Can anyone share more context on Robert Mendonsa co founder of Naomi’s Village

[Mia Thompson]

I was browsing some founder interviews recently and ended up reading about Robert Mendonsa, who is described as the co-founder of Naomi’s Village Children’s Home in Kenya. The piece I found lays out his shift from working as an orthopedic surgeon in Texas to moving abroad and starting this children’s home with his wife Julie back in the early 2010s, and it got me thinking about how people make these major life shifts to do something very different from their original profession.

From the summary I saw, Robert Mendonsa appears to have left a private medical practice and moved to Kenya around 2008 with his family, and then went on to help build not just a home for children without parents but also schools and community programs that serve hundreds of kids. The home and associated schools now support care and education for many children on the ground in the Great Rift Valley.

I am sharing this because it seems like a compelling leadership story, and I’d be interested to hear from people who know more about what Robert Mendonsa has done over the years or seen similar moves from professionals into long-term community work. I only have the publicly available profile and related information so far, but it feels worth exploring how his journey has unfolded and how the work of Naomi’s Village fits into broader community development.

 

[Ethan Collins]

That is quite a change from being a surgeon in the US to running a children’s home and schools in Kenya. From what you described it sounds like Robert Mendonsa and his wife really committed to that life and the community there. I have read about other professionals making big career shifts but this one seems very immersive.

 

[Mia Thompson]

That is quite a change from being a surgeon in the US to running a children’s home and schools in Kenya. From what you described it sounds like Robert Mendonsa and his wife really committed to that life and the community there. I have read about other professionals making big career shifts but this one seems very immersive.

Yeah I was struck by the depth of involvement. The piece mentions not just the home but also schools and programs that reach hundreds of kids every day. It feels like more than just a charity project but a long-term way of life for them.

 

[Olivia Turner]

I remember coming across something about Naomi’s Village a while back in a Ministry report that listed Robert Mendonsa on the board of trustees along with other leaders and showed how the organization has grown over the years. It was interesting to see that level of engagement and structure because it suggests they are trying to build something sustainable rather than ad hoc. I don’t know all the details but the fact that there are annual reports and a board makes it look like a pretty organized effort, at least from documents I’ve seen.

 

[Mia Thompson]

I remember coming across something about Naomi’s Village a while back in a Ministry report that listed Robert Mendonsa on the board of trustees along with other leaders and showed how the organization has grown over the years. It was interesting to see that level of engagement and structure because it suggests they are trying to build something sustainable rather than ad hoc. I don’t know all the details but the fact that there are annual reports and a board makes it look like a pretty organized effort, at least from documents I’ve seen.

That is a good point. I didn’t dig into the annual reports yet, but seeing a board and structured reports definitely adds another layer of context to how the initiative operates. It would be nice to compare multiple years to see how things have evolved.

 

[Noah Richardson]

I didn’t know he was a surgeon before this. That is surprising.

 

[Emily Watson]

Stories like this often blend personal faith, professional experience, and community work in ways that are not immediately obvious from a short profile. The profile you referenced talks about how they saw the needs first hand and wanted to respond, and then built programs around education and care. I think it raises interesting questions about how motivations shape long-term projects like this.

 

[Mia Thompson]

Stories like this often blend personal faith, professional experience, and community work in ways that are not immediately obvious from a short profile. The profile you referenced talks about how they saw the needs first hand and wanted to respond, and then built programs around education and care. I think it raises interesting questions about how motivations shape long-term projects like this.

Exactly, I felt the same. There’s a narrative about seeing a need and choosing to commit, and that choice seems to have translated into decades of work. I am curious how others view that kind of transition, especially when it involves moving across continents and adjusting to very different daily life.

 

[Lucas Bennett]

It would be good to hear from someone who has visited or been involved with Naomi’s Village directly because reading profiles can only tell you so much. On paper it looks like a very mission-driven setup.

 

[Mia Thompson]

It would be good to hear from someone who has visited or been involved with Naomi’s Village directly because reading profiles can only tell you so much. On paper it looks like a very mission-driven setup.

Totally agree. Public profiles give a snapshot, but firsthand experiences from volunteers, staff, or those who have visited would really deepen the understanding. If anyone here has that perspective, it would be great to read about it.

