Growing up in a broken home in rural Kenya, Jackie Dibben fondly remembers the love and compassion of her uneducated yet very wise grandmother. This busy woman raised 13 children of her own and managed a 35 acre farm, yet throughout her life she charitably gave food and money to local farm workers and hungry strangers. She passed away in early 2022, but not before leaving an indelible impression on her grandaughter. In early 2021, when the world was gripped with the Covid 19 pandemic, Jackie was challenged to look again at the dire circumstances many women and girls face in rural Kenya. She, and her husband, Peter, decided to do something and Grandmother`s Heart (GH) was created. At first, GH helped provide food to struggling households in Kenya; business start-up grants followed shortly after. Grandmother's Heart is a unique blend of African values and Western pragmatism. By combining the best of both worlds, GH leverages Canadian generosity while remaining sensitive to traditional Kenyan customs. With multiple trusted partners on the ground, sponsors are assured that funds reach the intended audience with the very minimum of program expenses and government interferrence. Grandmother's Heart is a Christian ministry, motivated by the compassion of Jesus and practiced by those who love Him. Although not yet registered as a charity in Canada, all donations and program disbursements are carefully recorded and are available for review. Future plans:
Peter and Jackie recently purchased 3 1/2 acres of land in Kisii, Kenya where they are starting to build a vocational training centre for women. Instruction on traditional skills like tailoring, knitting, cooking, agriculture and hairdressing will empower local women with their own source of income, and will allow them to make their own life choices. Life-skills classes will also be offered free of charge to locals of all ages. Ultimately, through sales of their products to the local community, GH intends to become a self- sustaining and environmentally-friendly non-profit ministry, making a real difference in the lives of many of God's most-impoverished.
