Heroes of Nation is a beautiful and powerful nonprofit, doing real work that is helping to lay the foundation for the next generation of Kenya to change their nation.
I traveled with and worked with this nonprofit in early 2018. Meeting the leaders, whose hearts are on fire to see children raised to their brightest potential, inspired me beyond words. As a photographer it was beautiful to capture these leaders, who in their village and at the school are making a different everyday.
This organization is absolutely amazing and has helped so many children. Such a blessing and honour to visit the children and see the orphanage in action.
Heroes is the most beautiful place on earth!!! Children with hope-filled smiles, laughing, loving, & learning...learning that they are valued, loved and can lead! I am privileged to partner with a good God and serve this amazing place where miracles happen and the children become all they can be!!
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I returned twice this year, to play with the kids, teach, minister and have fun. I'm always so impressed with the family atmosphere in a place with so many kids (500!). But the teachers and staff truly carry the heart and vision of the organization. They are incredibly loving and it's easy to see that they want the best for each child, treating them with respect, kindness and encouragement. The kids are happy and believe that they can see their dreams fulfilled. I'm so happy to support this organization and am grateful I get to see, firsthand, how well they are truly caring for orphaned and abandoned children and making an real impact in Africa.
Heroes of The Nation is one of the best non profits I have ever worked with in my 7 years of missions/ministry. The way they take care of their kids and staff is evident. I have never met such a happy group of students before.
One thing that stuck out to me the most is how their older students walk in so much leadership. This stuck out to me the most because, the majority (if not all) of the students here come from intense backgrounds where you wouldn’t think they could excell much because of their circumstances, yet HTN’s intentional and professional care/ leadership has shaped these students into knowing that they are world changers and have a future and a hope! The powerful mindset these students carry is undeniable right when you step on campus.
HTN is a phenomenal non profit. I look forward to working with them again in the future!
Heroes of nation was one of the amazing place in the world! The children was so adorable and well educated,they were kind and super welcomed the new comer.My husband and I we visited heroes at April 2018. We absolutely talked in love with those little angels and Kenya. And it’s not just a orphanage it even is a best school in that area!!! The children was excellent in both study and sports !
The experience In Heroes is the most beautiful memory for us!we have so much fun with the kids and the teachers~
Heroes of the Nation is the most amazing place to be!!
I have visited Heroes the first time in April 2017, I fell in love with the children and the heart of the organisation and decided to do a volunteering year at Heroes of the Nation US-Office where I've seen the wonderful work that they are putting in into the vision of Heroes. Through projects I got to return to Kenya in January 2018, March/April 2018 and another three months from September till November 2018. Heroes is always happy and warmly welcoming Visitors. Spending so many weeks and months here with the children has been life changing, seeing the smiles of the children and hearing how their stories and futures have changed because of the care of Heroes of the Nation is touching every heart. The children are grateful, thankful, helpful, clever and smart! The school is doing such an amazing work with them that they even reached great positions in the national school ratings, they are also creative, gifted and talented and also join school competitions in singing and dancing (I too got multiply times a taste of their talents!!). The school and organisation in Kenya are giving their lives to serve the children and so does the US office by making sure they are provided for. Since I have volunteered in the US office and helped with the sponsorship program, I have seen their faithful work and have now the joy to also sponsor a teenage-girl in Heroes High-school, and I am thinking of sponsoring even more children, because it fills my heart that I know I can change the life of a child with a small monthly donation!
Heroes of the Nation is continually growing and going after the vision to raise leaders in this Nation, from kinder-garden up to a college program, Heroes makes sure the future of these children will be bright! I can just tell you how amazing Heroes is and I invite you to reach out and learn more of it, and maybe even visit Kenya once yourself! Be blessed!!
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This last spring I was privileged to be part of a team going down to Heroes of the Nation in Kenya to serve the organisation and the children. It has been a wonderful and live changing experience. It was beautiful to see where the kids came from and how transformed they have been now. On thing which really stuck with me is how all the children asked me: "What is your gift, what is your talent?" I was impressed by their great ability to ask good questions and then they told me:" I am good at loving people and I want to become a nurse!" others said:" I am good at Math and want to become a teacher" "I am great in drawing and designing and want to become a fashion-designer".... There where so many beautiful dreams. I loved to see who they really are able to dream again by being in Heroes, they are able to look into a great future now, and the teachers and staff team in Kenya is doing such a great job in planting identity and dreams into the children hearts! Not only are the children receiving a great education but also are able to recover form the vulnerable state which they are coming from and finally get their basic needs met, like food, shelter, belonging and love!
