Saruni International

What Saruni International does

Saruni International is a Colorado-domiciled Christ-centered nonprofit, formally created in October 2014 by Mark and Tina Hagen to operate and expand the Olooloitikoshi Girls Rescue Center (GRC) in rural Kenya, approximately 50 miles south of Nairobi on a 10-acre campus that has been in operation since 2008. Its mission — framed as rescue, restore, release — targets vulnerable girls ages 7–16 at risk of or subjected to Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) and forced early marriage, providing residential shelter, secondary education, healthcare, counseling, spiritual care, and life-skills training. The organization reports a 98% secondary school graduation rate among beneficiaries versus a 29% national Kenyan average, with 200+ girls rescued cumulatively and 100+ secondary school graduates, and extends a Transition Program for post-secondary education of alumni.

The portfolio of programs includes the residential Girls Rescue Center, the Amboselli Basin community ministry (launched 2019–2021) that conducts seminars and offers an Alternative Right of Passage, a recurring Girl Sponsorship Program priced at $250/month or $3,000/year per girl (~ $9/day), three paid mission trip products (Life Skills Team Trips ~$3,500, Construction Trips ~$3,500, Sports Mission Trips $4,000–$5,000), an annual Saruni Gala (expanded in 2025 to a second Parker, CO location alongside the original Greeley, CO event), and a Transition Program for graduates. Underlying technology is not applicable; the platform is a WordPress-style marketing website (built on Marketing 360) backed by PayPal for donations and direct email contacts for sponsorship and trip inquiries.

The business model is donor- and mission-fee-funded: revenue streams comprise one-time and recurring individual donations processed through PayPal, recurring individual girl sponsorships, and pay-as-you-go mission trip fees. Go-to-market is community-led and event-driven, relying on word-of-mouth within Colorado church and missionary networks, the annual Galas, and church partnerships. Distribution is direct (no resellers for core programs), with Mission Tour & Travel serving as a logistics partner for trip organization. Core strategic partners are Christian Mission Aid (CMA), Christ Community Church, Rotary International (infrastructure funding), and Kenyan local government offices in the Amboselli Basin. The organization is small — only Mark Hagen (Executive Director) and Tina Hagen (Co-Founder) are named in leadership — and operates from Greeley, CO with field operations in Olooloitikoshi and the Amboselli Basin.

Name

Saruni International

Legal name

Saruni International

Website

https://saruni.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Saruni International is a Colorado-based nonprofit that operates the Olooloitikoshi Girls Rescue Center in Kenya, rescuing vulnerable girls from FGM and forced early marriage and providing them residential care, education, and life-skills training, funded through individual donations, girl sponsorships, and mission trip fees.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Humanitarian Nonprofit Services

NAICS

Child and Youth Services (62411), Human Rights Organizations (813311), Other Individual and Family Services (624190), Community Housing Services (62422), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Child Protection & Child Rights (BPAGABAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Gender Equality & Women’s Rights Advocacy (BPAGAFAD), Human Rights & Anti-Discrimination Organizations (BPAGAFAB)

Keywords

• Humanitarian nonprofit services
• Girls rescue programs
• Mission trip experiences
• Child sponsorship programs
• Community development Kenya

Headquarters

HQ city

Greeley

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: One-time and recurring donations from individuals supporting the organization's mission to rescue and educate vulnerable girls in Kenya. Donations are processed through PayPal.
2. Girl Sponsorship Program: Monthly sponsorship program where donors commit to supporting individual girls with approximately $9/day ($250/month or $3,000/year) providing food, education, and hope.
3. Trip Participation Fees: Mission trip participants pay fees to join Life Skills Teams, Construction Trips, and Sports Mission Trips. Fees cover flights, meals, transport, insurance, visa, and housing.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Saruni International is a Christ-centered nonprofit that rescues vulnerable young girls in Kenya from Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) and forced early marriage, restoring them through the Olooloitikoshi Girls Rescue Center with safe housing, education, healthcare, counseling, and life skills training. It supports this mission through a Girl Sponsorship Program, mission trips (Life Skills, Sports, Construction), a Transition Program for post-secondary education, and community outreach in the Amboselli Basin.

Product overview

Saruni International is a Christ-centered nonprofit organization operating a portfolio of interconnected humanitarian programs focused on rescuing, restoring, and releasing vulnerable young women and girls in Kenya. The core offering is the Olooloitikoshi Girls Rescue Center (GRC), a residential facility providing safety, education, counseling, and spiritual care. This is supported by Life Skills Team Trips, Sports Mission Trips, and Construction Trips that engage volunteer mission teams. The organization administers a Girl Sponsorship Program connecting individual donors with girls in need, a Transition Program providing post-secondary education for graduates, and community outreach through the Amboselli Basin Ministry. The Saruni Gala serves as the primary annual fundraising event. The organization operates entirely through its website, which serves as the platform for donations, sponsorships, trip registrations, and information sharing.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Olooloitikoshi Girls Rescue Center (GRC): A home where vulnerable young girls of Kenya may find refuge from the traditional and cultural practices of FGM and forced early marriages, located south of Nairobi.
• Girls Rescue Center (GRC)
• Transition Program
• Alternative Right of Passage

