The imminent closure of their major funder the Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fund has led Meru Hospice to find new and innovative ways of raising funds.

Meru Hospice in Kenya needs five million Kenyan shillings (almost US$60,000) each year to keep running – money they now have to raise themselves as funding from their major donor comes to an end.

Hospice  programme coordinator Mrs. Gladys Mucee explained   "We have no option other than coming up with income generating projects to sustain our course." 

Meru Hospice has however come up with an innovative way to raise funds. In June 2011, the hospice rented a room in Gakoromone market and equipped it with posho mill machines – electric mills that grind maize or corn into flour. They have since obtained a license to operate the posho mill under the name Hope Posho Mill and set to generate income from the facility.

Besides the posho mill, Meru Hospice has a demonstration garden where they grow kales specifically for the patients – the garden has helped most patients who are not able to fend for themselves by supplementing their food requirements.

Read more about Meru Hospice in an article by  Aquinas Nyakundi on the Kenya edition of ehospice.