An orthopedic surgeon transforms the lives of orphaned and vulnerable children in Africa.
Naomi’s Village, a nonprofit based in rural Kenya, is a pillar of hope for orphaned and vulnerable children, providing not just shelter but also an opportunity to become future leaders. Founded by Dr. Robert Mendonsa, an orthopedic surgeon, and his wife, Julie, the organization has been operating since 2008, empowering children through education, care and community development.
“I was practicing orthopedic surgery in Dallas when we first visited Kenya in 2003,” says Dr. Mendonsa, founder and CEO of Naomi’s Village. “My wife Julie witnessed the plight of thousands of homeless children in the Great Rift Valley, and it broke her heart. That trip changed our lives forever.”
Upon moving to Kenya, the Mendonsas established Naomi’s Village, a children’s home that now houses 96 orphans. The home is named after the biblical story of Naomi, a woman who, despite suffering immense personal loss, found restoration through family and community. According to Dr. Mendonsa, the kids at Naomi’s Village come from similar broken backgrounds, and the mission is to restore them to family, love and leadership.
In addition to the children’s home, Naomi’s Village has grown to include Cornerstone Preparatory Academy, which educates 500 children from the local community. Other initiatives include a preschool program for disadvantaged children and the MTOTO (Mother-Toddler-One-To-One) program, which supports young mothers throughout their pregnancy and early child development.
Commitment and perseverance are key to the success of Naomi’s Village, according to Dr. Mendonsa, noting the challenges they have faced, including corruption in Kenya. They had to adapt and ensure that corruption had no place in their organization if they were to raise children who would one day become transformative leaders for positive change.
One success story is that of Evelyn, one of the first 14 children at Naomi’s Village. Today, she works in developing countries after completing a leadership training program in South Africa. She came to Naomi’s Village at eight years old with no hope, but now she is traveling the world, serving others.
“We see so much fruit from our years of work as our kids increasingly notice the needs of others and begin to take action through their voices and efforts,” says Dr. Mendonsa. “God created all of these children, and if we help them through their immense suffering, they can become outstanding leaders in life and an incredible gift to humanity.”
Learn more about Naomi’s Village at naomisvillage.org
US giving link is: https://naomisvillage.org/sponsor-a-child/
UK giving link is: https://hopebegins.org.uk/sponsor-a-child
