Mully Children's Family began on November 17, 1989 when rags -to-riches millionaire Charles Mulli obeyed God's call to sell all he owned and invest into the lives of Kenya's street children.
Mulli began by providing food and clothing to abandoned children in the slums and streets of Eldoret. Soon after, Charles and his wife Esther open the doors of their home to three children who's background and upbringing was significantly different from the priviledged lives their eight children had lead. Mulli provided the children with food, clothing, shelter, education and love and as he continued to bring more children into his home, hired teachers to help educate his expanding family. As the Mulli's welcomed more children into their family they built additional dorms and classrooms on their property but with 100 children in their care, there was no room for expansion.
At this time the Mulli's had been caring for the children with the proceeds of the sale of Charles' businesses. The only investment they had left was a piece of property in Ndalani that the Mulli's planned to use for their retirement. In 1995, Mulli arranged for the first group of 17 boys to go to Ndalani to pioneer the new MCF home. MCF Ndalani subsequently grew to accommodate over 500 children including a primary and secondary school, dormitories, teachers quarters and a farming operation that provides for the nutritional needs of the children. The farm produces many fruits and vegetables as well as their specialty crop, french beans. The beans are exported to the European Union and the revenue provides 45% of MCF's operating costs.
The MCF home education system was officially recognized in 1996 when the Ndalani primary school was registered by the Ministry of Education. In Kenya, children sit for 2 governement exams; one is at the end of grade 8 and the top 40% of students are permitted to enter high school. The exam at the end of grade 12 determines whether or not they can apply for post secondary education. In the first year the primary school was registered for the exams, MCF came in 189th of 16,000 schools and #1 in their zone. Since then, the home has won many certificates and trophy awards as well as the best special school in the country for the past 12 years. The 2008 results will be released in early 2009.
In 2003, MCF opened it's first community based child care center in Kangundo. The day centres were designed to cater to orphaned children who were in the care of relatives or grandparents struggling to provide the basic needs of the children. Children visit the drop in centres and receive free food, clothing medical care, spiritual nourishment and primary education. MCF has also opened a child care centre in Vipingo which cares for orphaned children and those involved in child labour. MCF has a feeding centre in Kipsongo which provides lunch for street children as well as those attending school the area. Attendance at the local school has increased dramatically since the feeding program was introduced as it provides an incentive children to attend. MCF's community child care centres are providing a lifeline to over for 650 children.
The Agricultural component of the home continues to expand due to Charles Mulli's innovation and vision of self sustainability. In 12 years, the farming operations at Ndalani and Yatta have developed to include indoor and outdoor crop production which supplies all their fruit and vegetables. The farm recently introduced a poultry project which will eventually provide eggs and chicken for the children. The animal husbandry project includes goats and cows which occasionally provide meat for the children as well as provide milk for the children. MCF's innovation has been highlighted with the construction of dams to harvest Kenya's limited rainfall. These dams have allowed for the construction of 5 fish ponds at MCF Yatta. In addition to providing 60% of the farms dietary needs, the sale of excess produce brings in 45% of the families' operating budget.
In addition to the responsibility of caring for 2,000 children, MCF is also responsible for the livelyhood of their 500 staff. For years, MCF has supported members of the community who have struggled through years of drought. In addition to running medical and dental clinics for those who can not afford these "luxuries". Each Christmas, MCF offers relief food to several thousand members of their community.
2007 was a turning point in MCF's ministry of community compassion. During the post election violence where hundreds of Kenyan's were murdered, thousands of people fled to refugee camps. The largest of these IDP camps was home to 19,000 people. MCF took on the task of facilitating emergency intervention to 7,000 children and mothers who were breastfeeding. MCF bore the responsibility of feeding the children a hot lunch every day and facilitated the creation and staffing of primary and secondary education within the camps. When other relief organizations had all packed up and left, MCF remained faithful in their quest to feed children, care for mothers and their babies, offer trauma and spiritual counselling, provide resources and teachers for schools, and offered financial support to those suffering with medical problems. While the Government officially closed the camps in December of 2008, many broken families and those suffering from medical ailments remain. MCF welcomed 500 orphaned and abandoned children from the IDP camps to join their family.
As Charles Mulli and his family celebrate their 20th anniversary this year, they thank God for the financial support of their global family who have been instrumental in meeting the needs of the children of both MCF, and the Kenyan community.