A group of Davis County residents have constructed and fully fund an outstanding orphanage in Kenya, Africa, called The Gardner Granny (orphan) Home. Thirty young children are currently being cared for there. In addition, 12 older adolescents and young adults still receive full support as they attend boarding school programs, vocational colleges and universities, a feature that is not typically provided through orphanages in Africa.

“The mission of the home includes the intent to support orphan children in gaining self-sufficiency and to attain their highest level of educational potential,” said Ann Dale, the president of the group, Lifting Lives in Kenya. 

All the children have come from difficult circumstances.  Each has known hunger and many serious illnesses. A number of the children are HIV positive and are seen at the hospital clinic regularly, once or twice a month, and provided essential medication.

The Home, completed in November 2013, is named after two exemplary women, now deceased, that provided the inspiration. They are Cindy Gardner and “Granny.” Granny, as an elderly woman, cared for the initial orphan group prior to her passing in 2008. “The school was founded by a beautiful and talented Kenyan woman, Carolyne Ashiono,” Dale said. “Carolyne was raised herself from toddlerhood by Granny 44 years ago. Carolyne attributes her greatest character strengths to Granny’s inspiration.” 

Gardner and Dale were part of a team who traveled to Kenya to run a medical clinic and paint the first permanent classroom on the new Daisy School campus, where the orphanage sits. The two were close friends and their families provided most of the funds to purchase food for the 14 “Granny orphans” that lived alone as an orphan family. The oldest two girls were only 12 and 13 and the oldest boy 12. The Granny orphans had been sleeping on the dirt floors of the small, tin classrooms that Daisy School started out with. 

Motivation came to Gardner and Dale to build the orphan home as they observed the sweetness of the oldest orphans toward the younger ones, different than typical teenagers. “Each of the girls constantly carried a young child on their hip, and the oldest boys would pack the younger boys, playfully, on their backs,” said Dale. 

Gardner was part of the group that helped move the children into the home. She had personally selected a quilt and a pair of new pajamas for each child, wrapped them as gifts, and set them on each child’s bed. “As the children were allowed to enter the completed home, their surprise and happiness was a joy to witness,” said Dale. Gardner passed away two and a half months after the children moved into the home. All the older children remember her and still speak of their love for her.  

“Every year, Lifting Lives teams have traveled to visit the Gardner Granny children in Kenya,” said Dale. “Carolyne Ashiono is their legal guardian and a loving leader of the orphan group and the 480 students who attend Daisy School. Two kind and dedicated matrons are with the children every day and night, role modeling sweetness, compassion, and spirituality.” The first group of orphans are approaching their adulthood and show evidence of this quality care.

Dale talked about the blessings of this program. “We love the pure and simple joy they have with so little. We were spiritually enriched,” she said. 

Dale has also involved her family in the program. “We’ve taken five of our grandkids,” she said. “They love to go out and just play with the kids. One of my grandsons just broke down sobbing when it was time to leave. 

The great majority of resources that support the home come from Davis County families, said Dale. “Many have been exchanging letters regularly with children they sponsor.”  

For more information about this program, watch the YouTube video:

Daisy Centre and School-Kenya-YouTube. Or follow them on Instagram: liftinglivesinKenya.org or Facebook.com/lifting-lives-in-Kenya or by 

calling Ann Dale at 801-888-9335.