Nuru of Mombasa was founded in 2006 by Trevor Thomas and his daughter Emma Brown. In collaboration with Hemed Mukui, a Kenyan citizen, and a UK team of therapists, Rachel Gregory, Sal Hastings, Kathryn Lloyd and Laura Treacy, the charity has developed and grown.
The charity was formed to support Port Reitz Disabled School and Nuru Orphanage. ‘Nuru’ is Swahili for light. It is hoped that the charity will bring light to some marginalized children in Kenya.
It was on a family holiday when Trevor and Emma met Hemed. He has worked tirelessly and voluntarily for years to support the children at both the school and orphanage, so that they may have better opportunities in life. Trevor had grown up in Kenya as his father Haydn worked for the British Government in Overseas Development. In 1984 Haydn received an MBE for his work in East Africa. On Trevor’s return to Kenya he and Emma were touched by the poverty and inadequate basic facilities and health care, especially for many Kenyan children.
The work of Nuru of Mombasa carries on throughout the year. The day to day running of the projects in Kenya is overseen by Hemed in close collaboration with the team in the UK. The team visit on an annual basis to review the current projects and work alongside Hemed and staff at the school and orphanage to set aims for the future.
All work is carried out voluntarily and the team self-fund their visits to Mombasa. This means that every penny donated to the charity goes directly into the projects at Port Reitz Disabled School and Nuru Orphanage.