Rooted in compassion. Built on trust. Growing with Kenya.
"I have looked into the eyes of children who had given up on belonging. Lumora began because I refused to accept that."
In 2012, while working as a paediatric nurse at Kenyatta National Hospital, Dr. Amina W. encountered a seven-year-old boy who had been living in the Mathare storm drains for three weeks. He had a name, a remarkable mind, and no one to call. That encounter changed the trajectory of her life.
What started as a rented two-room house in Eastleigh, housing five children and run entirely on personal savings, has grown into a nationally recognised foundation serving over 2,400 children across Kenya. Lumora — a word meaning "light" in the Luhya tradition — embodies the foundation's belief that every child carries an inner light that circumstances can dim but never extinguish.
Today, our work is guided by Kenya's Children Act 2022, the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, and the voices of the children and families we serve. We are not saviours — we are partners, walking alongside Kenya's most vulnerable children until they can walk confidently on their own.
What we do every day
To provide safe, nurturing residential care, quality education, and comprehensive health services to Kenya's vulnerable children — while actively working to reintegrate them into stable, permanent family environments. We uphold the rights, dignity, and agency of every child in our care.
What we work toward
A Kenya where no child is defined by abandonment, poverty, or trauma — but where every child grows into a confident, healthy, and contributing member of their community. We envision a national child welfare system that prioritises family preservation over institutionalisation.
Our Core Values
Child-First Always
Every decision we make is filtered through a single question: what is best for this child? Not for our organisation, not for public image, not for convenience.
Dignity & Agency
Children are not passive recipients of charity. We involve them in decisions that shape their lives, treating every child as a person with rights, preferences, and voice.
Transparency
We publish full financial statements annually, welcome independent audits, and operate with open-door accountability to our donors, government partners, and communities.
Community Partnership
Sustainable change is never imposed from outside. We design all programmes in partnership with local communities, county governments, and the families we serve.
Evidence-Based Practice
We rigorously measure outcomes, adapt programmes based on data, and share learning openly with the wider child welfare sector in Kenya and beyond.
Long-Term Commitment
Our relationship with a child does not end when they leave our home. We follow up for two years post-reintegration and maintain alumni networks for lifetime support.
Twelve years in the making
The First Door Opens
Dr. Amina W. opens a two-room transitional home in Eastleigh, Nairobi, housing five children removed from street situations. Funded entirely through personal savings and community donations.
Registered NGO Status
Lumora Care Foundation receives official NGO registration from the NGO Coordination Board of Kenya. Our first corporate donor — Safaricom Foundation — funds construction of the Westlands residential home.
Education Programme Launches
Partnership with 12 primary schools in Nairobi County ensures all children in our care receive formal education. Bursary programme for secondary school begins.
Health Clinic Opens
A dedicated on-site clinic staffed by two nurses and a part-time paediatrician opens at the main Westlands home, serving children and community members from surrounding estates.
COVID Response & Expansion
During the pandemic, Lumora Care mobilises food aid for 1,800 families in informal settlements. UNICEF Kenya partnership formalised, enabling expansion to Kisumu and Mombasa counties.
Family Reintegration Model Recognised
Kenya's Department of Children Services formally adopts our reintegration assessment framework as a national best-practice model. 500th family successfully reunified.
2,400 Children & Counting
With seven residential homes, 14 county partnerships, and a 94% school completion rate, Lumora Care enters its next chapter — a KES 400M capital campaign to build a purpose-designed campus in Kiambu County.
The people behind our work
Paediatric nurse, child rights advocate, and 2022 CNN Africa Hero nominee.
MSc Social Work, Makerere. 14 years designing child protection programmes across East Africa.
CPA(K), MBA Finance — University of Nairobi. Ensures every shilling serves its intended child.
Former secondary school principal. Leads bursary partnerships with 48 schools nationwide.