Interview with Nahin George

Nahin George became a part of our team as the executive director of the nutrition center last year. He grew up in a big family in Yoro and has always been passionate about serving his community and those around him. 

In this conversation, Nahin speaks about what motivates him, what he finds most difficult, and what gives him hope. His commitment runs deep and his reflections offer an inside look at the personal drive and emotional challenges behind the work we do at San Yves.

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Q: Where are you from? What was life like growing up?

Nahin: I grew up in a small rural community about 10 miles east of Yoro. I’m the sixth of nine siblings, and now I have a wife and daughter. My family has been farming this land for generations. Life growing up was focused on agriculture and simple living. We were a close-knit family that always tried to move forward. I’ve always loved walking around the land, helping my parents, and taking care of the animals. On Sundays we go to church as a family, and people often drop by to visit afterward. Most of my family lives on the same street and we always try to spend time together.

I did primary school in my village, went to high school in Yoro and later attended university there too. I got my first job in 2013, working with the Catholic Church on an educational project. I joined San Yves in 2024.

Q: Why do you want to do this kind of work?

Nahin: It’s something that brings me a lot of satisfaction. Even as a child, I used to help classmates who struggled in school. In my church youth group, we organized fundraisers to support elderly people, single moms, and sick children. So, this kind of work has always been part of me. I enjoy it, and it makes me feel good.

Q: What’s a typical day like in your work at San Yves?

Nahin: I have a beautiful 30 minute drive on my motorcycle through the countryside to get to work every day. It's a refreshing way to begin and end each day. Once I’m at work, there’s a wide range of tasks: interacting with the kids, checking on their health, talking with the staff, connecting with parents or visitors. The renovations over the past year kept me quite occupied, ensuring contractors showed up when they said they would and the hardware store delivered their materials. We’re preparing for a color run here in town to raise money next month, so I’m visiting schools to invite them to participate and reaching out to local businesses. Every day is full, but usually different and fun.

Q: What do you enjoy most?

Nahin: Being around the children. Their joy, their honesty, their innocence. And I also enjoy when visitors come and leave impressed by our work. It’s especially rewarding when a conversation turns someone into a donor or supporter.

Q: What is the most challenging part?

Nahin: Feeling inadequate. When a child is sick and we don’t immediately know how to help, or there is little we can do. That’s really tough. They need so much and I wish I had instant solutions, but a lot of this takes time and patience. That sense of helplessness can be hard to deal with.

Q: Has there been a story or moment that’s stayed with you?

Nahin: One that comes to mind is Bryan. He’s so cute, everyone at the hospital and at the center adores him. But it seems like his mother struggles to connect with him and makes little effort to care for him. To see a child so loved by others, yet not receive that from the person who should care for him most, that’s heartbreaking.

Q: You're a father yourself. How does that shape how you see your work?

Nahin: It’s impossible not to see my own daughter in many of the kids. And so I always try to think about how I’d want her to be treated if she found herself in this situation. Many of the children don’t have a father figure, and maybe they see that in me for a time. Just a hug or a kind word can be meaningful to a child and make them feel safe and loved.

Q: Why is San Yves’ mission so important?

Nahin: Because children are innocent. They don’t choose where they’re born or what kind of family they come into. Trying to give them a fair chance at life is a big challenge, especially given the geography and poverty in our region. But even if we can’t reach every child, the ones we do reach can grow up healthy, and maybe their parents become more aware. That’s how change begins.

Q: What do you think San Yves will look like in two years?

Nahin: The renovations over the past year have breathed new life and energy into our work, and I think we have great momentum to continue to grow and improve. I see us providing a much more integral childcare program at the center and involving parents more closely. I think our community work will continue to grow and make us a leader in the region as we drive down rates of malnutrition and provide a better future for many children and families in our communities.