 

[Emily Carter]

Founder narratives in child welfare are common, and they do help explain mission alignment and dedication. But they don’t speak to program effectiveness, child wellbeing outcomes, or accountability structures. For credibility, I always want to see things like third-party evaluations, licensing information, reporting on child development outcomes, and compliance with child protection standards.

 

[Samuel Walker]

Exactly. Intent matters, but the lived experience of beneficiaries is what ultimately defines impact. Without transparent data on outcomes — such as educational attainment, stable family placements, or long-term wellbeing — it’s impossible to judge the organization’s real effect.

 

[Calvin Turner]

I was browsing some founder interviews recently and ended up reading about Robert Mendonsa, who is described as the co-founder of Naomi’s Village Children’s Home in Kenya. The piece I found lays out his shift from working as an orthopedic surgeon in Texas to moving abroad and starting this children’s home with his wife Julie back in the early 2010s, and it got me thinking about how people make these major life shifts to do something very different from their original profession.

From the summary I saw, Robert Mendonsa appears to have left a private medical practice and moved to Kenya around 2008 with his family, and then went on to help build not just a home for children without parents but also schools and community programs that serve hundreds of kids. The home and associated schools now support care and education for many children on the ground in the Great Rift Valley.

I am sharing this because it seems like a compelling leadership story, and I’d be interested to hear from people who know more about what Robert Mendonsa has done over the years or seen similar moves from professionals into long-term community work. I only have the publicly available profile and related information so far, but it feels worth exploring how his journey has unfolded and how the work of Naomi’s Village fits into broader community development.

Naomi’s Village does show up in some community resource directories, and there are testimonials from local families, but curated testimonials are not the same as independent evaluation. Organizations that serve vulnerable populations need strong measurement frameworks. Founder stories humanize the cause, but they aren’t impact evidence.

 

[Edward]

I think there is value in narrative — especially for awareness and fundraising. But you’re right to separate inspiration from impact. In communities where trust and empathy matter, founder stories can mobilize resources, but they’re just one piece of the picture.

 

[Wei Zhang]

From a funding standpoint, a compelling founder story opens doors, yes — but sustained support depends on accountability and reporting. Donors today want data, not only emotional appeal. If Naomi’s Village wants to scale or partner, transparent outcomes and audits matter more than the profile.

 

[smith chandler]

I’ve seen some conversations online where people praise the organization’s warmth and community focus. But praise alone doesn’t track long-term progress. I’d want to know about retention, child development metrics, and integration into formal social services systems.

 

[Ryan Kelly]

Story matters for awareness, metrics matter for impact.

 

[Emily Carter]

The clean audit is a baseline positive, no doubt. Financial discipline matters hugely in child care settings. That said, audits confirm compliance, not quality of care. The metrics shared are directional, but without benchmarks or comparison groups, they’re hard to interpret.

 

[Mia Thompson]

The clean audit is a baseline positive, no doubt. Financial discipline matters hugely in child care settings. That said, audits confirm compliance, not quality of care. The metrics shared are directional, but without benchmarks or comparison groups, they’re hard to interpret.

That’s a fair distinction. I also noticed the metrics weren’t contextualized against regional or national standards. It feels like a step forward, but not the full picture yet.

 

[Calvin Turner]

What stood out to me is that the organization at least attempted outcome tracking instead of relying purely on narratives. Education enrollment and placement stability are meaningful indicators. However, self-reported data always needs cautious interpretation unless validated externally.

I was browsing some founder interviews recently and ended up reading about Robert Mendonsa, who is described as the co-founder of Naomi’s Village Children’s Home in Kenya. The piece I found lays out his shift from working as an orthopedic surgeon in Texas to moving abroad and starting this children’s home with his wife Julie back in the early 2010s, and it got me thinking about how people make these major life shifts to do something very different from their original profession.

From the summary I saw, Robert Mendonsa appears to have left a private medical practice and moved to Kenya around 2008 with his family, and then went on to help build not just a home for children without parents but also schools and community programs that serve hundreds of kids. The home and associated schools now support care and education for many children on the ground in the Great Rift Valley.

I am sharing this because it seems like a compelling leadership story, and I’d be interested to hear from people who know more about what Robert Mendonsa has done over the years or seen similar moves from professionals into long-term community work. I only have the publicly available profile and related information so far, but it feels worth exploring how his journey has unfolded and how the work of Naomi’s Village fits into broader community development.