Siloam project:004 – Jirani Centre / Sister Veronica’s Foundation

Siloam Sponsored Project: 004

This ministry began in 2019 and was registered in Kenya by Sister Veronica Thiga H.S.C*, out of her compassion to have a positive impact of homeless boys and young men as part of the development of the community. N.B * (Head of State commendation

Sister Veronica’s Foundation runs the Jirani Centre, a safe shelter where training and vocational skills, life skills and mentorship is conducted. In March 2020, thanks to the help of Siloam volunteer Mr Martin Mackenzie who had been a longtime volunteer for many years and had travelled extensively in Kenya visiting many other Siloam projects, we were introduced to this ministry and took it on under our charitable umbrella.

The main objects of the Sister Veronica’s Foundation – Jirani Centre in Kenya is to:

• Alleviate poverty, improve welfare and mitigate the impact of alcohol, tobacco and other substance abuse.

• In furtherance of the principle object, the organisation shall have the following and ancillary objects and powers:
• To rehabilitate alcohol and drug addicts.
• To provide food, shelter and clothing for needy young men and street boys.
• To give skills and provide training to empower children and young men so they can become self-reliant.
• To raise, secure and utilise funds for the attainment of any of the above objects of the organisation, and to do such other things that are incidental or conducive to the attainment of these objects.

The vision on the Sister Veronica’s Foundation – Jirani Centre aims to give impoverished and needy young children the opportunity to receive an education, obtain protection and be empowered with social development skills in a supportive Christian environment.

To provide continual guidance at each stage of their young lives so that they can develop an independent and secure future for themselves and become useful members of the Kenyan Society.

The Mission of the Jirani Centre is to:



• With the assistance of volunteers, the centre aims to provide a homely supportive and safe environment for impoverished children to give them the opportunity to learn and grow so they can become responsible citizens in the Kenyan community.

The following is a report based on information provided by the Founder and Chief Executive Sister Veronica Thiga H.S.C. who is happy to share with Siloam supporters in the hope that many will be motivated to contribute towards project: 004, as the Lord prompts them.

We are delighted here at Siloam to present to you this report on the activities of Sister Veronica’s Foundation – Jirani Centre and we have seen a major milestone of reaching many street boys and orphans from all over Kenya. Considering the Convention on the Rights of the Child on 14th September 1990, viz “The child shall enjoy special protection and shall be given opportunities and facilities, by law and by other means to enable him / her to develop physically, mentally, morally, spiritually and socially in a healthy and in a normal manner and in conditions of freedom and dignity!” This has been possible in the case of the Jirani Centre due to the financial and/or material support and services from volunteers and the donors of Siloam Christian Ministries.

Over 40 boys have been rescued in the last 6 years and many have been rehabilitated and are now attending different schools. Many boys have undergone training in baking, pastry making, welding, carpentry, tailoring and bead making. Several boys have been reconnected with their former guardians and relatives as this is one of the main aims of the Jirani Centre. Our goal is that no single street boy in Thika town shall lack shelter, education and that the living standard of the street child will be improved. In the long term, the future prospects of the street children in terms of education and employment will be improved. The problem of street boys taking drugs can be vastly reduced or even eradicated altogether by imparting moral values and helping them live in a more sustainable environment. Finally, to encourage street boys and homeless youth to give up their drug habits thereby reducing their risk of being guilty of antisocial behaviour.

The Jirani Centre faces a number of challenges such as the lack of sufficient funds to purchase more facilities for the institute and employ more workers as they heavily rely on well-wishers and volunteers to support the Institution. Also, an unreliable power source and the lack of a consistent water supply for the Jirani Centre hinders the ministry. More funds would help also with renovating the building.

The Jirani Centre also wish to extend their gratitude to Ann Mugure who initially donated a ¼ acre plot of land to establish the Jirani Centre for these boys. The centre is also grateful to Christopher Maina who made it possible to establish the Jirani Centre itself. Lastly, the centre wishes to convey its gratitude to Mr Martin Mackenzie from Warwick in the UK and his team of donors who have helped fund the training of the young people who have already benefitted from vocational training. We hope that future well-wishers and donors will continue to help the centre to establish their own training centre within the Institute. Any future help will have a great impact on the lives of the boys and young men we look forward to empowering so they can become responsible men in the future Kenya society.

According to Sister Veronica, at the beginning of 2025 there were 12 boys in residence. Siloam Christian Ministries is corporately supporting the education and vocational training of 9 boys and two boys are individually sponsored by Siloam supporters.

In December 2024, 7 boys completed their high school education and a further 6 boys have completed vocational training by learning skills like tailoring, welding, carpentry and baking and bead work.

Also in 2024, all 12 boys were enrolled in the local secondary school at various levels between the age of 10 and 21 years old.

This is not a major project but the Jirani centre is grateful for the ongoing support of Siloam Christian Ministries which is really the only foreign donor supporting the project. Before the pandemic of 2019, the centre used to receive local funds but these have now dried up as local people now prefer to give food, clothing and other things rather than finances.

Your help in keeping project: 004 afloat will enable Siloam to empower Sister Veronica and her volunteer helpers to continue to help these vulnerable youngsters be safe from a life of poverty and despair and equipped and empowered to become useful and moral citizens of Kenya.

Please help if you can by supporting this project financially or in prayer so that others may be burdened to also raise up financial support that will change the lives of these vulnerable youngsters.

Please allocate your gift to project: 004 – Jirani Centre – thank you for your prayerful consideration and interest.