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posted by Rye Barcott on February, 03 ]]>
A lot has changed in 20 years.Back in 2001, CFK co-founders Tabitha Festo, Salim Mohamed, and Rye Barcott established CFKwith a sports for development program, one-room clinic, and commitment to serving the community.Oursports program blossomed into a comprehensive strategy, engaging young people through scholarships, mentorship, job training opportunities, and entrepreneurship courses.
Tabitha Festo with two of her children in Kibera (Photo Credit, CFK). 
Salim Mohamed just outside of Kibera (Photo Credit, CFK). 
Rye Barcott on a visit to Kibera (Photo Credit, CFK). Our one-room clinic grew to a thatis a “one-stop-shop� for primary health care servicesandhouses theCenters for Disease Control and Prevention’s largest overseas population-based infectious disease surveillance platform,helping monitor and inform responses to potential public health crises.
CFK's original Tabitha Medical Clinic (Photo Credit, CFK). 
CFK's current, three-story Tabitha Medical Clinic (Photo Credit, CFK). The more we engaged with the community, the moreopportunities we found to address pressing needs.Mothers told us about the challengesthey had accessing affordable, high-qualitymaternity care, so we established a staffed with skilled birthattendants. That facility has recorded zero maternal deaths since opening in 2019 and has begun attracting mothers from outside of Kiberathanks tothe exceptional level of care it provides.
One of our nurses serving a patient at Tabitha Maternity Home (Photo Credit, CFK). 
A mother and her newborn at Tabitha Maternity Home (Photo Credit, CFK). Through our clinic and team of Community Health Volunteers, we began noticing alarming rates of malnutrition in our community, so we created a led by trained nutritionists and partnered with early childhood development centers to ensure children met critical physical and developmental milestones. We reached 17,000 children under 5 with transformational nutrition services last year alone.
CFK nutritionist, Frank Mwenda, measuring a child’s middle-upper arm circumference to measure nutritional status (Photo Credit, CFK). 
CFK staff providing school children with supplements to support their healthy development (Photo Credit, CFK). Youthconfided in our staff members, sharing that theyand their friends were often not comfortable accessing health care services such as counseling and family planningin standard facilities. They said they would seek out those services more frequently if they had a youth-friendly spacedesigned specifically forthem, so we opened a Last year, the facilityserved over 2,800 youth with services ranging from HIV testing to mental health counseling.
Youth learning computer skills at CFK’s ICT Centre, located within the Young Health and Wellness Centre (Photo Credit, CFK). Through these intentional interactions with community members over the last 20 years, we havelearned important lessons aboutworking in informal settlements. We’ve learned how to best engage community membersby working with them on multiple levels, from the community, to household, to individual. We’ve built local leadership capacity by investing in education andjob traininginitiatives. Andwe’ve implemented data-driven programs by collaborating with local and international universities and research institutions.With each of these lessons, we’ve evolved, and now we are taking what we’ve learned toadditional informal settlements across Kenya.
From Carolina for Kibera to CFK AfricaWith over 1,400 informal settlements in Kenya alone, our programs and model of community engagement can impact thousands more living in some of the country’s most challenging environments.In 2021, we began expanding our services to additional informal settlements in Nairobi andacross seven new counties in Kenya: Kajiado, Kiambu, Kilifi, Kisumu, Machakos, Mombasa, and Nakuru.Much like our work in Kibera, this expansion has been driven by research and partnerships and informed by each community’smost pressing needs.
Aswe began expanding to new areas, we realized that our name, “Carolina for Kibera”became limiting.As organizations evolve, it is natural for their names toevolve with them. So, while weremaincommitted to continuing our work in Kibera,wedecided it was time for a new name, one that would capture our exciting new growth.We gathered feedback from staff members, board members,and key external stakeholders onpotential names,andweare thrilled to share � after months of discussion� that This new nameretains the acronym “CFK,”reminding us where we started, and serves asa signal of ourambitious plans for growth.
With a new name came a new mission and logo. As we prepared to launch CFK into its next decade of service, we reevaluated our strengths as an organizationand made them the focus of our new mission, to improve public health and economic prosperity in informal settlements.
