About us

The Blessed Generation orphanage was founded in 1984. The Californian preacher Dick West went to Kenya to engage into development aid. Soon he took responsibility over seven orphans whose mother had not survived the birth of her eighth child. The orphanage is situated in Ruiru, about 30 km outside of Nairobi.

In 2001, Dick West passed over the responsibility for the orphanage and the school to the Dutch teacher Ria Fennema.

The children are brought up in the tradition of this country. Hence, they learn Swahili and also English. Furthermore the centre bears a Christian signature. Regular services in the church are part of the weekly routine of Blessed Generation. This offers the children an important support and a perspective in a country shaken by poverty, crime and conflict.

An important part of the financial and material support comes from the Netherlands . It was, for example, the Dutch foundation Stichting Weeskinderen Kenia that helped to build up the water supply, the playing ground, the garage, new bathrooms and that provided the means for buying food. Additionally, the foundation paid all the costs of the primary school.

In 2004, Ria's husband Fester Medendorp came to Kenya . In 2005, Ria and Fester started a second orphanage, the orphanage Blessed Generation Malindi, at the east coast of Kenya.

After the election riots at the beginning of 2008, Ria and Fester started a third orphanage in West Kenya : Blessed Generation Nyarima.

Together they work for a better future for the children.

History

  • 2008 Opening of orphanage Blessed Generation in Nyamira
  • 2007 Opening of primary school Blessed Generation in Malindi
  • 2006 Birth of Yaro, son of Ria and Fester
  • 2006 134 children in Ruiru + 53 children in Malindi + help for 250 people in the Malindi area
  • 2006 Opening of kindergarten and training centre in Malindi
  • 2005 Foundation of 2 nd orphanage in Malindi
  • 2005 Birth of Mariama, daughter of Ria and Fester
  • 2005 Building of stone school in Ruiru completed
  • 2004 Fester comes to Ruiru
  • 2004 Albert Schweitzer Award for Ria's commitment
  • 2003 Foundation of Spirit of Faith Foundation
  • 2000 Begin of construction of stone school in Ruiru
  • 2000 Ria comes to Ruiru (around 70 children in the orphanage)
  • 1984 Dick West accepts first seven children

Blessed Generation