Products and services

• Girls Rescue Center (GRC) A Christ-centered residential home located south of Nairobi, Kenya that provides safety, education, counseling, healthcare, spiritual care, and life skills training for vulnerable young girls rescued from FGM and forced early marriages.
• Life Skills Team Trips Two-week mission team trips teaching rescued girls classes on computer skills, baking, sewing, financial literacy, resume writing, job interview skills, Bible study, medical/dental/health education, fitness, and crafts.
• Sports Mission Trip Summer sports camps using a particular sport to share the love and hope of Christ to underprivileged children, including sport curriculum, Bible curriculum, sports equipment, and training for local teachers.
• Construction Trip Two-week construction mission trips to Kenya building or repairing facilities at the Girls Rescue Center, schools, or churches, with participants working alongside local communities.
• Girl Sponsorship Program Individual sponsorship program allowing donors to support rescued girls for approximately $9/day ($3,000 annually or $250/month), providing food, education, and hope for girls in need.
• Transition Program Post-secondary education program for secondary school graduates, providing college and vocational education opportunities to help young women become employable and self-sustaining, with graduates mentoring younger girls at the center.
• Amboselli Basin Ministry Community outreach program in the Amboselli Basin area south of Mt. Kilimanjaro, conducting seminars on the harmful effects of FGM and early marriage, providing Alternative Right of Passage ceremonies, building classrooms and security fences, and installing water pipelines serving over 16,000 people.
• Saruni Gala Annual fundraising gala held in Greeley, CO featuring live and silent auctions, catered meals, and inspiring stories. Expanded in 2025 to include an additional event in Parker, CO.

Quantifiable outcome

• 98% secondary school graduation rate (vs 29% national average)
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Christ Community ChurchcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2014The Hagens worked in Kenya for Christ Community Church from 2008 through 2014. The Olooloitikoshi Girls Rescue Center was founded in 2008 by the church and CMA.
• Christian Mission Aid (CMA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2008CMA is a key strategic partner in the Girls Rescue Center project. Saruni International and CMA are partners in the rescue center project. CMA helped found the Olooloitikoshi Girls Rescue Center in 2008 along with Christ Community Church.
• Rotary InternationalminorGTM or Marketing PartnerRotary International helped fund the new well and water tanks at the Girls Rescue Center, providing essential water infrastructure.
• Local Government Offices (Kenya)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSaruni International sought official relationships with local government offices in the Amboselli Basin and works alongside these officers on all projects.
• The Zebra Volleyball TournamentminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner organization or event that supports Saruni International's mission.
• Mission Tour & TravelminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTravel partner for organizing mission trips to Kenya, handling logistics for volunteers.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• International Justice Mission: Global anti-trafficking and child-rescue organization operating rescue homes, legal advocacy, and aftercare programs for victims of slavery and violence. Closest peer in mission to rescue and restore vulnerable girls from exploitation, including in East Africa.
• Heshima Kenya: Kenya-based nonprofit providing shelter, education, and case management for refugee and at-risk girls in Nairobi. Comparable residential care and educational program for vulnerable young women in Kenya.
• Free the Girls: Nonprofit supporting survivors of sex trafficking and exploitation through economic empowerment and safe housing. Comparable mission of rescuing and restoring vulnerable young women, with similar faith-aligned values.
• Too Young to Wed: Nonprofit focused on ending child marriage globally through advocacy, photography, and direct community programs. Directly comparable in targeting forced early marriage of girls and operating in affected regions of East Africa.
• Love146: Anti-trafficking nonprofit focused on the rescue and restoration of children from sex trafficking and exploitation. Comparable faith-based identity and aftercare home model for vulnerable children.

Broad incumbents

• World Vision: Large humanitarian organization focused on child welfare, education, and community development across East Africa. Operates the same individual child sponsorship model ($39/month) and is a major incumbent in the same donor market.
• International Rescue Committee: Major humanitarian organization providing emergency relief, education, and women's protection services to displaced populations. Comparable model of combining rescue, education, and economic empowerment for vulnerable women and girls.
• Compassion International: Large child-sponsorship nonprofit running the same monthly/annual individual sponsorship model ($30-$42/month) that Saruni uses. Operates broadly in Kenya and many other countries, with overlapping donor and church-based fundraising channels.
• UNICEF: United Nations agency dedicated to child rights, protection, and education globally. Operates overlapping programs to end child marriage and FGM, especially in Kenya, and is a relevant peer for advocacy and outcome benchmarking.

Regional players

• The Samburu Project: Nonprofit focused on providing clean water access to communities in northern Kenya, including Maasai and Samburu regions. Comparable regional focus on Kenyan pastoralist communities and overlapping donor base around water and education infrastructure.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks2 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/saruni-international

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Saruni International