addition they have the opportunity to attend our weekly caregiver training and trauma care training.  We do believe in doing more than rescue, but bringing restoration and equipping the children to fulfill their dreams.

our blogs about JEHO

Haven of Hope Intl partner home, JEHO Safe Home stands as a sanctuary for children

Nurturing Talents and Dreams at JEHO Safe Home

July 30, 2024

Located in the bustling Embakasi District of Nairobi, Kenya, JEHO Safe Home stands as a sanctuary for children, offering them a safe haven amidst the chaos of city life. Despite being surrounded by towering business buildings, JEHO Safe Home is a place where young minds are nurtured, and dreams are cultivated. Discovering God-Given Talents At…

Empowering Futures at JEHO Safe Home: The Impact of Monthly Sponsorship

June 14, 2024

At Haven of Hope International, our mission is to create environments where children can thrive, and your monthly sponsorship is making a tangible difference at our partner home, JEHO Safe Home. This support is more than just financial assistance; it is a lifeline that empowers us to provide essential resources and support systems for the…

Need Met! — JEHO Balcony Repairs to Keep Children Safe

October 2, 2023

In the heart of the bustling inner city, where the rhythm of life is both vibrant and challenging, one home stands out as a beacon of safety and security for abused, abandoned, and orphaned children. The John E. Halgrim Orphanage (JEHO) in Nairobi, Kenya recently took a bold step to enhance the safety measures within…

Eye treatment for 5 Children at JEHO – Need Met!

August 19, 2023

We extend our heartfelt appreciation for your unwavering support in enhancing the eye health of the children at the John E. Halgrim Orphanage (JEHO) in Nairobi, Kenya. The impact of your generosity is already evident, with five children now equipped with the eye medicine/prescription glasses they need to see their bright futures that lie ahead…

Dental Care for 8 JEHO Children – Need Met!

March 20, 2023

We received word from Miriam, the director of the John E. Halgrim Orphanage (JEHO) in Nairobi, Kenya, that eight children who desperately needed dental work have all received it! We thank God for the blessings He bestowed upon these wonderful children. We would also like to extend the deepest of gratitude to our JEHO home…

JEHO renovations

JEHO Renovations Phase 1 Complete

December 11, 2020

A lot can happen in 45 days! And it did at the John E. Halgrim Orphanage in Kenya. Alice Skaff, HOHI founder, first met JEHO directors Miriam and Peter in 2018, stopping by to visit the orphanage home on her way to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro and raise money for HOHI. Since that time, HOHI has…

Technology brings education

Technology Brings Education, Medical and Trauma-Informed Care to Orphanages

September 10, 2020

Today, providing technology packages to the orphanages that we partner with so their children can participate in online learning is one of our most important initiatives at Haven of Hope.

Thank You From Africa Emergency Rescue Fund

Thank You From Africa

June 26, 2020

Thank you from Africa, you’ve been the hero for “the least of these” because of your donations to the Emergency Rescue Fund!

our JEHO gallery

About the Republic of Kenya

Kenya is in East Africa on the Indian Ocean coast and bordered by Ethiopia, Somalia, South Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda. Nairobi is its largest city and its capital. Embakasi is a division of Nairobi, with mostly lower middle-income citizens. Like many other African metro cities, Nairobi is a study in contrasts, modern skyscrapers looking out over sprawling shantytowns of refugees fleeing civil wars in neighboring countries. 

Kenya's geographic landscape encompasses savannahs, lake lands, valleys, mountain highlands and lots of wildlife. From Nairobi safaris visit the Maasai Mara Reserve, known for its annual wildebeest migrations, and Amboseli National Park, offering views of Tanzania's Mt. Kilimanjaro.

With a population just under 54 million, approximately 3.6 million are orphaned or vulnerable children under the age of 18—47% are orphaned as a result of HIV/AIDS, 15% are double orphans (lost both parents) and 85% are single orphans. 700 children are orphaned every day and 1/3 of these are orphaned due to HIV / AIDS. 

Kenya ranks as the eighth poorest country in the world – and the sixth poorest in Africa. Over 25% of the population live on less than $1 per day and 12-15% of households in Kenya are headed by an orphan sibling. In some regions, over 25% of orphans are acutely malnourished in spite of the fact that Kenyan’s economy is largely driven by agriculture.

As a Kenyan orphan or vulnerable child, challenges are many—physical abuse, defilement, sexual exploitation, child labor, early marriages—all have been traumatized. Their future is unpredictable—no or limited access to proper health care, education, shelter and nutrition—and often disinherited by their next of kin.