Vitalis Nyambeka’s Journey with Pillars of Hope

Pillars of Hope: A Loving Home for Street Children

Among the billions of people in the world, only a few pay attention to the needs of others. Even a lesser amount actually take the responsibility to help them. Their actions create ripples of positive change that can impact countless lives. 

This is the story of Vitalis Nyambeka, founder and director of Pillars of Hope Children’s Home. He is a true testament to the quote, “We don’t need to have deep pockets or be rich to help the needy, the poor, and the hungry; we need to have a heart.”

Vitalis Nyambeka: A Heart Full of Hope

The eldest sibling of the family, Vitalis, was raised by his stepmother. He couldn’t continue his education after eighth grade due to his alcoholic father. Since then, his only dream has been to help other children complete their education and further attend university. 

He started assisting kids from the street, providing them with three meals a day. He also helped them with their school fees so they wouldn’t miss out on their education. In doing so, he realized that even though the children were getting food, they had no permanent shelter. They have to sleep on the roads or the pavements without access to any warmth, healthcare, and education. 

In 2013, he built Pillars of Hope Children’s Home from the ground up.

The Birth of Pillars of Hope Children’s Home

Pillars of Hope is a registered organization that houses 75 children. However, this was challenging for Vitalis and his wife, Gladys. They started with 3 children in the residential area of Doonholm and were placed there until they had 30 children. He would provide them with 3 meals a day and ensure they were going to school. On Sundays, he would attend Church and help pay for the meals with the support of his community.

The organization is now located in Athi River, Mavoko, Machakos County. Vitalis built and structured the whole house by himself with the help of his wife and children. Despite the challenges, Vitalis and Gladys, who have five children of their own, were determined to make a difference. Their own family joined in the efforts, creating a supportive and loving environment for the children at Pillars of Hope.

How Street Children Are Rescued

Pillars of Hope was registered with the government in 2016. The certificate allows Vitalis to rescue street children in case they need the support he can provide them. Also, the government’s Children’s Department brings the kids to Vitalis in case of conflict. Pillars of Hope is the best place for a child to find a family to stay and grow with.

All the children stay together and are given comfortable beds to sleep in. They prepare their food together, dancing and laughing in each other’s embrace. However, life doesn’t come easy for the kids, even after Vitalis’ constant efforts.

Overcoming Daily Challenges at Pillars of Hope

The children have to walk kilometers to reach school in the morning. The primary children have to walk 2km, and the high school children 8km. Imagine losing all your energy even before the day starts. Even though someone donated a vehicle to the organization, it’s a four-seater. This makes it hard for all of them to accommodate. Vitalis also has to secure funds to pay the school fees for all the children. He visits the head teachers in schools frequently so that their education isn’t stopped while he collects funds.

Even for healthcare, Vitalis and Gladys try their hardest to cure any fever their children might suffer from. Still, the hospital is also 8km away. They try their best to get the right medicines in case of any disease and mainly focus on preventing any sort of outbreak.

Striving for Stability and Improvement

One of their wishes is for proper schools and clinics to be built nearby for children’s ease. What worries Vitalis is that the land where Pillars of Hope is built is temporary. They cannot dig up boreholes or do something long-term due to the uncertainty that they can be kicked out anytime.

Sometimes, they receive sewer water, which is unsuitable for the family. Sometimes, their neighbor would provide them with clean water from the borehole. They have installed proper piping, which has significantly improved the water quality. However, they still have to pay a large sum for water bills monthly. 

Girl Power USA has also assisted Pillars of Hope by installing solar panels for the children. Every child brings light to the world. But to do so, they need the light to learn, grow, and give back to their community. 

If you ask Vitalis how he overcomes these challenges, his answer is always the Lord. He just puts a smile on his face and helps the children have a better life. He engages with schools, universities, NGOs, and other companies for assistance. While Pillars of Hope does not have specific donors, he gets constant help from the local churches around his area. 

His mentors are Bishop David Oyedepo and Former USA President Bill Clinton. Their shared ideologies highlight the importance of education, faith, humanitarian efforts, and a global outlook. This can be seen significantly in Vitalis’s work as well.

Fostering Community and Life Skills at Pillars of Hope

Vitalis wants the children to be friendly with animals. One of the activities they partake in is rabbit rearing. They also plant their own vegetables and prepare their meals together. For fun, they all play football together, and Vitalis also takes them swimming whenever he can. 

Other than Vitalis and Gladys, university students volunteer at Pillars of Hope. They help around the home by doing various activities or assisting children in completing their homework.

They have a kitchen where everyone gathers to make food. Mostly, they cook ugali, which is a Kenyan dish made from maize or corn flour. They also cook chapatis and beans. Sometimes, they are assisted by NGOs such as Girl Power USA, who provide the children with nutritious meals. Their well-wishers occasionally help them with diverse food such as fish or chicken.

The Never-Ending Chain of Kindness

Pillars of Hope homes children from 3 years to 26 years of age. Through the love and support each child gets, they go to universities to make their dreams come true. The best part about the organization is the never-ending chain of kindness. Each older member of the family is responsible for a young child. He or she helps them through their education or anything else they need assistance in. Everyone is a friend to everyone and shows compassion toward one another.

This is the advice Vitalis has for anyone who wants to help the community. “Do not limit yourself.” If you have faith, then you will be able to achieve what you want. He makes sure the children live their dreams. He knows every child and their abilities by heart. He knows who wants to be a pilot, a doctor, an engineer, or a policeman and he is beside them every step of the way. 

It’s a story for us to learn from. Everyone has the capability to help others, even from their homes. Know more about your area and your community, and be vocal about making a difference. After all, if we aren’t there for each other, then who is.

Pillars of Hope isn’t just a shelter for kids but a home where Vitalis has created a big, loving family. It’s a home where they dance, compete with each other, and spread joy and positivity in the world. They wish to have permanent land where they can dig up boreholes and take up farming. Especially, without being vulnerable about the fact that their shelter can be taken away from them.