Give Hope to the community in Need

Hope Haven — A Legacy Reborn

My name is Dennis Karanja, and my story is one born from pain, love, and purpose. Back in 2007, my late uncle James Nyanjua Njuguna, together with his American partner, founded an organization called Fadhili — a Swahili word meaning kindness. That name captured everything the organization stood for. Fadhili brought together volunteers from all over the world who came to Kenya to give their time, love, and care to the less fortunate — children in orphanages, people in need, and families struggling to find hope.

Alongside their service, the volunteers experienced the heart of Kenya — its safaris, its coastlines, and its people. Fadhili became a bridge between nations, a symbol of love without borders, and a light that touched countless lives.

I grew up surrounded by that light. After losing my mother in 2005, when I was only four years old, I was raised by my aunt Grace Wambui, my uncle’s sister. She was one of the main hosts for the volunteers, welcoming them into our home with open arms. Our small house was always full of laughter, stories, and the shared belief that kindness could heal the world.

But then tragedy struck. In December 2009, my uncle James was mysteriously killed — allegedly attacked by thugs on his way home. His death broke our family and dimmed the spirit of Fadhili. Without his guidance, the organization struggled to stay alive, and by 2015, it had finally collapsed. Yet even in the silence that followed, the dream never died.

I know what it feels like to be lost. I know the pain of being an orphan, and the strength it takes to keep going when life feels unfair. That’s why I want Hope Haven to be a place where people can find love, healing, and purpose again — a place that tells every struggling soul, you are not alone. This is my calling — to rebuild what was lost, to give back to the community that raised me, and to restore the light my uncle once carried. Because hope is not something we find — it’s something we create together.

Hope Haven will be that place. A home for the broken. A family for the forgotten. A haven for hope. And this time, the light will shine brighter than ever before.