From Pain to Purpose

The Story of Francesca and the Birth of Naijipu Oasis of Hope

“What began as one person’s journey through pain and rejection has grown into a community of hope.”

A Childhood Marked by Rejection

Francesca’s story begins not with triumph, but with pain. Born with spina bifida in a

rural Kenyan community where disability was widely perceived as a curse or a bad

omen, she entered a world that was not yet ready to receive her. From early childhood,

she faced discrimination and rejection — not only from the wider community, but also

from within her own family. At times, the hostility escalated to alarming extremes,

including attempts to harm her through poisoning.

The weight of that isolation left deep emotional scars. Francesca wrestled with trauma,

depression, and, at her lowest points, thoughts of suicide. For many years, life felt

devoid of meaning. She questioned whether she had any value, any dignity, any place in

the world.

A Turning Point: Compassion Changes Everything

Everything began to change when God brought a community of compassionate people

into Francesca’s life — doctors, nurses, therapists, and missionaries whose care would

prove transformative. Through their support, she received the medical attention she had

long been denied, gained a deeper understanding of her own disability, and, most

profoundly, came to know Jesus Christ.

Through His love and the kindness of those around her, Francesca discovered a truth

that reframed everything: she was not a curse. She was a person created by God,

endowed with inherent dignity, value, and purpose.

A Burden Becomes a Calling

As Francesca grew stronger, God placed a growing burden on her heart. She thought of the many children with disabilities across Samburu County who were enduring the same rejection, fear, and hopelessness she had once known. Her heart was drawn especially to children living with spina bifida — because she understood their journey from the inside.

That burden became a calling. Through advocacy and strategic partnership, Francesca helped broker a collaboration between BethanyKids and the Samburu County Government to establish a mobile clinic serving children with spina bifida. Before the first clinic opened, she shared her own story through local media and personally

encouraged families to bring their children forward for assessment and support.

From One Clinic to a Movement

When that first clinic was held, 16 children with spina bifida attended — a meaningful

beginning. But something unexpected happened: 69 children with cerebral palsy also arrived, brought by families desperate for help. At the time, no support was available for them. Watching family after family leave without assistance was heartbreaking. Their faces mirrored the same hopelessness Francesca had once carried.

She could not turn away. Together with her husband and a small group of dedicated

friends, Francesca began identifying and mapping children with disabilities throughout the community. With initial support from friends in the United States, she organized disability awareness training in local churches — helping communities understand disability and recognize the God-given worth of every person.

Partnerships That Shaped the Vision

A particularly significant partnership developed with Cath, a specialist therapist from

the United Kingdom. Her expertise, encouragement, and ongoing commitment played a

vital role in shaping and strengthening the organization’s emerging work. Through

Cath’s professional networks and collaborative efforts, two of our dedicated volunteers

were given the opportunity to participate in MAITS training. They returned equipped

with valuable knowledge and practical skills that have since benefited many children

and families across Samburu County.

Naijipu Oasis of Hope Today

Today, Naijipu Oasis of Hope works alongside some of the most vulnerable children in

Samburu County, including those living with cerebral palsy, autism, spina bifida, severe

learning disabilities, and a range of other developmental conditions. The organization

provides caregiver training, mentoring, home visits, advocacy, assistive devices, and

practical family support.

Naijipu also stands alongside the mothers, grandmothers, and caregivers who often

carry the heaviest burdens — emotional, physical, and financial — in caring for a child

with a disability. Through training, support groups, and community outreach, families

are gaining knowledge, confidence, and connection, while stigma and isolation are

steadily giving way to understanding and belonging.

Children who once had no access to services are now receiving assistive devices and taking greater part in family and community life. Caregivers who once stood alone are forming support networks and exploring pathways to economic empowerment. The transformation is tangible — and it is growing.

A Vision Rooted in Dignity

Naijipu Oasis of Hope holds a clear and anchored vision: to build communities where

disability is understood rather than feared, where caregivers are supported rather than

isolated, and where every child is valued for the God-given dignity, potential, and worth

they carry.

Every day, the work begun by one woman’s journey of suffering and healing continues to

expand. Every day, the truth at its foundation is proclaimed anew: disability is not a

curse. Every child is created in the image of God, loved by Him without condition, and

filled with purpose that the world must not be allowed to overlook.

“By God’s grace and through the support of friends, partners, and donors, we continue to bring hope, restore dignity, and demonstrate the love of Jesus Christ to children with disabilities and their families across Samburu County.”