Our Story
Tumaini means “hope” in Swahili, the national language of Kenya. In 2006, The Tumaini Children’s Project (TCP) began working in the town of Kisumu, Kenya by providing financial support to two locally-run AIDS orphanages, purchasing food and clothing, paying school fees, and helping to cover the immediate bills like rent and water. Extra funding went towards small repairs, buying some meat for growing bodies, doctor’s visits, paying the childcare workers' meagre salaries.
In the last few years, TCP’s role has evolved a two-pronged approach: while we continue to pay the school fees of the children from one of our original orphanages, we also design and fund small projects that allow orphans in other regions of Western Kenya to continue their education or acquire much needed job skills. We rely on our local Kenyan partners to provide project suggestions based on their development needs, while we recruit young Canadians to help design and implement the projects and provide the much needed startup capital. All the funds raised during the course of our projects go back to the community either to pay for school fees or food for local orphans.
TCP’s changes are small, but significant. We provide orphaned children with the opportunity to access education, better food, jobs, and provide development assistance to their communities. Through TCP, Kenyan children have the opportunity to grow, and use those resources to become contributing members of their communities. We cannot change the world all at once, but we can start by changing the lives of a few kids in Kenya.
Our Mission
To facilitate the empowerment of children and youth in Canada and Kenya, by creating opportunities for sustainable development projects through positive social change.
Our Mandate
The Tumaini Children’s Project is an international youth-focused, non-profit (charitable) organization that partners with orphaned children and youth who are personally affected by HIV/AIDS to assist them in developing and implementing income generating solutions.
TCP recognizes that privilege or poverty, health or illness, are not the only determinants of well-being. We feel that beyond all else, hope is what makes the difference between surviving and thriving. With hope comes power: the power to change the world for others, and to change the world within ourselves.
Our Vision
Our vision is of children and youth, from Canada and Africa, directly engaging and realizing the power of their potential to help achieve positive social change and sustainable development.
“Tumaini has helped the children realize that they can accomplish things and have control over their own destinies regardless of the fact that they are orphaned. As well, Tumaini has helped young Canadians realize just how much they actually can contribute to the "global community". Julie Hakim
Our Team
The Tumaini Children’s Project is supported by a dedicated and knowledgeable team of volunteers. From Executive Members to volunteer staff, these individuals make it possible for TCP to do its work in the most efficient and impactful way possible. Our gratitude goes to all those who support TCP with their knowledge, experience and time.
Executive members
Julie Hakim, Founder and Director
Laura Bishop, Financial Officer
Michelle Kania, Project Management
Strategic Advisory Council
The Tumaini Children’s Project owes much gratitude to its mentors for providing advice on governance manners through their impressive experiences in International Health and Development experience.
Wendy Muckle
Executive Director, Ottawa Inner City Health
Dr. Anne McCarthy
Director of Tropical Medicine and International Health Clinic
Division of Infectious Diseases
Ottawa Hospital
Dr. Elizabeth Hillman
Contact Us
JULIE HAKIM Executive Director
Ottawa, Ontario
Canada
The Tumaini Children's Project is a children's charity registered in Canada. Canada Tax ID: 88897 7790 RR0001
