Double Joy was started in 1994 by Mary Hinde, who had been living and teaching in Kenya for the previous twenty years.

 

On her retirement Mary decided she wanted to continue her life in Kenya and  to serve the community in which she had enjoyed many happy years.

 

At that time Aids was becoming a major cause of death in her local area, affecting half the adult population between 15 and 55 years.

 

The illness and death of this group of adults has resulted in many children being abandoned to fend for themselves. This loss of adults of bread-winning age has had a negative effect on the economy as a whole.

 

In response to these difficulties Mary wanted to do something to relieve the suffering of the children in her local area and decided to start a home for children needing protection. She went ahead despite being told this was a crazy idea and couldn’t possibly succeed due to the enormous resources needed to succeed.

 

To this day Double Joy continues to grow from strength to strength and all those who visit us describe it as a place of great joy and inspiration.

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In recent years the project has become a place of safety for other children needing protection too.