Meet Asha Pili, more commonly known around Mombasa as “Mama Asha.” Asha owns an orphanage called Tabarak Children’s Home and is a mother, not only to the 30 kids currently living there, but to an entire community as well. Upon moving to Kenya a few months ago I was lucky enough to be taken in by Asha. My first night at Tabarak almost brought me to tears as I watched Asha come out with pots full of food, feeding the kids first, then opening the doors and yelling to the neighbors to come. Family after family piled through the door, holding whatever sort of storage container they had for Asha to fill for them so they could have a hot meal. I asked her how many people she cooks for every night and she responded without hesitation, “how ever many need it.” I came to find out later that night more of Asha’s back story. She was married very young, but had always dreamed of opening an orphanage. Her first few kids were raised in her house until eventually she had too many to keep there and had to expand. She fundraised the building money, and Tabarak was born. Asha doesn’t have much, but she gives everything she has. She is up at 4am every morning to go to the market and buy food and supplies. She then works in her shop the whole day, then comes home to cook. She’s always happy, and always grateful. Asha’s birthday is very fittingly falling on Mother’s Day this year (May 9th) and to celebrate her, and the mother that she is to so many, we decided to start a fundraiser for her. We hope that this will raise enough money that she can not only take in these 7 kids, but live with less worry knowing that Tabarak will be okay. Asha does so much for so many, please help us do something big for her to show how much we all love and appreciate her. 

(donation is redeemable for one free home cooked meal from Asha if you’re ever in Kenya)