For our new logo, we stayed true to our model of participatory development, gatheringinput from staff members, board members, external stakeholders, community members,and youngalumni from ourAngazaScholarship project.This new logo illustrates CFK’s commitment tohealth and economic developmentand demonstrates theinterconnected nature of our programming.
Looking Back, Moving ForwardAs webegin this new decade of service, we want to take a moment to pause andgive thanks to those whose supportmade the last 20 years possible. We wouldn’t be where we are today withoutdedicated staff members� some of whom have been with us forover a decade� generous boardand advisory councilmembers who volunteer their time and expertise tohelp us reach our goals,andsupportive partners and donors whohelpus reach new heights.
Most importantly, we want to thank the Kibera community for giving us a home, teaching us,inspiring us,and working with usoverto transformlives. Kibera will always have a special place in ourheart, and we look forward toremaining a fixture in the community even as we move into this next stage of growth.
Help and continued impact.
A lot has changed since 2001. As we begin expanding to informal settlements beyond Kibera, we are thrilled to announce that we have changed our name from Carolina for Kibera to CFK Africa!After losing his job due to COVID-19, Douglas connected with CFK's Entrepreneurship and Economic Development project to learn new skills. Now, he is a role model for other youth in his community.Anneliese Gegenheimer visited CFK for the first time in 2012. When she returned in 2021, she was struck by how the organization had adapted to meet the community's evolving needs.The post appeared first on .
posted by Rye Barcott on January, 28 ]]>
After losing his job due to COVID-19, Douglas was making ends meet by picking up shifts at a local cybercafe, telling the owner he would work for free as long aslunchwasprovided.
“When I am around technology, I tend to be very sharp,� Douglas said. “I likedworking in the cybercafebecause I got to learn new things and meet different people. I tried to improve my leadership skills and handle things maturely. It was really a learning experience.�
Though Douglaswas grateful for the work during the pandemic, he was searching for something more, something thatoffered more stability andcouldbe astepping stone toadditionalopportunities.
Making the most of every opportunityAfter hearing about CFK from a relative, he decided to enroll inourto learn work-ready skills. During one of the sessions, he discovered his affinity for working with people and realized that he could applyhis skillsto a job in customer service.
After Douglas completed the training, CFK connected him withfor more tailored opportunities in digital customer care. While he enjoys the work and is grateful for the financial stability it will provide, he views customer service as a temporary job. His goal is to save money andstudyeconomics and statistics, whichare the interests “in his blood.”�
“When the opportunity comes, you try to make as much out of the opportunity as you can,� Douglassaid. “The best part of life comeswhen you’re already on the route.”�
The oldest of three, Douglas feels a personal responsibility to set a good example for his brother and sister. He is also dedicated to supporting his peers,showing them that there is life outside of Kibera and that hard work and ambition can pay off.
“My dream is to see that every youth gets an opportunity to do something with their life, that they can turn their motivation into something and live outtheir dream,� Douglas said.“If we try to mentor as many youths as possible, wewill avoid many drug-related and conflict-related challenges. You can see the drug rates and crime rates going down, but we could always do a little bit better and reach out to more.”�
Role Model. Self-Starter. Poet.While working, saving money, and striving to set a good example for his siblings and peers,Douglas also finds time to write poetry about what it’s like to live in an informal settlement.
“I mostly write about what I go through,� he said. “I write what I feel. It can be anger or joy. I just write according to my mood.”�
Using every experience as a learning opportunity, Douglasaspires to study economics and statistics once he has saved enough money, but his underlying motivation is to give back to his community and become a mentor for other youth struggling with unemployment.
“I want to help my family and then the community at large,� he said. “I would like to hold someone’s hand the way my hand has been held.Iappreciate [CFK’s] sacrifice for the youth and for creating more opportunities. Every day, people have problems, so having to listen to someone else while you have to deal with your own stuff is difficult, but we really appreciate it.”�
like Douglas, and
After losing his job due to COVID-19, Douglas connected with CFK's Entrepreneurship and Economic Development project to learn new skills. Now, he is a role model for other youth in his community.Anneliese Gegenheimer visited CFK for the first time in 2012. When she returned in 2021, she was struck by how the organization had adapted to meet the community's evolving needs.After finishing standard eight(grade eight),Jared Wilson lost his father. That was the moment Jared realized the need for localized healthcare and greater health education in his community.This year, he opened two clinics amid the COVID-19 pandemic.The post appeared first on .
posted by Rye Barcott on December, 15 ]]>
I first visited Kibera in 2012. I was working on education initiatives in Tanzania for a UNC-based student-run nonprofit and decided to travel to Kenya to visit my friend in Nairobi. While in Kenya, I remember meeting Norbert, the CFK grants manager at the time, at CFK’s main office.
