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Love and Hope Centre


Opening of Love and Hope Centre in Nakuru, Kenya

Name Plaque

Lake Nakuru, on the outskirts of Nakuru Township, is surrounded by many Flamingos, whose pink feathers produce a permanently pink hue, uplifting to the spirit and resulting in a scene of intense beauty around the lakeside.

This area, better known as Section 58 of Nakuru town was the site chosen for the opening of the new Love and Hope Centre. Opening day occurred on October 6th 2007, a truly joyful celebratory time for the 750 patients who attended, with orphans, staff and many friends and benefactors, both locally and from Ireland.

Image
Dr. Denis Donoghue, Sr. Patricia, Mrs. Mary Donoghue and Fr. Brendan (Kiltegan) at the opening of the Centre

The centre provides care and support for hundreds of HIV/AIDS patients, their families, as well as prevention programmes in both schools and parishes. The genesis of the centre is both humble and simplistic, with a service beginning with home visits for those too ill to travel for treatment. Sr. Agnes Mary with her helper, Genevieve walked to the poorer areas of Nakuru and gave home-based care, spearheading a challenge later taken up by Sr. Patricia Speight and developed further through the help and support of many friends and benefactors locally.

Cutting the Cake
Srs. Patricia & Miriam cutting the cake with Mary O'Donoghue
This resulted in the involvement of Ms Mary  Donoghue, who eventually visited Nakuru and saw the project at first hand. At that time buildings consisted of a small two-roomed hut in the shade of a huge tree, catering for growing numbers of patients. On her return to Ireland, together with family and friends, she initiated what has come to be known as The Rose Project, the result of much fundraising activities. 

Mary receives gift
Mary receives a gift
Now an impressive building replaces the original hut and consists of a purpose built area which includes clinical areas, counselling rooms, administration block as well as seminar areas and a spacious hall for preventive programmes.

The gift of this beautiful building is a tribute to the Rose Foundation, benefactors locally and elsewhere and to the hardwork and diligence of Sr. Patricia, her team, colleagues and friends, including Linda Isyagi who acted as project manager, working tirelessly to supervise the building of the centre.
 

 

 
 
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