I AM HESHIMA
ABOUT US
Christine Arbe Halkano
Project Manager
I am passionate about creating change and being kind, and this is what I AM HESHIMA is doing: changing lives by providing permanent tools of change (Education) to those who would not have achieved otherwise. I AM HESHIMA is building a holistic child by loving and nurturing children. Spreading love and change to all parts of the world, albeit changing one household at a time, one child at a time, until we achieve a better world by EDUCATING, EMPOWERING, and ELEVATING.
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Gilbert Kipkirui Bett
Academic Tutor
I am thrilled to work at I Am Heshima because I see the incredible impact its support has on children's lives. Helping overcome barriers and achieve their dreams through education, mentoring, and health education is deeply rewarding. Being part of such transformative work fills me with joy and pride.
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Kristina Touzenis
Advisory Board
"IÂ am honoured to have joined I am Heshima! The first time I spoke to Lexis and the team I was struck by how much they have been able to do concretely on the ground with little resources.
But what struck me the most was probably Lexis’ sense of wanting to and having created a team she trusts and who trusts her. I love the vision behind I am Heshima and how this is translated into actions which have a direct and very tangible impact on the children we serve."
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Tammy Beattie
Board Member
We are a grassroots organization where our small donations are making a huge difference in a child's life.
Education is essential, without is there not much hope.  I am Heshima = Hope & so much more.The kids best interests always come first. I am a true believer in Heshima's philosophy.
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Lexis Beattie
Executive Director
I see potential in tiny humans. Creating systems & a team which empowers kiddos to see it within themselves is what I live for. Â This ambitious vision is backed by 15 years of experience in Non-Profit Leadership and a degree in International Development
I am dedicating my life to this movement and its children. It takes a whole community to raise a child. This is our community and these are our children. Welcome to the movement!Â
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Tunu Ng'endo
Psychologist
Joining I Am Heshima aligns perfectly with my belief in the transformative power of education. I decided to be a part of this organization because I believe that by promoting mental health and emotional resilience of the young people, we can contribute to their personal growth, academic success and overall well-being.
I hold a degree in Bsc. (Counseling Psychology) from Moi University and have close to 5 years of experience. I am more than excited to be a part of a team that shares my commitment to creating a positive and nurturing environment for the next generation.Â
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Jessica Mills
Advisory Board
"I am looking forward to assisting ‘I am Heshima’ in surpassing their missions to better children’s educational needs through innovative and strategic ways."
Jessica is a Chief Legal Officer, upcoming Author and the founder and Managing Director of Bona Fide. She takes pride in assisting causesthat positively impact communities and society. She has a keen fixation on helping businesses and charities in corporate law and corporate social responsibility while maximising their business goals and philanthropic missions.
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Richard Priest
Board Member
I'm proud of I am Heshima and its accomplishments!
I have been involved in this movement since its beginning and my most important contribution has been to support people that have such a passion and talent to accomplish our goals.
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Nazira Amra
Board Chair
I met Lexis on a plane journey from Montreal to London and was impressed by her passion and I am Heshima’s mission to increased access to education. I was born in South Africa and have spent time working in Africa during my career where I witnessed first hand the benefits education and employment can have not only at an individual level but also for the broader community. As Chair of the organisation, it is my personal mission to significantly increase the number of children we are serving and to increase the scope of our work in Kenya and beyond.
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Fernanda Huerta
Advisory Board
I am a strong believer that education is the key to unlocking the potential in children everywhere.
I have worked with different vulnerable communities to guarantee their access to education and have witnessed how giving them a fair opportunity allows them to thrive.
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Elizabeth Hawthorne
Advisory Board
I believe that children everywhere deserve to be loved and nurtured. Â I Am Heshima is doing this in Kenya one child at a time. Â
The work I Am Heshima is doing to protect and educate is impressive and I want to help it grow and expand its reach.
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Denise Benison
Board Member
I got involved with Heshima in my university years, and now, just about 11 years later, I am still amazed at the accomplishments this grassroots organization & the youth participants have achieved together.
As a board member, I am able to offer insight into child development and social impact.
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OVER A DECADE AGO,
I took a journey that would forever change the course of my life.
I was 19 years old, I got on a plane and went to Kenya for what was meant to be a 3 month contract teaching English in an orphanage with a big international organization. After paying way too much $ to volunteer, with no one to pick me up at the airport for hours, being dropped off at a someone's house in a slum with no water, food or blankets, I realized very quickly that I fell into a lucrative voluntourism trap. After that 3 month stint, I went back for another 7 months, leading to the unexpected creation of a team and the birth of I am Heshima.
You see, every single volunteer promises to go back when they leave the first time. The reality is, very few ever do and their words fall onto the deaf ears of children who are used to broken promises.
Well, I kept my promise and went back. In full confidence, a child, followed by many others, whispered to me: “Lex, get me out of this hell”. Those words from that child’s mouth are those that led to the creation of I am Heshima.
This ‘hell’ the children spoke of looked like this: These children were products to sell the very profitable image of the typical ‘African child’ to a national and international market. Their everyday hell: Having rooms full of food and not being fed well leaving them hungry, having bags full of clothing but wearing rags, being sick and not getting the care they need. Being sold to locals for sex. Being raped, impregnated, and abandoned by the owners meant to protect them. Packing in children at triple their capacity. Being physically tortured and verbally abused with varieties of “You are here because nobody loves you”. The orders to the children were simple: if you tell anyone the truth, we are going to kill you.
We had 2 choices, to go home to our freedom with pretty pictures and go on to live our individual lives, or to help lil’ ones find their freedom.
We chose the latter of the 2.
After tracking down families, children started to be rescued through escape plans and brought back home. There was a price put on my head, we were spied on and had to run for our lives constantly. I was 19 and fearless. Led by the ONLY 3 investigators ‘un-bribable’ by the orphanage, when enough children were rescued and safe, they started speaking out & exposing the truth. The community protested in the streets to shut down the orphanage and protect their children. After 4 years, with enough evidence, the orphanage was finally shut down and justice was served.
The worst part? These vulnerable children were successfully recruited by the orphanage with one unanimous selling point “Your child will get an education”. These children suffered all of this irreversible damage because they wanted to go to school.
This is WHY I AM HESHIMA was born. To protect and empower vulnerable children & youth by actualizing their biggest dream & their basic human right: providing EDUCATION & LOVE.
We started with ONE child in 2008.