Many young children, some as young as 3 or 4 years old, in Mombasa, Kenya, are so poor they live on the streets.  Life for them is a bleak struggle for survival, where drugs, alcohol and crime are often the only means of escape.  They desperately need help.  ‘Glad’s House’ is a young charity that aims to help these street children return to a ‘normal’ way of life.  When we have raised sufficient funds we will be establishing Glad’s House, our own refuge in Mombasa.

Our aim is to get as many children as possible back into full time education. For those who can perhaps even places in higher education.  For the less academic children or those too old to return to school, we aim to get them into apprenticeship schemes where they can learn a trade. All the older children we will assist in finding gainful employment.

Why "Glad's" House?

Victoria’s grandmother, Gladys Galloway was born in Sunderland on the 27th November 1903, she left school at 14 years old and went to London to work “in service” as a Nanny.  She married Edward Whittingham on the 24th September 1927, who was a soldier in the British Army.  They had six children; she was widowed on the 21st February 1969.
Not particularly well educated Gladys was exceptionally “worldly wise”, an avid reader, interested in politics and world affairs, she was always interested in ‘life’ and loved to discuss topically matters, where she always held her own.  She passed away on the 17th February 1996, at the age of 92 years young!

Gladys had numerous good qualities, but three traits stood out:

• Her front door was always open.
• Whenever and at whatever time, when you arrived at Glad’s she always produced a meal (sometimes seemingly “from no-where) and a bed for the night was always on offer.
• She always had time for any child and whenever she walked down the street children quickly surrounded her.

These characteristics are indicative of the values of Glad’s House.

• Our door will always be open to any and all ‘street children’ who come to us.
• We will always offer food and shelter to the ‘street children’ who visit us.
• We will make Glad’s House a happy and welcoming place, where children want to be – where they can truly be children

Why “Glad’s” House? …………………. it just had to be.