A Hall of Hope: Honoring Young Women at Children’s Garden, Nairobi

In Kenya, nearly 1 in 4 girls between the ages of 15 and 19 are not in school, and according to recent data from Kenya’s Ministry of Education and UNICEF, girls are nearly twice as likely to drop out of secondary school as boys. Many young women are pulled from the classroom far too early due to early marriage, household responsibilities, or lack of financial means.

When a girl leaves school, the loss is felt far beyond the classroom. It’s the loss of a future teacher who could inspire, a nurse who could heal, an engineer who could build, or a leader who could transform her community. The knowledge she would share, the ideas she could spark, her hopes and dreams - all of it dims. Education isn’t just her right. It’s a generational investment in a stronger, more equitable world.

Female students from the Children's Garden paint a mural.

A Space Designed for Possibility

That’s why, when Children’s Garden Home and School in Nairobi identified the need for a new dining and study hall for 95 young women, Shelter Equity partnered with them to make it happen.

Children’s Garden is more than a school. It’s a refuge for 250 children who live and learn on-site and for an additional 300 more who travel there to attend classes each day. It’s a place where love meets learning, and where every child is given the tools to tap into their potential.

Before the new hall was built, the girls at Children’s Garden had no choice but to gather in a cramped, damp room to eat and study. When the rain came, it poured through the cracked roof, soaking their food, their books, and their focus. Homework was abandoned. Mealtimes became a daily struggle for space and comfort. What should have been moments of nourishment and learning were instead marked by discomfort and disruption.

Today, that’s changed.

The new dining hall is spacious and secure. It’s warm, dry, and a place where the girls can eat in peace. In the evenings, it transforms into a study hall: quiet, well-lit, and filled with possibility.

“Thank you for building us a dining hall. Now we can eat and study without worrying about the rain. I feel safe and happy here.”— Purity, Grade 9

A Joyful Dedication

In July 2025, Wayne Weaver, President & CEO, and Jennee Galland, VP of Global Development, traveled to Nairobi to visit and dedicate the new dining hall made possible through Shelter Equity’s sponsorship. The space was brought to life by a skilled local team who thoughtfully designed it with the students in mind, featuring a serving area for food, plenty of flexible gathering space, and an abundance of natural light.

Moses Ndung’u, Director of Children’s Garden Home and School; Jennee Galland, VP of Global Development, and Wayne Weaver, President & CEO of Shelter Equity cut the ribbon to the new dining hall.

What unfolded that day was more than a ribbon cutting. It was a joyful celebration of partnership, community, and possibility. The children performed songs and danced, the architect shared the vision behind the design, and Wayne and Jennee, surrounded by beaming faces, officially opened the doors to a space that will serve as a critical cornerstone of Children’s Garden.

The young ladies of the Children's Garden celebrate in the new dining hall.

More Than a Building

Fighting poverty starts with safe, secure housing. For the young women of Children’s Garden, this hall is more than a building. It’s our promise to equality, safety, and opportunity for every child - no matter where they’re born, and no matter where they call home.