Written by Lucy Nyambura, HHFL’s Project Manager
As HHFL turns 20, we pause to honour a story that began not with resources or strategy, but with a heart full of love. Twenty years ago, one woman opened her arms to children who needed safety, hope, and family. Today, that small act of compassion has grown into a community, a home, and a life-changing force that has touched hundreds of lives.
This milestone is not simply a celebration of years it is a celebration of people, of sacrifice, of resilience, and of God who has been faithful through every season. And at the centre of this story stands Mama Hanne, whose courage and commitment shaped the very soul of HHFL.
As we mark two decades, it felt fitting to honour the woman behind this dream in a lasting and meaningful way. That is how the idea of a tribute book both physical and online was born.
How the Tribute Book Truly Began
The tribute book did not start as a formal project.
It began in the heart of one- man, Ted, MH’s loving husband.
As MH approached her 78th birthday this year, Ted wanted to give his wife a gift unlike any other. Not something wrapped in paper, but something wrapped in gratitude. He wanted to honour the years she had poured into the children of HHFL, the sleepless nights, the quiet prayers, the laughter, and the tears.
It was Ted who first said, “We need to tell her story.”
He imagined a gift that captured MH’s legacy in words and images something she could hold and something future generations could treasure. With that vision, Ted spearheaded the entire idea, encouraging the team to begin collecting stories, photos, and memories that reflected her impact.
The tribute book exists because Ted dreamed it first, out of deep love for his wife and admiration for her life’s work.
The Team That Brought Ted’s Vision to Life
Once Ted shared his idea, the HHFL team gathered around it with enthusiasm and dedication.
The team and some close friends of HHFL contributed in different ways sending memories, photos, letters, and reflections that captured the heart of the home. What followed were months of back-and-forth emails, WhatsApp messages, meetings over tea, shared laughter, and even a few tears.
It was more than compiling a book;
It was a journey of remembering, honouring, and celebrating.
A Special Tribute: Celebrating Alexandra Howard
Though she was not directly involved in creating the tribute book, no story of HHFL is complete without acknowledging Alexandra/Alex, one of the quiet but unwavering pillars of our story.
For many years, Alex has:
Maintained and updated the donor base
Responded to donor emails across time zones
Kept the HHFL blog alive with stories and updates
Assisted her Mama Hanne with countless administrative needs
Played a vital role in fundraising and donor communication
Offered stability, love, and consistency behind the scenes
Her faithfulness has helped keep HHFL connected to supporters around the world. Much of what happens smoothly at HHFL especially on the donor and communication side is because of her persistent dedication.
Alex represents the kind of love that doesn’t always appear in photos, but holds the entire structure together.
This milestone honours her too.
Honouring the Donors Who Never Let Go
No story of HHFL can be told without speaking of the donors whose faithfulness has carried this home for two decades.
To those who have walked with us from day one
to those who give every month and yearly,
those who ask for nothing in return,
those who have prayed for our children,
those who stood with us in hard seasons,
those who never gave up on us
we honour you, and we thank you.
Some of you have journeyed with HHFL for nearly the full 20 years. You have fed our children, kept them in school, provided healthcare, supported families, and opened doors none of us imagined possible.
Every success story at HHFL is also your story.
A Journey Marked by Grace and Growth
Looking back over 20 years, the milestones tell a story of resilience, hope, and continuous growth:
The humble beginnings of HHFL, welcoming the first tiny tots with love and safety.
School transitions from primary to high school, college, and vocational training.
The challenges of the 2008–2009 post-election violence, when the HHFL family stood strong.
The first university graduates and the first young people to enter stable employment.
Alumni now raising their own families and giving back to the community.
Worldwide supporters who became family.
Children who arrived broken but grew into confident, hopeful young adults.
Every milestone is a testimony of love, perseverance, and divine grace.
Two Books, One Purpose: Preserving a Legacy
The Physical Book
-A beautifully crafted keepsake—tangible, timeless, something MH can hold in her hands.
The Online Book
A dynamic, ever-growing digital version for the global HHFL family, easy to update and share. (HHFL @20 Online Book)
Together, they honour MH, preserve the story, and celebrate the lives transformed through HHFL.
A Legacy That Continues to Grow
As we celebrate HHFL @ 20, this is more than a look back it is a reminder that the calling continues. Every child who walks through HHFL’s doors carries their own dreams, their own battles, their own hope. The story is still being written. There are still 26 HHFL kids in high school and 16 in college and vocational training. Our story continues.
This tribute is for MH, for Ted, for Alex, for the staff, for the alumni, for the donors, and for every child who became part of this family.
Here’s to 20 years of HHFL.
Here’s to the hands that built this home.
Here’s to the hearts that keep it alive.
And here’s to a legacy that continues and will transform generations to come.
Lucy Nyambura,
Project Manager
