Mathare, home to nearly 500,000 inhabitants, is a collection of slums in Nairobi and is regarded as one of the worst and most dangerous slums in the Kenyan capital. Life in the slum is bleak and slum dwellings, which are home to between five and eight people, have no adequate power, water, or waste disposal facilities. Moreover, widespread unemployment coupled with the fact that men frequently abandon their spouses makes life extremely difficult for children, who are often left to fend for themselves. Since there also exists a widespread prevalence of AIDS, this has added to the complexity of life in the slum as not only are AIDS patients unlikely to find work, which exacerbates poverty, but since a number of these patients succumb to the disease, their children often suffer from neglect. This situation not only creates a sense of insecurity but without appropriate guidance and mentorship, children are often easy targets for anti-social elements and tend to be coerced into criminal activity and prostitution.

In 1999, in order to address the critical needs of children living in Mathare, David and Hannah Njoroge founded Mogra Star. Hannah, who has dedicated her life to improving the lives of children in the slums of Nairobi, is the face of the organization and having been a Mat hare resident herself, is well aware of living conditions and challenges faced by both, children and parents. Since nearly a decade, Hannah has championed education for destitute children in Mat hare, and with the help of numerous donors and volunteers, led the expansion of Mogra Star from a small child-care center to an organization which is home to over 180 orphans and nearly 1,300 school children.

Mogra Star was founded as a day-care for single parents as most children were left alone at home while their parents were at work or out seeking employment. However, due to living conditions in Mathare combined with Hannah and her team’s generous and proactive efforts, it has since, evolved into an oasis and refuge for slum children. In fact, rarely a day goes by when Hannah and her team are not faced with the problem of accommodating and seeking sponsors for new arrivals.

In order to meet its stated aims, the organization has created an orphanage and school, known as Mogra Star Academy and financing is largely obtained through sponsorships. While orphans are housed within Mogra Star’s premises, slum children attending school usually reside with their family. The entire Mogra Star team is committed to assisting children in any way possible and to this effect, we have also made it our mission to keep administrative costs to a minimum. Please visit the Get Involved or Frequently Asked Questions pages for additional information on donations and costs.