Norbert shepherded me through narrow winding dirt pathways as I got glimpses into people’s lives � children playing, elders preparing chai on open stoves, and mothers hanging laundry on the lines.
Norbert easily navigated the winding pathways to the sorting centers first, where women sorted through endless bundles of plastic that were delivered daily from the community and were sent on for processing and recycling. We also visited the bone craft workshop, an entrepreneurial initiative that grew out of CFK,and the , aCFKfacility focusedon meeting the healthcare needs of the community.
As we walked through Kibera, several youth greeted Norbert with a handshake popular in East Africa as Norbert asked them how they were doing. He later told me that the young people were part of CFK’s youth program and that a lot of people in the community knew him because of the work CFK was doing to empower local youth.
Aftermy first visit to Kibera, I remember leaving inspired by the programming and impact CFK had in the community. In fact, I wrote the following to my friend in an email after my visit:
Anneliese during a visit to Tanzania in 2012 (Photo Credit, Anneliese Gegenheimer). Kibera looked like a very bustling and vibrant community,and I can tell CFK’s work has helped to empower community memberstoplay a more active role in the community.
From 2012 to 2021Flash forward to 2021, nearly 10 years later, and I was fortunate enough to return to Kibera to see CFK’s work again.When I arrived to thenew Binti Pamoja officein my Uberto meet Keith, a program officer in CFK’s ,and Ann, CFK’spartnershipsmanager, I barely recognized Kibera.A wide road cut through the community with shops liningit on either side.Keith shared that the road through Kibera allowed community members to reach the Tabitha Clinic more quickly, includingthroughemergency care transport, which The road also connected Kibera to surrounding communities, providing more access to goods and services.
Constructed in 2021, this new road runs through the heart of Kibera (Photo Credit, Anneliese Gegenheimer). While the recycling centers and bone craft workshops are no longer part of CFK’s programming, CFK expanded its healthcare offerings through the a new Binti Pamoja Centre, and the Keith first showed me the Tabitha Maternity Home, where a new mother was leaving with her baby girl afterreceiving post-natal care.
He then led me down the wide road to the Tabitha Clinic, where the staff shared more about how they have expanded their malnutrition program and programs focused on collaborating with community health workers and the CDC to provide much-needed care to Kibera’s children and community members. Such care includes vaccinating against COVID-19, a critical need particularly in underserved communities during the pandemic. Finally, we ended at the , which I remembered as CFK’s main offices from 10 years ago,where staff members told me more about their youth programs focused on empowering out-of-school and at-risk youth.
CFK's ambulance outside the Binti Pamoja Centre (Photo Credit, Anneliese Gegenheimer). 
CFK's Young Health and Wellness Centre, the site of the old Binti Pamoja Centre (Photo Credit, Anneliese Gegenheimer). During our walk, Keith greeted a fewyouth,this time with a fist bump or foot shake,one of whomis a beneficiary of CFK’s services and sometimes uses the wi-fiat the offices to take coding classes and do freelance developer work.
The Evolution of Kibera & CFKAlthough both Kibera and components of CFK’s programming havechanged over the past 10 years, it was equally inspiring during my second visit to see the same leadership,‘people-first� focus, andpassion CFKstaffhave for empowering the community and serving as a consistent, stable presence in asometimes-chaoticenvironment. AsKeith described how CFK’s programminghasevolvedover the years,it was clear that the organization has maintained its original vision while adapting to meet the needs ofthecommunity as it grows and develops.
Having worked with several US-based nonprofits operating in East Africa, I understand the extreme care that goes into finding the balance between local leadership and input from foreigners far removed. To be successful (and in CFK’s instance, for 20 years!) it takes a special team that understands the nuances required to get stakeholder buy-in and community support while stillrealizingthe impact and carrying out the intended vision. It’s a balance thatnecessitatesreinventing yourself as an organization to adapt to and meet the needs of the community.Perhaps most importantly,it requiresalocal staff that is dedicated to community development and can bridge the understanding and respect between international and local intervention and aninternational staff that is humble and understands the appropriate limits of their involvement.I look forward to following CFK’s continued journey and service to development work in Kenya and beyond.
