Founding Story
The story of the Neema Grace Fund begins with the compassion and commitment of members of Damascus United Methodist Church (DUMC) in central Maryland, whose dedication to global mission sparked a relationship that now spans continents. In 2014, the DUMC congregation responded to a heartfelt request from Sylvia Otieno, a fellow church member with roots in Kenya. She wanted to collect books for orphaned children in her village, Gem Ndere, Kenya. The church community mobilized swiftly and generously, donating books to establish a classroom library in the school, and for each child to have their own. For many of the children, these were the first books they ever owned—opening doors to imagination, learning.
Inspired by the impact of their efforts, a group from DUMC traveled to Kenya in 2017. During their visit, they connected deeply with the community, witnessed the resilience of the local people, and recognized their commitment to collectively address challenges with limited resources. They visited a school in Ndere Village and Joint Partners Clinic in nearby Musasa Village, which were, respectively, addressing the need for education and health services in their communities. The experience left a lasting impression on the team, reinforcing their belief in the power of local action—and their desire to build a sustainable way to support it.
This exchange planted the seeds for a deeper, long-term commitment to walk alongside communities in their efforts to create lasting change. Rooted in the spiritual values of DUMC and guided by the transformative power of meaningful cross-cultural relationships, Neema Grace Fund is committed to bridging innovative and sustainable health and education solutions with the resources they need to drive their grassroots impact across Kenya.