WHS Embrases Student Charity, Hugs for Kenya

Hugs for Kenya, a nonprofit service organization founded by Alvin Makori (11), is new to WHS this year and has plans to host three drives throughout the year to donate necessities to an orphanage in Kenya.

Makori, president and founder, states the mission of the organization is to help children in Kenya.

Hugs for Kenya is currently hosting a school supply drive until Oct. 21 and then Makori plans to host two more drives collecting items including personal items in December and books in February.

According to Makori, these drives will benefit the Nyamira Orphanage outside of Nairobi, Kenya, and the organization hopes to adopt more orphanages as more supplies are collected.

Macie Meade, one of eight board members of Hugs for Kenya, explains that the choice, in which orphanage Hugs for Kenya will donate to, was made based on need.

“This is an orphanage that does not have any big sponsors, like most of the orphanages inside the city… We really hope to make an impact on those kids’ lives,” Meade said.

Some board members are planning to travel to Nairobi to deliver these supplies in person, according to Julien Lubell, board member. Supplies will also be shipped, by boat, in May with money from a fundraiser called Culture Night, as well as from Hugs for Ghana, the organization from which Hugs for Kenya stems.

Culture Night will be hosted in late March.

Makori took part in the Hugs for Ghana organization at his former school in Washington. He decided to bring the organization to WHS and adapt it to benefit Kenya because he as a personal connection with Kenya, as his parents were born and grew up there.

Following Makori’s graduation in 2018, he will take a leadership position at Hugs for Ghana.