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Upendo Orphans Support Project |
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Contacts Grace Mzungu - Administrator Grace has been the driving force behind Upendo since its inception. She takes care of all the daily activities, financial administration, supervision of staff, welfare of the children, and planning. Grace is the contact point for information, for physical/material donations in Kenya, for arranging visits and for information on the children's welfare. Email her at
Margaret Mackinnon - Fundraiser
Joanna Jenkins - Treasurer, Upendo UK
Beatrice Mwero - Chair of Upendo Methodist Women's Group
Upendo means love in Kiswahili. |
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Upendo is a registered charity in the UK (no. 1118312) that supports orphans living in Kilifi District, Kenya. |
Margaret is a research scientist at the local Kenya-UK research institute, specialising in malaria. She became interested in the Upendo project when she and a friend of hers from the UK, Joanna Jenkins, noticed a small boy begging in the streets to support his younger crippled brother. They asked around to see if something could
be done, and were told about the Upendo Orphans Support Project run by the Methodist Church Women's Group. At this stage the women were supporting the children out of their own pockets. Joanna and Margaret began to tell their friends and colleagues overseas, raising funds from personal contacts as they were able. After Joanna returned to the UK, Margaret continued her involvement at the Kenya end, determined to have a proper building for the children. She raised funds through many sources and the new building was opened on 17th December 2006. Margaret and Joanna established Upendo UK, a registered charity, through which most of the money is channelled to Kenya. Email Margaret at 
Joanna Jenkins now lives in Birmingham and is a part-time GP in addition to being a full-time mother of three. Joanna is the Treasurer of Upendo UK and is the person to contact for tax GiftAid forms for donations from the UK. Contact her at
Like Grace, Beatrice is one of the founding members of the project. She is now the Chairperson of the Upendo Methodist Women's Group (recently upgraded to a Community Based Organisation) which runs the project. Beatrice is a force for good in Kilifi town, and this is one of her many community activities.