Our Story
From Nairobi to Tirol — A Bridge of Purpose
"What began as a personal journey became a calling to connect two worlds — and change lives in the process."
How it all began
My name is Ivy Kibandi Hourmont, and I'm the heart behind Kenya Cares.
I was born and raised in Kenya — a land of resilience, beauty and raw talent. Life there teaches you to be resourceful, to dream big, even when the system doesn't make it easy. I spent years building businesses from the ground up, driven by passion and grit.
Then life brought me to Innsbruck, Austria — and everything changed.
Austria amazed me. Not just its beauty, but its order, dignity and systems that actually worked. But beneath the surface, I noticed something: a deep shortage of nurses and skilled workers. Departments in hospitals were closing. Elderly homes were understaffed.
It felt surreal — because back home, it's the opposite problem. That's when the idea sparked:
What if I could build a bridge between these two worlds? Kenya has the people. Austria has the need.
Kenya is overflowing with talent.
Each year, thousands of brilliant, compassionate nurses graduate - many with no jobs waiting for them.
The same is true for chefs, drivers, and hospitality professionals. They're trained, capable and hungry to work. But opportunities? Scarce.
That's when it hit me: I could be the bridge.
A bridge between my home country, Kenya and my new home, Austria. A bridge between opportunity and ability.
Between a workforce that wants to serve and a system that desperately needs support.
And that's how Kenya Cares was born.