AnnelieseGegenheimeris a Manager of Transaction Services at K&M Advisors,a firmfocusedon international energy projects in emerging markets. She has workedon education and health initiativeswith severalUS-basedNGOs in East Africa, includingStudents for Students International,DukeEngage, and Sustain Foundation. She recentlygave a
Anneliese Gegenheimer visited CFK for the first time in 2012. When she returned in 2021, she was struck by how the organization had adapted to meet the community's evolving needs.After finishing standard eight(grade eight),Jared Wilson lost his father. That was the moment Jared realized the need for localized healthcare and greater health education in his community.This year, he opened two clinics amid the COVID-19 pandemic.Despite the growing availability of COVID-19 vaccines worldwide, significant disparities in access remain. CFK developed a tailored COVID-19 vaccine distribution strategy in partnership with the Ministry of Health to improve delivery and promote vaccine acceptance in Kiambu County.The post appeared first on .
posted by Rye Barcott on December, 10 ]]>
When Jared Wilson had finished standard eight(grade eight)in 2006,he lost his father. He passed away at home, without a nurse or doctor attending to him and without visiting a hospital for care. That was the moment Jared realized the need for localized healthcare and greater health education in his community.
After losing his father, Jared moved to Kibera to stay with his older brother. Soon after, his brother lost his job and left the community. Jared then decided to bring his younger brother from their home up-country to stay with him in Kibera. At the time, his brother was in class seven (grade seven). Jared finished high school in Kibera while his brother attended Olympic Primary School in the community.
For a few years, Jared worked in construction, doing tiling, before finding a path into medicine like he had always dreamed of. His brother also continued with his education and is now practicing law.
Jared Wilson working in his clinic (Photo Credit, Jared Wilson). “I lost my father due to lack of care, which made me want to study in the medical field,� Jared said. “Because I was on my own, I struggled to pay my school fees throughout high school and did not score as well as I would have liked on my final exams. Though I did not qualify for some programs, I persisted and was able to find a path to study clinical medicine in college, fulfilling my dream of becoming a medical professional.”�
A Commitment to CommunitiesInspired by Jared’s tenacity and intelligence,collected donations to cover the cost of his college tuition, giving him the freedom to explore volunteer and internship opportunities while completing his degree.
“During my years studying clinical medicine, I realized that many organizations were offering services but not actually meeting the needs of the people,� Jared said. “Manypeople cannot afford healthcare, and some cannot even afford to travel to hospitals for care.”�
Equipped with technical knowledge and a commitment to providing high-quality, affordable healthcare, Jared searched for opportunities to apply his skills and perspective with a like-minded organization. While in school, his younger brother had gotten involved in CFK’s, and Jared reached out to learn more aboutopportunities available at the organization.
“I ended up working with CFK for about four years, supporting the operations of different education and livelihoods projects,� Jared said. “I also volunteered as a Clinical Officer atfor a few months while I was completing my degree.”�
Jared’s experience with CFK reinforced his dedication to providing accessible healthcare in high-poverty areas. It also taught him that education � especially for youth � plays an essential role in promoting positive health outcomes. After graduating from college, Jared returned to CFK to provide young people with career advice and help them plan for life after high school.
From Student to Social EntrepreneurIn early 2021, Jared and his cousin opened their first clinic in Dandora, thanks to a loan from AKIN. Located in the eastern part of Nairobi, Dandora is an informal settlement and the site of one of Africa’slargest landfills. ManyDandora residents make a meager living by sorting through trash and finding items to resell. Nearly all of them are regularly exposed to toxic smoke from burning trash, leading to high rates of respiratory illnesses in the community.
“My cousin and I chose to open the first clinic in Dandora last year because movement was restricted during the COVID-19 pandemic,� Jared explained. “We thought that if we could provide 24/7 healthcare services locally, we could really help. We were filling a gap, as a lot ofpeople got sick at night and there was nothing they could do. They could not afford transportation, so we decided to meet them where they were.”�
Jared and his cousin's clinic in Dandora (Photo Credit, Jared Wilson). 