I visited and stayed at Heroes of the Nation for 5 weeks last year, and for 2 weeks this year. I have seen the inner workings of this amazing organization and am humbled by the work the staff and teachers are doing. The children at Heroes of the Nation believe that they are loved because of how they are cared for and encouraged. They see the future as bright, and full of possibilities. They really are the future leaders of their nation!
Words cannot describe the beauty of this place, Hero's of the Nation. The children, the teachers, the founders, each and every person there was full of radical love for the Lord and each other. Before showing up I was expecting gloom and sadness but was met with just the opposite; joy and celebration. The children are proud to be at Hero's. They dance and sing, they are receiving an education and learning about Jesus. Not only are they changing the nation of Kenya but their going beyond that through all of Arica. It was the best, most life changing experience.
After one visit I fell in love with Heroes. To see the confidence the child is getting is so great. Heroes of the Nation make the future leaders of Kenya!
I traveled to Kenya, to Heroes of the Nation last April for my missions trip and it was so amazing. I went there to try to make an impact on these children’s lives and they changed my life forever. The children were so loving and kind. The staff showed great hospitality and I felt so honored to be there. This organisation really raise up and empower the next leaders of this world, and they do it so well!
Raising up Heros and World Changers! I have had the pleasure of hearing stories and being blessed by all that Heros is doing for Kenya children and beyond. I can’t wait to go myself and learn to love and leave the “Heros” way!
I recently visited Heroes of the Nation Orphanage and my life is forever changed by the impact the staff and children had on me. The orphanage and school is run so well, the children are brilliant! The staff encourage the students to dream and tells them they are the future leaders of the country. The children believe it and fully embrace that call. They are joyful, God fearing, incredible individuals with bright futures ahead of them. The staff took such good care of my team, the food was always amazing, it was clean and so homey. I am so thankful for the opportunity to have been to such an amazing organization!
Visiting Heroes of the Nations in Kenya has been the most impactful moment of my life. This organization is transforming Kenya by taking the most vulnerable humans in their society - orphans and transforming them into heroes. The students are provided with food, shelter, education, love and safety. The teachers truly believe in their students which allows the students to dream of becoming anything they want - doctors, pilots, business owners, etc. When you can make someone believe in themselves, then nothing is impossible. I will continue to support this organization - not only verbally but financially because I know that every dollar that I give goes such a long way. Seeing the kid’s lives being transformed is worth every penny.
I traveled to heroes of the nation on a missions trip in March of 2017. The impact this place had on me caused me to view the world around differently.
If I'm not mistaken, the majority of the children in the orphanage are there because their parents have died of AIDS. I believe they have close to 600 children present at this orphanage, and you would think that having that many kids in one place with that much heartache would be a sad place to be. It's the opposite. These children are not down on the dumps; yes, they will work through pain, some for a short time and some for a lifetime. But, in the midst of the hurt these children have vision and passion unlike many kids I have ever met.
Heroes of the Nation is a place where these children are invited to stand back to their feet, to have someone believe in them, to receive an education, and to look into their futures with hope and destiny and ask their hearts what it sees.
The children at Heroes are receiving proper education, they are developing healthy relationships with peers, they are learning responsibility through tasks and duties they perform there, they are developing their dreams for their futures. Heroes of the Nation is a game changer for the future of Kenya. I was so impacted by one of the children that I am now her monthly supporter. It is an honor to be able to financially support and remain in touch with one of the children. I have the highest regard for this place, and I hope to visit again soon.
I would also like to mention the leaders of this place. I have high regard and much esteem for Weston and Violet Gitonga. Heroes is their dream coming to life. I was wowed by the dream in their heart many years ago to take children in, and to see it today is even more spectacular.
And Susie Thompson makes the magic happen. From fundraising, to bringing in volunteer teams, to organizing, budgeting, and more! This woman serves the Gitonga's well, and has a massive heart for the children.
Heroes of the Nation is a non-profit to get behind. In a world that is often full of discouragement and darkness, Heroes is a bright light for the world to see.
