From one act of compassion to a home that transforms lives.
Shalom Home began when Francis opened his home to children who had nowhere safe to go.
What started as a simple response to suffering grew into a refuge — a place where children could eat, sleep, heal and even hope.
Over the years, friends, neighbours, international volunteers and donors joined the mission.
Today, Shalom Home comprises two sister centres in Meru County — Shalom OVC Home and Acts of Mercy Centre — together supporting more than 1,000 orphaned and vulnerable children.
Each centre serves children with different needs and resources, but both are united under the same mission.
How Shalom Home changes lives
A safe, stable home
Children who arrive frightened and uncertain find warmth, order and protection. Shalom Home gives them the stability every child deserves.
Nutrition that restores health
Reliable meals rebuild strength and restore dignity — often the first turning point in a child’s recovery.
Education as a pathway forward
Every child attends school. We support uniforms, books, tutoring and fees when needed. Education becomes a ladder out of generational poverty.
Healthcare and emotional care
We ensure each child receives medical attention and trauma-informed support, helping them heal physically and emotionally
Skills for adulthood
As children grow older, we prepare them for independence — instilling responsibility, discipline and life skills that empower them beyond charity.
Our Sister Centres
Shalom Home is not a single building — it is a community of two child-focused centres in Meru County that share one philosophy, one leadership and one purpose. Each centre plays a distinct role in the journey from vulnerability to independence.
Shalom OVC Home
(Matetu, South Imenti)
A growing, established centre supporting more than 700 children, Shalom OVC Home is the older and more developed of the two centres.
Here, children receive:
A safe residential environment
Full education from primary to secondary
Vocational training in carpentry, welding, tailoring, electrical installation, plumbing and agriculture
Support across five neighbouring public schools (over 1,000 students)
Opportunities for university for top performers
It is a vibrant community of learning, healing and growth, shaped by more than two decades of perseverance — and still facing serious issues like worn dormitories, outdated vocational equipment, unsafe walkways and inconsistent water access.
Despite these challenges, Shalom OVC Home continues to transform lives and prove what is possible when children are given stability and opportunity.
Acts of Mercy Centre
(Irotia Village, Tigania East)
A modest sister centre, serving 300+ children at an earlier stage of development, Acts of Mercy began as a grassroots effort to provide food and shelter to children most affected by poverty, illness and family breakdown.
It offers:
Basic education
Daily meals
Clothing and emotional support
Community outreach
A safe environment for children rescued from severe hardship
But Acts of Mercy is significantly under-resourced, with ongoing difficulties including:
No clean water supply
No transport
No Junior Secondary School
Inadequate dining facilities
A makeshift, under-equipped dispensary
Ageing buildings with no capacity for expansion
Constant pressure to support more children than the site can safely accommodate
Despite these limitations, Acts of Mercy is a lifeline for hundreds of children. With strategic investment, it has the potential to become a sustainable and transformative community centre.
Join us in making a meaningful difference.
Shalom Home is sustained by people who believe every child deserves safety, nourishment, education and care.
If you feel connected to our philosophy and mission, we’d love you to get involved.
Shalom Home is a testament to how even the smallest gesture of support can grow into something strong and life-changing.
Every contribution helps a child grow with confidence and dignity, and we’d be grateful to share this rewarding journey with you.