Jared stocking antibiotics in the clinic (Photo Credit, Jared Wilson). When COVID-19 forced countries worldwide to shut down in March 2020, Kenya imposed a strict curfew, limiting movement from 7 PM to 5 AM every day. While emergencies didn’t stop for the curfew, many were afraid to violate the restriction due tothroughout the country. Women who went into labor from dusk to dawn, and many others in need of critical care were forced to postpone trips to the hospital due to financial constraints and sparse transportation options.
During this time, Jared remembered a patient � a young boy � arriving at his clinic with a bladder blockage. He had delayed seeking care until the painwas unbearable, as it was during curfew and he had no money to pay for the services. Without a second thought, Jared and his team quickly relieved the boy’s pain and discharged him without requesting payment. Days later, the boy returned, paid for the services, and began working at the clinic. He now refers many young people for services at the facility.
A Look Inside the ClinicsIn addition to offering healthcare services in Dandora, Jared and his team lead health education with patients because “prevention is better than a cure.� Currently, the clinic offers services ranging from counseling, family planning, and baseline tests for HIV, malaria, and TB to minor surgeries, wound care, and circumcision. The most common ailments Jared sees on a day-to-day basis are upper respiratory infections, STIs, and urinary tract infections.
Uzima Medical Clinic (Photo Credit, Jared Wilson). “We do the consultation for free and then advise patients on their ailments and a plan for their care,� Jared said. “Sometimes, we are forced to lower the price of drugs to meet the needs of the people. That can be difficult on us financially, but we want to make sure that we are providing accessible care and meetingpeople’s needs.”�
After witnessing the level of demand for services at the clinic in Dandora, Jared decided to open asecond location. Between the two clinics, Jared and his team of four serve around 300 patients per month.
Next StepsWhile the team is small and works long hours to ensure continuity of care, they find purpose in their work every day.
“The ability to be there for a patient is what keeps me going,� Jared said. “We are motivated to work and are willing to work tirelessly, without complaining, to make sure each and every patient is attended to. Many times, patients will come back and thank us after we have provided them with services, andthat is very special to me;this gives meaning to life, especially when patients walk out of the facility smiling�.
Though Jared has already openedtwo clinicsin one year, he has no intention of slowing down.
“I have a very broad future plan to ensure these clinics are running well, and I plan to open clinics in other locations, especially in the community I come from up-country and in Kibera,� Jared said. “Those areas molded me, and I feel a responsibility to give back and improve lives for others living there. I am also looking forward to having a well-equipped laboratory for testing samples from our patients.�
like Jared.
After finishing standard eight(grade eight),Jared Wilson lost his father. That was the moment Jared realized the need for localized healthcare and greater health education in his community.This year, he opened two clinics amid the COVID-19 pandemic.Despite the growing availability of COVID-19 vaccines worldwide, significant disparities in access remain. CFK developed a tailored COVID-19 vaccine distribution strategy in partnership with the Ministry of Health to improve delivery and promote vaccine acceptance in Kiambu County.This year, we're celebrating the second anniversary of our Tabitha Maternity Home and marking one year of ambulance operations. Meet our ambulance driver, Nicholas Okumu.The post appeared first on .
posted by Rye Barcott on November, 09 ]]>
Despite the growing availability of COVID-19 vaccines worldwide, significant disparities in access remain. Out of the over 6 billion doses of COVID-19 vaccines administered worldwide, As of October 13, has been fully immunized against the virus. In Kenya, the ratio is
COVID-19 vaccines have been available in Kenya since March 2021, but access for many remains largely limited. In crowded urban areas, long lines and insufficient distribution sites have forced some to delay getting the vaccine. In rural areas, lack of infrastructure and formidable terrain have posed challenges for vaccine transportation and mobile clinics.
CFK’s Community Outreach Strategy in Kiambu CountyWhile beginning expansion work to seven new counties in Kenya and other informal settlements in Nairobi County, CFK recognized many of these difficulties and formed relationships with health officials across the country. After learning more about the organization and its capabilities, the Ministry of Health contacted CFK and asked for assistance in distributing COVID-19 vaccines in Kiambu County, one of CFK’s new priority areas.
