OUR STORY

A heart for the vulnerable

Founded in 2005 by a local Kenyan woman, Rose Bugusu, Tumaini Miles of Smiles Centre began as a primary school.  Soon after, the children's home was established to support the most deprived and vulnerable children in the community.  More recently, the Tumaini Trade School has begun operating.  More than 70 students have finished high school and are now in higher education.
The Tumaini Miles of Smiles Centre is located in Malava in Western Kenya.  This area is one of the most densely populated regions in the world with poverty, lack of education and AIDS being the major issues.  Many people here earn less than $2.00 per day.  Only 60% of eligible children attend primary school and of them only 10 % go on to high school.
In 2008, David and Lois Tharratt had the opportunity to visit Tumaini Miles of Smiles Centre in Kenya with their family.  They stayed for 2 months, Dave worked alongside locals making bricks and Lois taught at the Primary School.  Their children contributed in every way they could also.  It was a life changing trip, connecting them with TMSC for the long haul.  They have been back over to Kenya many times and have taken others with them.  In time, others joined the support team and TMSA Inc was put in place in order to support the work in Kenya.