Always Mercy
Organization Details
Providing the means for hospice and palliative care services, Always Mercy is dedicated to helping the medically fragile of East Africa live more meaningful lives. We are a 501(c)(3) organization with a focus on raising awareness of, and providing support to, the resource-poor and medically needy. We provide support through education, volunteerism, and funding for local East-African organizations committed to mercy work, fulfilling the mission of our organization. Always Mercy will partner with churches, individuals, grant providers, corporate sponsors, private foundations, public entities and others who support this work. Also, we partner with the medical community in the United States and in East Africa, especially those who have expertise in hospice and palliative care.
Impact Story
This began many years ago from an urgent request for help. In 2006, Pamela Boehle-Silva, RN, from Rocklin, California, was invited by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Kenya (ELCK) to educate church workers, specifically deaconesses, on HIV-AIDS awareness, treatment and prevention. Even from her first visit, it became evident to Pamela that the needs for care extended far beyond HIV-AIDS. Many suffered from other diseases and there was little help. Tragically, palliative and hospice care represent a major unmet need in Kenya, and the care that is available is concentrated mostly in large urban areas.2 According to the Kenya Hospice and Palliative Care Association (KEHPCA), 1.5 million pain sufferers in Kenya are in need of relief through hospice or palliative care services, but only 10 percent ever receive some care.
Founded in 2022, our sister organization, Rehema Open Door (often referred to as Rehema), is a Kenyan limited liability corporation (LLC) recognized by the Kenyan government for the purpose of providing palliative and hospice care in the Homa Bay region. Rehema is now recognized by KEHPCA as a registered hospice and palliative care unit. The Homa Bay County Government supports the building of Rehema Open Door in its rural location.
What do we want to accomplish in the next 2 years?
● Increase awareness in the United States and other western countries about the need for Hospice and Palliative Care in East Africa with 150% increase in website and social media traffic year-over-year for each of the next two years.
● Two-year gifts, grants, and other contributions will total $94,000 by the first quarter of 2024.
How many people do we anticipate serving by the end of our second year?
● At the beginning of 2024, 40+ Community Health Workers and Community Health Volunteers will be in the field with the potential community impacts of serving between 400 and 800 families.
Diverse Social Enterprise
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