-Tim Specht
Spent 10 days at HTN. It was beautiful to see the hope each hero carried for their future... which would be impossible without genuinely caring teaching staff and admin.
Staying at the orphanage was comfortable and clean as I was housed in a private room with my own bathroom.
The kids put on a number of skits and songs to honor our visit, which was a great peek into Kenyan tradition.
Overall this place houses a receptive environment to spread your love among the kids, it will not be wasted when given to the heroes.
We went to Kenya, and meet all the kids (from the school and orphanage) . The leadership of HTN is amazing: they are knowledgeable, super friendly, and lead by example. We witnessed the love to Jesus to so many people and made lots of new friends. It was the perfect trip.
When I stepped foot on to Heroes of the Nation, the welcome was like nothing I had ever experienced. I imagine it is a foretaste of what it will be like to be welcomed into heaven. All I could see was beautiful, smiling faces pressing close to our van, singing songs of welcome, eager to share their love with us. When we exited the van, it was to arms held open for hugs and more joyful singing and rejoicing with dance. The children in this school and orphanage are not just taught mathematics and grammar, they are trained to know they are valuable. They have confidence and know they have identity as children of God. They are not just fed physically, it is evident that they are being nourished with the knowledge that they are loved, special and important. What a joy and delight it was to visit Heroes and to be able to partner with this amazing ministry.
Heroes of the Nation is impacting the lives of countless children and the whole country of Kenya. I've never met children who were so loving, intelligent, and filled with such vision to improve their country. I met one girl who is studying to be a lawyer so she can work to end corruption in her government. I truly believe Heroes is raising up Kenya's future leaders!
This nonprofit changes lives. I have never seen the children more happy, loved and hopeful for their future. Giving every child at heroes the opportunity to be successful leaders, is changing the future of Kenya.
I went to Heroes of the Nation in 2012 and really loved the orphanage, the children and the staff. What a neat organization doing an amazing work! Wow. My family has sponsored a child for the past three years and we always look forward to his photos and letters. I highly recommend HTN to anyone interested in sponsoring a child. I really feel like my gifts are going to make a positive difference - and I have a confidence knowing that 100% of my gift goes directly to the kids in Kenya.
A first went to Heroes of the Nation(HTN) as part of a school trip. I've been to a few orphanages in the developing world before but was simply blown away by how unique HTN is. The kids have such a joy and sparkle in their eyes. It's obvious that they are not only loved and taken care of, but also very secure and confident. It brought me to tears hearing the stories of how these kids wanted to grow up to be presidents, lawyers, teachers, and pilots to change their nation. The education the kids were receiving seemed excellent as well and the kids were all very proud of their high marks on exams. As a volunteer my life was absolutely changed. I became close friends with many of the children and still stay in touch with them through letters. Our team had numerous opportunities to serve the kids and staff as well as just connect with them and love on them. I highly recommend going to HTN.
I have the pleasure of interning with Heroes of the Nation. This organization has forever changed my view on the model an orphanage should have. Heroes of the Nation is changing the way children in Africa see themselves and how they can impact the world. This organization is shaping the future of Africa and the world. As an intern I have been able to read the letters hand written by the kids to their sponsor. I have been so moved by testimony of how transformed these kid’s lives have become because of Heroes of the Nation. They have written saying that once they had no future and no hope but that since coming to Heroes of the Nation they see hope and a future for themselves! I can only imagine what would happen if all orphanages around the global would model what Heroes of the Nations does. The world would be forever changed.
Heroes of the Nations powerfully impacts children's lives and changes them forever. Not only do they care for the physical needs of children in Africa, but their vision is to raise them up as leaders in their country in every part of society. When I began supporting a little girl three years ago, Heroes helped me feel so connected to her. It was such a joy to be a part of her journey and see how something so simple could change a child's life forever.
I visited Heroes of the Nations orphanage in the spring of 2009. I was very impressed withe staff, the school and the kids. The kids had been taught that they were the heroes of the next generation and they did not see themselves as orphans.
