The Open Arms International charity was founded in 2003, the vision of an American couple, David and Rachel Gallagher, to create a village for the orphans of the civil war in northwest Kenya. John and Rosemary Lancaster and the Lancaster Foundation, based in England, came to the aid of the Gallaghers to become co-founders. Kenyan NGO status was achieved by September 2006 and the land and building of the Open Arms Village commenced.
With the generosity of our amazing supporters, and God’s faithfulness, the village grew to care for hundreds of the most vulnerable children, helping them thrive and become future leaders of Kenya.David Spurdle, a teacher from Hornchurch, visited Lebanon and saw some kids who needed help. He didn’t know how he was going to do it, but he committed to caring for 60 orphaned boys, so he founded Kids Alive UK that later became Stand by Me. This is our story so far.
Open Arms was established in Kenya
Becoming Stand by Me
What started with small steps of faith, God has blessed and multiplied. After seeking God’s will for how best to meet His heart for the poor, in 2022, God led us to partner with another childcare organization, Stand by Me, enabling us to rescue more children in crisis in Kenya and extend our impact to other countries beginning with Romania.
Caring for 1,800 kids around the world
In January 2025, Open Arms and Stand by Me became one organization, motivated by Jesus to transform the lives of 1,800 children in Kenya, Romania, Colombia and Ethiopia and helping them become everything God created them to be.