Tucked away in Bombolulu Estate, Mombasa, is Baby Life Rescue Centre. At first glance, it is easy to overlook it. Once you step inside, you discover a sanctuary for abandoned and vulnerable children.
Here, infants as young as four days old, toddlers, and children up to 10 years find refuge. Many have been rescued from dire circumstances: parents unable to care for them due to mental illness, extreme poverty, or disability. Some are physically challenged, others mentally impaired. Without intervention, access to healthcare for these children would be nearly impossible.
In partnership with Wellcare, the Rotary Club of Mombasa Nyali organized a free medical camp for these innocent souls on July 25. Out of the 31 children present, many were diagnosed with health conditions and received treatment, an essential step toward giving them a chance to thrive.
The initiative was spearheaded by the club’s Service Director Samantha Jacobs, supported by President Des Rose Roger and other Rotarians from the club
“Special thanks to everyone who showed up to our Children’s Medical Camp today and to those who supported us with donations,” Rotarian Samantha said.
“Special thanks to everyone who showed up to our Children’s Medical Camp today and to those who supported us with donations,” Rotarian Samantha said.
Yet the journey continues. The Baby Life Rescue Centre faces daily running expenses and ongoing medical needs. Sustained support is vital to keep this lifeline alive. Every child deserves hope. Every child deserves healing.
In a related project, the Rotary Club of Mombasa Nyali has been supporting Pentrose Community Primary School in Mkomani ward, Nyali Sub-County, over the past few years. The support includes paying school fees for some of the pupils.
The school began as a nursery community school in 1992 under the management of Shauri Yako community. It was formally registered in 2017 as a basic education primary school. Today it has about 490 pupils from Grade one to six and double streams with another 510 pupils in Grades seven, eight and nine.
The school began as a nursery community school in 1992 under the management of Shauri Yako community. It was formally registered in 2017 as a basic education primary school. Today it has about 490 pupils from Grade one to six and double streams with another 510 pupils in Grades seven, eight and nine.
In what has become the club’s tradition, in September the Rotary Club of Mombasa Nyali supported the national examinations candidates with 150 geometrical sets, pencils, erasers and some biscuits. The club also offered mentorship in a brief but very inspiring session.
RC Mombasa Nyali was joined by the Rotaract Club of Youth Zone, who brought the youthful angle to the pupils, and by Rotary Club of Kilindini, represented by President Nizar Ali Mohammed.
Still in September, the club had an “eye-opening” week from September 28 to October 3 by organizing a free optical camp in partnership with Dr. Agarwal’s Eye Hospital. During the five days, 780 students were screened.
Many pupils presented with more than one condition: allergy in 303, light sensitivity in 268, myopia in 160, and hyperopia in 103. About 156 students received glasses, enabling clearer vision, improved classroom participation, and enhanced confidence. Six more were flagged for specialist ophthalmologist assessment, while teachers and parents are requested to support follow-up care to ensure timely intervention.
The camp underscores the importance of early detection and timely access to eye care among school-going children. Together, we are changing lives, one pair of eyes at a time.
RC Mombasa Nyali’s community projects went a notch higher through a pilot digital learning partnership to create a lasting impact in digital learning for students while establishing a sustainable model that can be replicated at other schools throughout our community.
Laptops and desktops have started coming in, and the club is arranging with technical partners to service them and install child safety software as a precaution. But proper computer tables had to come first. In October, four 8ft computer tables donated by Serve Marine Ltd and championed by club President Eng. Des Rose Roger were received and presented. The impact that the computers and computer knowledge is bringing to young minds is unfathomable.
Looking Ahead
The work does not stop here. A repeat eye medical camp returns to Pentrose in November and in March 2027 the club will hold a mega mangrove planting session. The club seeks funding partnership to plant, grow and protect 1,000,000 mangrove seedlings over five years at Majaoni, Shanzu–Mtwapa Creek.
The project will restore degraded coastal ecosystems, sequester approximately 50,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide over 25 years, protect shoreline communities from erosion and storm surges, and create sustainable livelihoods for coastal households through fisheries and the blue economy.
The work does not stop here. A repeat eye medical camp returns to Pentrose in November and in March 2027 the club will hold a mega mangrove planting session. The club seeks funding partnership to plant, grow and protect 1,000,000 mangrove seedlings over five years at Majaoni, Shanzu–Mtwapa Creek.
The project will restore degraded coastal ecosystems, sequester approximately 50,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide over 25 years, protect shoreline communities from erosion and storm surges, and create sustainable livelihoods for coastal households through fisheries and the blue economy.
It builds on a proven record: over 8,500 mangroves supported since 2021, now scaled up in partnership with Earthlungs CBO, which has independently planted two million mangroves across 286 hectares since 2022. We invite other clubs, corporates, embassies, foundations, and development partners to join this transformative initiative as funding or technical partners.
Rotary Club of Mombasa Nyali is ready to embrace the challenge of being better, stronger, and more impactful in the years ahead, and to measure its service by the lives transformed.
“Be the best, and once you are the best, compete to remain better,” District Governor Esayas Yeyesuswork “Musyoka” said during his maiden visit to the Rotary Club of Mombasa Nyali in July. Within weeks, that challenge began to take the shape as the club rolled out the projects.