When CTC’s Jerry Hudson, Vice President and Chief Quality Officer, attended the Stanford Executive Program (SEP) during the summer of 2006, he never thought it would take him to Kericho, Kenya, in East Africa.  Yet, on August 17, 2007, Jerry, along with Nev Davies, President and CEO, Finlays Tea Kenya, and Clive Beckenham, Founder and Director, New Life Home Trust, laid the first block for a Children’s Home on Finlays’ Tea Estate in Kericho.  This worthy project will provide a home for orphaned children who have lost parents to HIV/Aids.

It is a sad fact that the spread of HIV/Aids and related illnesses is now the most frequent cause of death in Kenya.  All too often this results in an ever increasing number of orphaned children, many of whom are also born with the disease.  The Children’s Home in Kericho will house two family units of 10 orphaned children each.  The Kericho Home will focus on older children, which is an even greater problem because of adoption difficulty with this age group.  The children living in the homes will be between the ages of three and 18, with the maximum age of admission normally being restricted to seven, for reasons of successful integration.  Although requiring some flexibility, nominally one third of the children will be from the local community, and two thirds from other New Life homes.  The children will attend the Finlays’ schools and receive medical care from the nearby Chomogonday Hospital.  Although not part of the new facility, it has been agreed that Finlays will make available an emergency baby rescue facility at Chomogonday Hospital, which will provide temporary care for abandoned babies until such times as they can be transferred to one of the New Life specialist facilities.

Jerry’s involvement in the Kericho Home began with a class project while at Stanford. The project allowed the class to implement their new-found knowledge, and tradition suggested that it focus on a charitable cause.  Using the resources and relationships of the class, which was represented by 38 nations, the Kericho Children’s Home project was selected.  The class set up a charitable trust to accept donations, obtained a donation of three acres of land on Finlays’ estate, and Finlays is committed to underwrite the ongoing operational costs.  The class objective was to raise funds to build the facility.  In the 54 previous years, the SEP record for fund raising was $70,000.  The SEP 2006 class raised $200,000, enough to fund the entire construction of the Children’s Home.

Jerry, with his wife Jan, had the opportunity to visit existing New Life Children’s Homes in Kisumu and Nairobi, Kenya, and learn about their operations, needs and opportunities for volunteering.  They will be working with New Life Homes and Finlays to ensure the success of the Kericho Home.  

“Helping make the Kericho Children’s Home a reality has been a life-changing experience,” said Jerry Hudson.  “Jan and I have committed to continue helping make life better for these unfortunate children.”  

Taking part in the First Block Laying Ceremony for Kericho, Kenya Children’s Home are (left to right) Jerry Hudson, Clive Beckenham and Nev Davies.

 

Kericho Children’s Home Construction Site on Finlays Tea Estate.

 

Chomogonday Hospital Kericho, Kenya.

 

Orphan Children at Kisumu, Kenya Children’s Home.

 

Jan Hudson and Ashley.