The Founder of MAKEMBA ACADEMY & JUNIOR SCHOOL, Madam Maren Kehler, visited Kenya during the 1990’s on a number of occasions from Germany.

It was during these trips that she realised the extent of the orphan problem and need for a solution in Kenya, especially for the children. She became actively involved initially in the funding-raising and building of an orphanage. Friends and family supported her financially but many sort to dissuade her given the scale of the problem.

However, Maren persevered and with the help and financial support of family and friends and her own assets, bought a plot of land near Ukunda. She had it prepared as a building plot, prepared some of it for arable farming and fenced it off. She drilled a well to supply the fresh water and went to great lengths to get an electricity supply. A large part of the funds raised in Germany and across Europe were through indigenously made products, shipped and sold in markets in Europe.

The majority of the products were designed and produced by Maren. Financial support was also gained through cultivating land for the small farm where Maren grows vegetables and keeps farm animals from which the neighbouring families were able to profit.

The Orphanage was opened in 2010 and the School (Makemba Academy) in 2014. On the genesis of Makemba, we prioritized to educate the orphans but later had to accommodate all children with different social economic backgrounds for funding diversification in order to meet the school running expenses.

Approx 250 children are educated in the School and 36 Kenyans (male and female) have gained work from Maren (Support staff for the orphanage, farm workers, teaching staff and admin staff, dressmakers, cooks, kitchen staff, and bus drivers).

Maren’s commitment to caring for others and her unwavering energy in making FFE a success is an inspiration to all of the Kenyans involved in the orphanage and school. As family and friends we are grateful and forever proud of Maren.