I went to visit the HTN campus in Nyahururu in June of 2011 and was mightily impressed! The selflessness, and commitment to the kids by Weston, Violet, and all the Heroes staff is amazing. They are always looking to the needs of the kids first and provide such a loving environment for the growth and education of these kids. They truly beiieve and work to instill a sense of destiny and excellence in these kids, leaving behind the things of the past and moving them forward to become heroes! I was also very impressed with the many practical ways that Heroes as developed to achieve the goal of self-sufficiency. Their efforts in agriculture are particularly notable such as the new green houses, the corn grinding mill and chicken incubators. I look forward to see how the lives of these kids will impact the nation of Kenya and beyond!
In 2002 I went to Kenya with the intent of starting 'a new paradigm in orphan care'. We called it Heroes of the Nation. Going into our 11th year, I believe that we have accomplished that goal. HTN takes houses, educates, trains and loves over 500 children at risk. To visit the Heroes of the Nation campus is to see the 'happiest place on Earth', in that these children know they are loved and are being given the tools to not only live productive adult lives in their future, but to be part of changing Kenya for the better. They have a heart to 'give back' the love and help they were given. Our 4 pillars are 1) a strong and healthy identity, 2) an excellent scholastic education, 3) a vision for 'self sufficiency', and 4) a heart for social justice. I am amazed that a simple vision is now a reality that affects a nation. We have an amazing staff in Kenya and the USA, that no words can express my pride in them.
I believe in the work of Heroes of the Nation. When I volunteered with HTN, I felt that I wasn't just promoting an organization but that I was becoming part of a movement. It was important for me to see the faces of the children whose lives I was impacting. I knew that my efforts were making a positive change for their futures. These children will become leaders because of the practical skills and loving encouragement they receive on a daily basis.
I first visited the foundation's Heroes of the Nation children's home and school in Nyahururu, Kenya in 2005, and have been back twice more (most recently in October of 2012). The 500+ children are well-cared-for, and very happy and hopeful. Violet Gitonga (Mum) is an extremely competent leader, ensuring that the children receive a superior education and live in a caring, supportive atmosphere. The Home is working on several self-sufficiency programs, which I feel is crucial to their long-term sustainability, and provides me as a donor with confidence that they recognize the importance of ensuring their own future rather than trusting wholly in Western donors. I am so happy to know my donation dollars are contributing to the formation of future leaders in Kenya, and working to develop a children's home model that can be emulated throughout Africa.
My wife and I visited their Nyahururu, Kenya children's home in March of 2010. We were totally impressed with the HOPE that the children carried. They applied themselves to their classroom studies and demonstrated their intentions to earn their rightful destiny as leaders of their country, community and in their chosen professions. We talked to many of the children and learned of their aspirations to become doctors, lawyers, politicians, teachers, nurses, dental assistants and occasionally we heard things like airline pilot and rock star. These kids are grounded and thriving in the environment provided for them through the leadership of Violet Gitonga and her team of professionals. We heard that their school was earning academic scores that ranked in the top 5% of the national results. We certainly saw the desire and dedication for each child, each of whom came from the most dire of situations, most often where there were no surviving family members. As we got to know many of the children more intimately we could see they are filled with hope and enthusiasm for their future; their destiny.
This organization is transforming today's underdogs into the leaders of tomorrow... and they are doing it better than anyone else we have seen!
I am so thankful for the work of Heroes of the Nation in Kenya. Heroes of the Nation has given Africa an example of how orphans can be adopted, educated and trained to lead Kenya and Africa in the future. I am so impressed with their focus on education and training future leaders. I love that they have protected the futures of these Kenyan children. Heroes of the Nation has an understanding of self sustaining programming that is rare. They have inspired me as I work with overseas projects to create systems that truly empower children to serve and to lead. They have given these children the gift of a future that is filled with great expectation and understanding to lead peaceable and prosperous lives. And, they have given Africa a model of children who are growing up whole, protected and empowered. My hope is that the work of Heroes of the Nation is replicated all through out Africa. Anne Kalvestrand, Director of the Art of Peace Institute
I give to Heroes of the Nation's child sponsorship program on a monthly basis. I appreciate that HTN operates on a 100% model...I can be confident that my donation will go directly to Kenya and will positively affect my sponsored child. I was able to visit Kenya in 2010 and see, firsthand, the results of my giving. The children had bright eyes and loving smiles. They receive an excellent education while being surrounded by caring teachers and loving staff members. The children are trained to be the next heroes and leaders of their nation. I highly recommend this organization!