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HHFL@20 Celebrations: Honouring Mama Hanne – A Living Legacy of Love and Impact


This May, we celebrated not just the 20-year journey of the HanneHowardFund Lenana - Kids but the extraordinary woman behind it all; our beloved matriarch, Mama Hanne. At 78, she continues to embody the grace, resilience, and fierce love that built HHFL into a beacon of hope and transformation for so many of us.
What she thought would be a simple birthday lunch with her loving husband, Ted Horton, affectionately known to us as Baba Ted or Papa Tango, turned out to be an unforgettable surprise. For five months, behind the scenes, the ever-dedicated HHFL management team, Lucy Kalu and Kirieri Njuguna together with HHFL alumni and beneficiaries, lovingly planned a celebration fit for the queen of our family.

On the day, Mama Hanne walked in expecting nothing more than a quiet outing, only to be met by the joyful faces of her “children”, HHFL alumni & staff who had gathered to honour her legacy. The surprise was overwhelming. Tears flowed, hugs were shared, and hearts swelled with gratitude. This celebration was more than a birthday or an anniversary, it was a testament. A testament to the lives changed, dreams restored, and futures reimagined through the platform Mama Hanne built with such unwavering commitment. It mattered to us because HHFL was, and continues to be, more than an organization. It was home. A place of healing, learning, growth, and belonging.

HHFL gave many of us a second chance and most importantly, the tools to thrive. We celebrated her because she stood in the gap for so many of us when we had nowhere to turn. She saw potential where others saw lack and very much so made it her norm to communicate this to us when we were growing up. She gave dignity where the world tried to take it away. The day was also a celebration of the incredible milestones HHFL has achieved in its 20-year journey, rooted in its mission to create holistic, sustainable transformation. Its core pillars have been not only pursued but also lived out:

  1. Quality Education – From primary to university level, countless children received an education that changed their lives and opened doors to great opportunities.
  2. Self-Reliance – Through vocational training, mentorship, and ongoing support, HHFL equipped us with the ability to stand on our own feet with confidence and dignity.
  3. Great Healthcare – Access to consistent and quality healthcare was a cornerstone at HHFL, ensuring we could learn and grow in good health
  4. Nutrition – Balanced meals and nutritional education were integral to our development, ensuring healthy bodies to match our growing minds.
  5. Family & Community – HHFL wasn’t just a program; it was a family. A safe, nurturing environment where discipline, respect and teamwork thrived.
  6. Skills from Home – We learned practical life skills like cooking, cleaning, budgeting, and home management, essential tools for adulthood.
  7. Sports & Talents – From football fields to music stages, our gifts were nurtured, our confidence built, and our passions discovered.
  8. Emotional & Spiritual Support – We were loved holistically, mind, body, and soul; growing into individuals who not only survive, but thrive.
As part of this grand celebration, and in the spirit of preserving the journey, Papa Tango, together with the team, compiled a special gift for Hanne Howard and for all of us. They collected personal stories from HHFL beneficiaries & staff, captured the history of how it all began, and beautifully packaged it into a pictorial and prose memoir. This book wasn’t just a gift for Mama Hanne; it was given to everyone in attendance - a keepsake to show our spouses, children, and generations to come. A reminder of where we came from and who helped us become who we are. The celebration was a blend of heartfelt stories, uproarious laughter, and memories that brought both tears and joy. Alumni recounted their paths, giving credit to the foundation laid by HHFL family.

To our dearest Mama Hanne, your heart has carried so many. Your hands have held us through seasons of brokenness and breakthrough. Your faith in us helped us believe in ourselves. We are because you were! Thank you for planting seeds of greatness. Your legacy is alive in each of us, and HHFL@20 is just the beginning of the fruits we continue to bear.

Here's to you, to HHFL, and to a future filled with even greater impact. 🥂

#HHFL@20

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