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MISSION
In partnership with the Diamond Soul Foundation in Poland, the HUG Foundation
supports week long retreats in Sicily for Polish children from deeply traumatic, often pathological family backgrounds. These young people carry heavy stories of abandonment, addiction, violence, and deep emotional wounds. But for one week, they step into a new story.
Through a blend of mindset coaching, emotional healing, leadership training, and somatic practices like yoga and breathwork, these retreats give them tools to take their power back.
Led by four time Guinness World Record holder Paweł Durakiewicz, and yogini Alexandra Trenkler, the experience is designed to help them see their trauma not as a life sentence, but as a launching point. We teach them how to shift from victimhood to ownership, from survival to vision, and how to begin shaping a future with purpose and possibility.
SUCCESS STORY
In partnership with Coach Ben Africa, the HUG Foundation proudly co-organized and sponsored the first-ever Thabiti African Youth Leaders Summit on April 7, 2025 , at the prestigious St. Andrew’s School in Turi, Kenya.
Inspired by the spirit of Tony Robbins’ Global Youth Leadership Summit, Thabiti brought together over 150 teens, some from orphanages and deep poverty, others from stability and privilege. Despite their different backgrounds, they shared something powerful: a desire to lead lives of meaning and impact.
At Thabiti, these young people were guided to face their stories—many marked by pain, abandonment, and adversity—not as something to hide, but as the very fuel for their leadership. They learned how to transform their trauma into purpose, their wounds into wisdom, and their past into a platform for change.
Rather than waiting for help or hoping for change, they left with the belief that
they are the answer.
And now, they are stepping back into their communities not just inspired—but equipped to lead with heart, vision, and unstoppable courage.
ROSEMARY'S INSPIRING STORY
MISSION
VSA Kenya was created by Dennis Otieno in 2006 with the aim to help disadvantaged children and orphans who are living in poverty.
VSA aims to engage young people into sports, education, leadership development and more to transform our youth into responsible and pro-active adults whilst reducing the risk of juvenile delinquency, prevent HIV/AIDS, and promote health and well being.
What We Have Done
A “Cakes and Smiles” Christmas party with generous gifts sponsored by South Pole clothing company. Each teen received a winter coat, jeans, a pair of shoes and shirts. We were told that many of them still wore the coats indoors several days after our visit.
This wonderfully educational and exciting field trip included passes to both the Planetarium and the Museum as well as tickets for the Space Show and a buffet style lunch for teens from St. Peter’s Orphanage. There are few greater pleasures than seeing a real fascination with science in a child’s eyes.
Plaid House, NJ
Educational workshops for the teens and staff at the Plaid House, a residential treatment facility for girls in Morristown, NJ.
The participants learned about healthy living and how to prepare healthy and simple meals and snacks.
A day of educational fun for children from St. Peter’s Orphanage in Denville, NJ. The trip included a visit to the Liberty Science Center, IMAX movie about Egyptian Pharaohs, lunch and gift bags which held a whole set of toiletries for each child.
A day of beauty and self-care services curtesy of TA Salon & Spa for teen girls from the Plaid House in Morristown, NJ.
Haircuts, facials and a nourishing meal.
A Dream-Come-True for one of the boys from St. Peter’s Orphanage in Denville, NJ. He spent his whole life in Jersey and his dream was to visit the Bronx Zoo and see a real gorilla. The rest of the teens loved the experience as well and didn't want to leave.
A wonderfully entertaining show offering a thrilling journey back to the 11th century.
A two-hour tournament featuring jousting, sword fights, horsemanship, and falconry while enjoying a four-course feast organized for the boys from St. Peter's Orphanage,
A fun summer trip to the Hurricane Harbor water park at Great Adventure in NJ for teens from the orphanage. A whole day of splashing fun plus lunch and snacks.
The inventive and invigorating stage show that's dance, music, and theatrical performance blended together in one electrifying rhythm. A great lesson that you can create MAGIC with simple things you already have around you. The kids fron St. Peter's were inspired.
Thanks to the kindness of a producer of the show, the teens from the orphanages were invited to experience a real Broadway musical and met for a Q & A with the cast afterwords.
A Snow Tubing trip for the boys of St. Peter’s Orphanage curtesy of the Cholewa family at Camelback Ski Resort in Pennsylvania. Lots of fun and laughter, hot chocolate and a warm meal after.
Boxes filled with notebooks, pens, pencils, binders, towels and other supplies the children of St. Peter’s Orphanage and the Plaid House needed before going back to school.
A Christmas Gift Toy Collection for toddlers – members of the ARC of Essex County – a non-profit agency serving persons with intellectual disability and other developmental disabilities. This event was organized in cooperation with Second Chance Toys Foundation. In their Thank You letter ARC representative mentioned that for many children the toys we collected were the only gifts they were receiving this Holiday Season.
Comments from Our Event Participants
Thank you for making my dream (of coming to the Bronx Zoo) a reality. I'll never forget this day... and I saw a real gorilla starring at me!
Will - St. Peter's Orphanage
Will - Saint Peter's Orphanage
I liked making this Super Green smoothie. It was easy. I never knew that something green and slimy looking can taste so good!
Jenny - Plaid House
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Chris Dabao - Director
Violetta Whittington - Director
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