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OUR HISTORY
Our journey since 1994
1994-1999
From street project to New Life Africa International
In 1994, Susanne and Leif Madsen moved to Kenya with their five children as missionaries from Betania Church Centre in Denmark. They visited various areas before joining forces with Pastor David and Eunice Ford at the Filadelfia Church in Nakuru in 1996. The church had a feeding programme for 40-50 street children 3 days a week under a big tree.
When Susanne and Leif became involved, the feeding programme was expanded to provide food every weekday, and later the children began to be taught basic English, mathematics and Swahili, in addition to classes in garment making, carpentry and leatherwork. A class for adult illiterates was also added.
The programme began to take the shape of a school for street children, now known as New Life Africa International.
In 1997, the first seven boys moved into a simple wooden house, and the boys built their own beds in the carpentry class. In 1999, 15 boys lived in the Boys Home. Every afternoon, approximately 100 children gathered for lessons, and 35 children were supported in local public schools.
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2000-2009
The Girls House, NLAI School and the Pre-primary School at the dumpsite
The Girls House was established in 2003 for 8 girls in rented buildings, before it became possible to build our own building in 2007 with room for 60 girls.
In 2003, the NLAI School was approved to teach children from preschool to grade 8, and in 2005 the first students received their examination certificates.
In 2004, Susanne and Leif visited the dumpsite on the outskirts of the city and were shocked to see the great need for help. Various initiatives were launched such as a nursery class, schooling for adult illiterates and a crisis centre, before the current pre-primary school NLAI Tumaini School was established in 2008 with teaching and feeding of 60-80 children.
In 2006, a crisis centre opened at the church compound to shelter vulnerable and abused women and teenagers who were living on the streets and working as prostitutes. The centre was in collaboration with Filadelfia Church, Danish International Development Agency (DANIDA) and International Aid Services (IAS). In 2007, the crisis centre Tumaini Jipya (New Hope) was established at the dumpsite with funds from a Danish charity telethon. It later became the current NLAI Tumaini School.
2010-2019
Income-generating projects and new buildings
In 2010, 100 children lived at the Children’s Home and 560 children attended the NLAI School. Two young people were the first to complete their university degree in 2012, and many have since followed suit.
In 2011, a jewellery production called “KiooLulu” was launched, which employed women from the crisis centre for a number of years by producing jewellery using glass beads. In 2012, a wedding gown rental shop was opened: “Bridal Collections – Brides with a Heart”. The shop sold bridesmaid dresses, African outfits, items made by NLAI Garment Making School and jewellery from KiooLulu.
A new school building was built, which was inaugurated in 2014. The Boys Home also got a newly built house with room for approx. 80 boys, which was completed in 2018. However, a fire destroyed part of the building in 2019, which was then renovated. Other projects were added such as a new building with restrooms and a drilling pump. In 2019, Susanne and Leif celebrated their 25th anniversary as missionaries in Kenya, and they are still directors of NLAI from Denmark with trips to Kenya.
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2020-2025
New ways to reach out
During the Covid-19 crisis in 2020, NLAI began distributing food to approximately 750 families that NLAI School was in contact with. This continued for 18 months with support from the government of the Faroe Islands.
In 2021, young college students from NLAI began the group: “Mentorship Movement”, who wanted to reach out and help street children and make a difference in society. The group later changed its name to “Raise Above”.
In 2023, NLAI School was approved to have a Junior School for grades 7-9 according to a new national school system. The first students could begin grade 9 in 2025.
In 2023, the Garment Making School was approved as an examination centre to facilitate exams for in house and external students.
A 13 metres high water tower and associated water filter were built in 2021, and the Girls House was renovated in 2023.
In 2025, a new college centre “Esther” was completely renovated for girls 18+ years from the Girls House, where they can live while they are studying in higher education.