Kathy and Richard visited the City of Hope in January 2024.  They were already going to be in Tanzania for a vacation but wanted to do something to give back while they were there.  Through a mutual friend, Kathy and Richard learned about HopeCo, and they contacted us to ask about volunteering!

Once they arrived at the City of Hope, they fell in love with the kids! “Richard and I are doing really good and so enjoying our time at COH!  I must say we were so overwhelmed by the welcome we received on arrival….these kids!  Richard has been working with the secondary students on goal setting and I’ve been at the clinic working with Dr. Adam.  Otherwise, we’ve been out playing/singing/loving with the children.  Oh my, it makes our hearts so full!”  By the second day of their visit, Kathy and Richard had already earned the sweet nicknames “Bibi” and “Babu” (grandmother and grandfather in Swahili), which showed that the affection was mutual.

Kathy, a retired nursing instructor, feels very passionate about her time spent at Amani Medical Center, and is in the process of raising funds to install tile over the cement floor. She stated “Amani was minimal, (vs what would be at a hospital in the US) but they got the job done every single day, it was just absolutely incredible to see.” Kathy and Richard are ready to visit again! She said “we left with so much joy – we just talk to everyone about it!” We are so grateful for Kathy and Richard, and their partnership with HopeCo! To give to the Amani Medical Center and help care for more children and families in East Africa, click here.