The name “Nyabeko” is an acronym from the Luo phrase “Nyako Ber Kosomo”, which directly translates to “an educated girl is an empowered woman.” In Swahili, this translates to “Msichana aliye na elimu amewezeshwa.”
Nyabeko Compassion was born out of a story of resilience, compassion, and hope.
The journey began with Beatrice Ng’ondi, a young woman from Kagan, Homa Bay County, whose life was deeply shaped by the struggles of her mother, Roselida Ng’ondi. Married at just 16 to raise her late sister’s child, Roselida endured hardship in a polygamous marriage and was denied the chance to pursue her education. Her story mirrored that of countless young Luo girls, bound by cultural practices that stripped them of choice and opportunities.
Growing up, Beatrice witnessed the suffering of vulnerable women, orphaned children, and the elderly in her community. Many elderly women, after losing their own children, were left to raise orphaned grandchildren. Young girls faced gender-based violence, early marriages, and exploitation, while children and youth were trapped in cycles of poverty and neglect. These realities stirred in Beatrice a deep conviction that no one should be forgotten or left behind.
Out of compassion, Beatrice began small — setting aside part of her monthly salary to provide food and bedding for struggling families. Guided by her belief that “Humanity has not lost the will to do good,” she committed herself to a life of service. By 2016, her acts of kindness had grown into a grassroots initiative supporting orphaned children, widows, youth, and the elderly.
The growing need inspired her to organize her efforts. In 2020, with support from the Ministry of East African Community, Labour and Social Protection (Department of Social Development), the initiative was formally registered as a Community-Based Organization (CBO) under the name Nyabeko Elderly and Orphans Compassion CBO. For three years, the CBO served Homa Bay County with dedication, reaching some of the most vulnerable households.
As the work expanded, so did the vision. In 2023, Nyabeko Compassion evolved into a legally recognized National Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) under the name Nyabeko Compassion, guided by the motto “Spreading Kindness.”
With time and experience, Nyabeko Compassion refined its focus to serve the elderly and Persons with Disabilities (PWDs). This decision was driven by the reality that these two groups are often the most neglected in policy and support systems, yet they carry the heaviest burdens — elderly people facing isolation, poor health, and poverty, and PWDs struggling with stigma, limited access to services, and exclusion from opportunities. By focusing on them, Nyabeko Compassion ensures that society’s most forgotten members regain dignity, care, and a voice.
Central to this mission is the recognition of caregivers — both family members and trained community caregivers — who shoulder the daily responsibility of looking after the elderly and PWDs. Nyabeko acknowledges that without caregivers, sustainable care would not be possible. The organization therefore empowers and supports caregivers through training, stipends, and resources, ensuring they too are valued, strengthened, and uplifted as partners in compassion.
Today, Nyabeko Compassion carries forward its mission with renewed strength — championing programs that provide safety, care, and empowerment for the elderly, Persons with Disabilities, and their caregivers. What began as one woman’s response to suffering has grown into a movement of compassion, driven by the belief that kindness can transform communities and restore dignity to the forgotten.
