LITTLE LAMBS, BIG HOPE - ANTHONY MBUGUA

Anthony Mbugua

Anthony Mbugua was born on 27th July 2020 to Michael Maina and Rachel Njeri. He is the firstborn of three children and lives with his family in Magina, Kiambu County.

Anthony’s parents depend on casual labor to provide for their family. His mother earns wages working on local farms, while his father works in the construction industry as an assistant to a mason or carpenter. Casual work is not always available, and there are times when Anthony’s parents go for several days without earning any income. This makes it very difficult for them to provide even the basic needs of their children.

Their situation has also been made more difficult by Anthony’s father’s drinking. When work is available, much of what he earns is spent on alcohol, leaving Anthony’s mother to carry the responsibility of providing for the family. His drinking has also led to violence in the home. At one point, Anthony’s parents separated, and his mother took the children to live with their grandmother. They later reconciled and returned home together.

Seeing the struggles of her daughter’s family, Anthony’s grandmother visited the Little Lambs Center toward the end of 2024. She knew about the program and wanted to see if Anthony could be admitted as he was approaching school age. She was warmly received by the staff, and Anthony—known affectionately as Tony—was placed on the list of potential Lambs.

Following an assessment of his family’s situation, Anthony was accepted into the program and joined Little Lambs in 2025.

Tony is now in PP2 and loves being a Lamb. He is very active in class and enjoys playing soccer and running. He is also always the first one to the swings!

At the beginning of this year, the family’s situation became difficult again, and Anthony’s parents separated once more. His mother was left caring for Tony and his siblings. She later made the difficult decision to leave the children with their grandmother, Loise Wanjiru, who lives in Magina, while she went in search of work and a better opportunity to provide for her family.

For Tony, Little Lambs provides more than a place to learn. It gives him a safe place to grow, the opportunity to receive an education, and the encouragement to believe that his circumstances today do not have to determine his future.

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