Providing dignity for children with disabilities in Nairobi, Kenya.

We believe that Jesus Christ has a special purpose filled with dignity for children with special needs, and that all human beings are made in the image of God, regardless of their outward appearance.

HESHIMA MEANS ‘DIGNITY’ IN SWAHILI.

HESHIMA MEANS ‘DIGNITY’ IN SWAHILI.

The Heshima Center was started with the vision to provide dignity to children who are typically forgotten, shamed, or abused.

We do this through various programs designed to provide lasting change for children and their families:

Special Education

We are a forerunner in Kenya providing basic special education in small classrooms designed to meet each child’s needs.

Therapy

Our in-house physical, occupational, and speech therapists work 1:1 with the kids to improve their balance and coordination.

Medical Services

Our own medical team provides much-needed care for both children and their families.

Water for Dignity

We provide clean drinking water for our community through a 250m-deep well.

Dignity Designs

Our Fair Trade workshop that employs moms to create beautiful products from African materials.

Heshima Housing

We build safe housing for families in our program that is affordable and handicap-accessible.

OUR FOUNDERS

Eric and Tracey Hagman moved to Kenya in 2002 along with their two young boys, Sam and Simon, and founded Heshima in 2008. Heshima has humble beginnings with six children, and each step of growth has been possible only through God’s provision.

Simon was born at 22 weeks; 4 months premature. He sustained multiple heart attacks during the first year of his life and is a testimony of God’s healing. Eric and Tracey have a passion to provide dignity for families that otherwise are treated with disdain because of their disabilities. God has done great miracles in Simon’s life and there would be no Heshima without him.

Eric and Tracey continue to work as the Directors, and Simon works alongside them as the Heshima pastor. Sam graduated from medical school in 2018 and hopes to return overseas someday to practice pediatrics.

This is only possible

because of people like you.

LIVES ARE BEING CHANGED.
READY TO BE A PART OF IT?

All the services we provide to children depend entirely on donations. Individual donors are vital to sustaining the center and impacting more families.

2022 BY THE NUMBERS

$504K

RAISED FOR OPERATIONS

126

DISABLED CHILDREN AND MOTHERS HELPED

6,350

LITERS OF WATER PROVIDED TO OUR COMMUNITY EACH DAY

$2M+

TOTAL RAISED TO FUND OUR PROGRAMS

HESHIMA CHILDREN'S CENTER