Watu Wangu Foundation

Watu Wangu Foundation is the initiative of the Kenyan-Dutch Hellen Kavinya Muthengi. She was born in Kenya where she had a very eventful youth, living in tremendous poverty and having to survive on the streets of Nairobi. She was fortunate enough to receive help from a Dutch aid organisation. In the year 1989, Kavinya moved to the Netherlands, where she raised her children. Now that her children are grown and on their own feet, Kavinya has returned to Kenya to offer others the help that saved her from of her miserable circumstances.

The Foundation was established in the year 2007 to initiate and execute small scale and grassroot aid projects in Kenya, particularly in the area Kitui West sub-county around the town Tulia. The Foundation does this in cooperation with her local partner Watu Wangu Kenya.

Initially Foundation Watu Wangu focused primarily on the establishment of a children's home, Watu Wangu Children's Center. In addition, the Foundation has carried out various other projects, some related to the children's home, but also some projects that stand alone.

At this moment the focus is on empowerment. The best way to do that, is through education. The Foundation does this through the vocational education program Watu Wangu Kenya; driving courses; and individual study support for young people who would otherwise not be able to afford an education. In addition the Foundation aims to provide basic necessities, such as water, food and medical aid.

Of course the Foundation does not do all this alone. Through the years Foundation Watu Wangu could count on the support of many donors and volunteers. On behalf of all the people the Foundation has been able to help, thank you very much!

Will you help us? Donate!

Policy and Action Plan

Since her inception in the year 2007, Watu Wangu Foundation has taken on and completed several projects, such as the care for orphans and street children; building of a borehole for drinking water; a sanitation project at a local primary school; a greenhouse project for food security. A complete overview with a brief description can be found on the homepage of this website.

For the next years, the focus of Foundation Watu Wangu will be on an educational program for girls and young women without a completed education. The aim of this program is to support them to become economically independent and socially resilient, so that they can support themselves and their families.

The projects are financed with donations of funds, private people and companies; and through fundraising activities by the foundation or its volunteers.

Board members and volunteers, both in the Netherlands as in the project country (Kenya), receive no salary or compensation of any kind. Only expenses made, for example for fundraising and administration, are reimbursed. This will not be more than 5% of donations received, but in reality it has always been less than this.