Our Progress
The Mercy Center Foundation USA focuses on four main program areas: Education, Water, Medical and Health Initiative, and Microenterprise. Our mission is to help combat disease and poverty in Lare, Kenya, by providing compassionate and humanitarian assistance toward sustainable and affordable clean water, health care, education and micro-enterprise initiatives.
Since 2003, The Mercy Center Foundation U.S.A., Inc. has accomplished the following achievements in cooperation with the Mercy Center Bd. in Lare, Kenya and the villagers:
- Purchased fifteen acres of land.
- Drilled and provided for two main water wells on site.
- Built a health clinic for basic immunizations and check-ups within walking distance for the villagers of Lare and students on campus.
- Purchased an ambulance to transfer the sick to the major hospital.
- Built a guest house for visitors/teachers/special guests.
- Built a fully functioning dining and multi-purpose hall and kitchen that serves the school and local community.
- Started farm program with cattle, rabbits, chicken and piggery projects to provide income and food.
- Built thirteen classrooms at the Mother of Mercy Girls Secondary School. Including science and computer lab classes/programs.
- Built teacher housing on site for all teachers to live during the week on site
- Support the girls with security on site and protective services.
- Supported scholarships for at risk girls to attend high school
- Sent a Mission in cooperation with the Commissioned by Christ organization to help build the first of the planned dormitories that will house all students enrolled.
- Supported the purchase of additional greenhouses for vegetables and food growing initiatives.
- Piloting bio-gas and clean energy initiatives to implement
Families now have access to clean, fresh water and thousands of villagers have received treatment at the clinic since 2006. In 2011, we started a secondary school for girls. When the school was started there were 28 students that filled the first classroom built. Now, the Mercy Girls School has grown to 300+ girls now enrolled from all over Kenya.
The partnerships we continue to foster have helped to build strong friendships and spiritual connections with the students, teachers and families involved in the Mercy Girls Secondary School. One very important partnership began in 2017 with Commissioned by Christ, a non-profit organization working in the Arlington Diocese that sponsors short term missionary trips. The inclusion of Kenya in the work of the missionaries helped demonstrate our hands on volunteerism and dedication to Sr. Rose's dream of education. More than 50 volunteer missionaries including students, teachers, parents and priests have volunteered their time and efforts to help with building the school and with on site projects.
Our help and cooperation comes from a wide variety of places, including companies, trade unions in the U.S. and private foundations and private grants and parents and friends of Sr. Rose, VHM. Some of those funders include:
- The Conrad Hilton Fund for Religious Sisters
- Newman’s Own Foundation
- The Loyola Foundation
- The Diocese of Arlington, VA and Commissioned by Christ
Many of the corporations and trade unions who support us have also sponsored the annual Georgetown Half Marathon to be held on October 9, 2021. These races help to support Kenya and the Mercy Project which is dedicated to empowering girls through education and opportunity.
We look forward to developing deeper connections and programs that support the Mercy Girls Secondary School and empower the girls at the School to become leaders and visionaries for the future of Kenya.