Caretaker Faces Armed Intruders Alone to Protect Sleeping Children

NGONG, Kenya — In the early hours of January 23, 2012, an act of extraordinary bravery unfolded at Faraja Children’s Home in Ngong, Kenya, when 24-year-old caretaker Anthony Omari single-handedly confronted six armed intruders to protect dozens of vulnerable children. The attackers, reportedly carrying machetes, forced their way into the underfunded orphanage where 37 orphaned and abandoned children were sleeping. Omari, who lived at the home with his mother, Martha Bosire—lovingly known as “Momma” by the children—was awakened by the disturbance and immediately grabbed a hammer he kept beneath his bed before rushing toward the danger. During the violent confrontation, one of the attackers slashed Omari across the face, leaving a deep wound stretching from his forehead to his upper lip. Despite severe bleeding, he continued fighting back with remarkable determination, eventually forcing the intruders to retreat outside. He then managed to gather the frightened children into a secure room, locked the door behind them, and collapsed only after making sure every child was safe. None of the children suffered injuries during the attack. According to reports, the assault may have been retaliation after Omari had previously driven away the same group during an earlier break-in. Speaking afterward, Omari recalled trying to keep the attackers away before being struck in the face, saying he lost consciousness only after securing the children. Doctors later treated his injuries with 11 stitches, leaving a permanent scar that still serves as a visible reminder of his courage.

Reddit Post Sparks Global Support and Raises More Than $80,000

The story might have remained a local tragedy had it not been for a single photograph shared online just days later. On January 25, 2012, Ben Hardwick, a 21-year-old Penn State student interning in Kenya, posted a picture of Omari displaying his heavily bandaged facial injury on Reddit. Hardwick had met the family while volunteering and initially hoped to raise only about $2,000 to build a stronger security fence around the orphanage. Instead, the post quickly spread across the platform and beyond, capturing the attention of thousands of people moved by Omari’s selfless actions. Donations poured in from all 50 U.S. states and 46 countries, with contributions even arriving from a U.S. Navy ship at sea. Within only a few days, the fundraising campaign had collected more than $80,000—far exceeding its original goal. Hardwick later described watching the donation total rise throughout the night and calling his mother in disbelief when it reached $13,000 before sunrise. Martha Bosire expressed her gratitude, saying the family had never imagined receiving such overwhelming support from strangers around the world. To maintain public trust, Hardwick pledged complete financial transparency and shared documentation showing how the funds were being spent. The campaign soon became one of Reddit’s most memorable charitable success stories, demonstrating how social media could transform a single act of courage into an international humanitarian effort.

Donations Transform Orphanage Security and Leave a Lasting Legacy

The unprecedented donations produced lasting improvements that significantly strengthened the safety of Faraja Children’s Home. The orphanage used the funds to construct a fortified eight-foot perimeter wall, install stronger locks throughout the property, and hire two overnight security guards to patrol the grounds. Additional improvements included purchasing proper beds to replace foam mattresses that many children had previously shared on the floor. Construction work was completed quickly, addressing security weaknesses that had allowed repeated break-ins over previous months. About a year later, Hardwick returned to Reddit to share photographs showing the completed wall and the safer environment created through the generosity of thousands of donors. The updates highlighted how the worldwide response had helped secure the future of the orphanage, which supporters feared might otherwise have struggled to continue operating. Today, the facility—also known as Faraja Adventist Children’s Centre—continues to care for approximately 37 children in Ngong under the leadership of Martha Moraa (Bosire). Anthony Omari’s facial scar remains a permanent symbol of the night he chose to stand between armed attackers and defenseless children. More than a decade later, his actions continue to inspire people around the world, while the international response that followed serves as a powerful reminder that one courageous individual and the compassion of countless strangers can forever change the future of an entire community.

References

  1. Associated Press (via Fox News), “Attack on Kenya orphanage yields $80k in donations,” published February 2, 2012.
  2. Syracuse.com, report on Ben Hardwick’s Reddit fundraising campaign, published February 2, 2012.
  3. Reddit (r/pics), original January 2012 post featuring Anthony Omari after the attack.
  4. Reddit (r/pics), one-year anniversary update post published in 2013 showing the completed security wall.
  5. HuffPost, “One Year Later” retrospective on the Reddit fundraising campaign, published January 28, 2013.
  6. Face2Face Africa, retrospective article on Anthony Omari and Faraja Children’s Home, published January 25, 2022.
  7. Faraja Children’s Home (Faraja Adventist Children’s Centre), official website with current information about the orphanage and its operations.