Alumni join forces to help the underserved in Nairobi
Patrice Henning B’84, M’21 will tell you that in order to climb a mountain, you have to take that first step, have faith, and envision yourself at the top.
That’s how she’s been able to summit Tanzania’s Mount Meru and climb to the top of Africa’s highest mountain, Mount Kilimanjaro, twice!
Anyone who knows Henning knows that she has the strength, passion, and Lasallian spirit, not only to climb mountains but to move mountains, particularly when it comes to serving others.
On a visit to Africa in 2014, she attended a commencement ceremony in Nairobi, Kenya, through Saint Mary’s then partnership with Christ the Teacher Institute for Education (CTIE).
That day would forever change her life, largely because of introductions made by Brother Dennis Lee, FSC. She says it was the day her Lasallian family expanded by 1,100 alumni, mostly living in Kenya.
In 2018, Henning, along with two other Saint Mary’s graduates, Jeremiah Mumo B’12 and Anthony Hulula B’06 from CTIE, founded The Centre of Love Foundation (TCOLF) in Kenya. Its mission is to make the world a better place. (Learn more at thecentreoflove.org.)
Since its humble beginnings in a mud building with no water — located in the slums of Kibera where about 1 million call home — the nonprofit organization has grown under its four pillars of service: including water, sanitation, and hygiene (all in partnership with Rotary International).
They’ve built four water sanitation and hygiene locations, eradicating illness caused by contaminated water and poor hygiene practices. Because of their efforts, more than 10,000 people now have access to clean and safe water for their homes, schools, and churches and more than 3,000 people have access to clean toilets. TCOLF and their partners provide food Touching hearts and transforming lives Alumni join forces to help the underserved in Nairobi and nutrition to approximately 400-600 children every weekend and on school holidays, mentorship programs, and a safe place to learn and play.
Another one of their pillars is women’s empowerment and gender-based violence. “Over 40 percent of women who live in slums believe abuse is just part of marriage,” Henning said.
Additionally, TCOLF is focused on vocational learning to tackle the over 50% unemployment in the slums among women and youth. Currently, electrical training and tailoring programs are offered, and soon they are expanding to plumbing and maintenance courses.
They are also in the process of building their first primary school, making the dreams of fellow alumna Martha Hargura Semat B’12 a reality by providing critical education to the underserved in her Maasai village.
Henning returns to Kenya every couple of years for a month. She loves to see the faces of her Lasallian family, and the children entrusted into their care.
“This year, TCOLF is welcoming back 20 students from Mullen High School, a Lasallian high school from Denver, Colo. At the end of July, a trip made up of Rotary friends and family is planned. And, a TCOLF friends and family service trip immediately follows, including Brother Larry Schatz, FSC, and Brother Augustine “Gus” Nicoletti, FSC. Alumni and friends from the U.S. and Kenya frequently serve together, and visitors are always welcome. Karibu Kenya!
“Like John Baptist de La Salle said, ‘God led me from one commitment to another, in a way that I did not foresee in the beginning,’ I feel very called by that phrase. It’s a lot, but my co-founders are smart, dedicated, and even more compassionate. We’re a 501(c)3 organization in the United States, and an NGO (non-governmental organization) in Kenya, which is huge, and our U.S. board members have added so many talents and contributions. When I question where the resources are going to
come from, I pray to Saint John Baptist de La Salle, and I believe he has stood by me every step of the way, and he answers my prayers. I always think about how he didn’t give up.”
Henning calls Mumo and Hulula her guides, her mentors, and her brothers.
“Patrice is a connector; she is a force to reckon with when it comes to sharing love, touching hearts, and transforming lives,” Mumo said. “Through her we have been able to make friends with hundreds of people. She lives her best and does all she can to help others, thus making the world a better place.”
“Some stories are not written, they are lived.And for the three of us — Patrice, Jeremiah, and I — it was not coincidence that brought us together, but calling,” Hulula added. “We can say it was destiny. Three kindred spirits, each shaped by Lasallian values at different times, in different places, and along different paths, found themselves united in purpose: to serve.
“From conversations that began in 2017 … the vision for The Centre of Love was born. The Centre of Love is not just a physical space, it is a transformation. A movement. A response to the emerging needs of a world hungry for deeper connection, meaningful service, and enduring Love.
“Through The Centre of Love, we walk alongside the forgotten, give voice to the unheard, and turn strangers into family. It has become a sanctuary, where differences fade, dignity is restored, and hope finds a home. In all we do, the heartbeat of Saint Mary’s still echoes within us, reminding us not only where we came from, but more importantly, who we are called to be.
Today, the Centre of Love stands as more than just a monument to service. It is a living, breathing testament to friendship, faith, and the unstoppable power of a shared dream.”
Hulula calls Henning a quiet force with a spiritual love for Kenya. “Everything she touches is infused with the Lasallian ethos: faith, service, and community,” he said.
Being part of a military family growing up, Henning said service was valued far more than worldly possessions. At Saint Mary’s, she further learned the meaning of service as she came to treasure what being Lasallian was all about, eventually earning a master’s in Lasallian Leadership and cherishing times she’s spent in community with the De La Salle Christian Brothers.
“I think my mom said it best when she said, ‘You know, Patrice, what I never realized was that Saint Mary’s was much more than an education. It was lifelong, like family and community.’ ”
When Henning was a young business and public administration major starting out on her career, she worked in development for the United Way, choosing a path of helping people. When she shifted her career to become a financial advisor, first with Piper Jaffray and, since 1996, with Praxis Wealth Management of Raymond James, the goal was the same. With her philanthropic background, she’s able to help people not only plan for the future, she can help them create lasting and meaningful legacies.
Henning additionally currently serves on the WorldDenver board and co-chairs one of the largest celebrations of International Women’s Day in the country. She’s an active member of Rotary Club of Evergreen, Colo., and its International Service Committee. And, on travels to Warsaw, Poland, in 2022, she also had the chance to volunteer with World Central Kitchen.
“Praxis means creating behaviors that align with your beliefs,” she said. “It’s important to me, whether it has to do with what I do for a living or what I do from my heart — your life is not separate from what you do for a career or what you do for others.”