“The government is providing the vaccines, but they need help distributing them to the community,� said Yunus Mohammed, CFK’s Community Health Outreach Program Officer. “At CFK, we found that many people work six or seven days a week from sun up to sun down and don’t have time to take off and travel to a distribution site.�
In response, CFK developed a new strategy, identifying where large groups of unvaccinated people work and establishing nearby, central locations where community members can access the vaccine in just a few minutes. As part of the effort, CFK is also training Community Health Volunteers on COVID-19 mitigation measures and water, sanitation, and hygiene to promote positive health-seeking behaviors throughout the community.
CFK training Community Health Volunteers (Photo Credit, Georgette Adrianne). Addressing Vaccine HesitancyCFK is also supporting the government in organizing logistics to carry out this new strategy across Kiambu’s 12 sub-counties. Yunus and his team also hope to expand their efforts to other informal settlements in Nairobi.
“The demand is there, and people are asking why we are not bringing the vaccines to more areas, but we simply do not have the resources to reach everyone right now,� Yunus explained.
While demand for vaccines is widespread, myths and misconceptions still fuel vaccine hesitancy across the country.
“Two of the most common myths we still hear are that the vaccinations have a long-term effect on reproductive health and that pregnant or lactating women should not get the vaccine,� Yunus said.
One of the most difficult pieces of misinformation to address is related to the variation of COVID-19 vaccines in Kenya. The country first received doses of AstraZeneca in early March and has now secured doses of Moderna, Pfizer, and Johnson and Johnson. With a new brand being introduced to the country every few months, many are under the impression that the vaccines are “still at the trial stage.�
Partnering with Community LeadersYunus and his team have found that working with “gatekeepers� (i.e., community leaders), such as religious leaders, government authorities, and teachers, helps build community trust more effectively.
“We drive around with a van and speaker to spread accurate information, but we quickly realized that it is more important to have one-on-one conversations where you have time to answer people’s questions,� Yunus explained. “Now, we’re focusing on equipping gatekeepers with accurate information and encouraging them to share that information widely with community members.�
In addition to supporting vaccine distribution efforts, CFK provides schools with critical resources such as sanitary towels, masks, and thermal guns. These efforts help keep students and teachers safe and allow CFK to continue building foundational partnerships essential to an effective and equitable COVID-19 response.
Learn more about and
Despite the growing availability of COVID-19 vaccines worldwide, significant disparities in access remain. CFK developed a tailored COVID-19 vaccine distribution strategy in partnership with the Ministry of Health to improve delivery and promote vaccine acceptance in Kiambu County.This year, we're celebrating the second anniversary of our Tabitha Maternity Home and marking one year of ambulance operations. Meet our ambulance driver, Nicholas Okumu.It all started with $26, an unlikely connection, and a commitment to service. Read about the origin of CFK as we celebrate our co-founder Tabitha's birth week.The post appeared first on .
posted by Rye Barcott on October, 14 ]]>
On September 23, our marks its second anniversary, celebrating two years of providing affordable, high-quality care to mothers and children in Kibera. Operating 24 hours a day, seven days a week, the maternity home has delivered over 1,000 babies since opening in 2019 and now averages 60 deliveries per month. To date, the facility has recorded zero maternal deaths, an achievement in Kenya where the
In addition to providing safe delivery services, the maternity home also offers timely antenatal care and critical post-natal care with skilled healthcare personnel, access to vaccinations, and health education sessions on preparing for childbirth, breastfeeding, and more.
A testament to its exceptional level of care, Tabitha Maternity Home has begun attracting patients from across Nairobi, with many women choosing to travel to our facility in Kibera for care.
Tabitha Maternity Home opened in September 2019. To date, our team has delivered over 1,000 children and recorded zero maternal deaths. (Photo Credit, Georgette Adrianne). 
A mother and her two children at our Tabitha Maternity Home (Photo Credit CFK). Named after our co-founder, the late Tabitha Festo, our maternity home honors Tabitha’s lifelong commitment to improving maternal and child health.In memory of Tabitha � who would have celebrated her 59thbirthday on September 24 � we are The more services we can offer in one location, the morewomenand children we can reachwith critical careevery year.
Marking One Year of Ambulance OperationsThis time last year, CFKalso introduced its One of thefew operating in Kibera, CFK’s ambulance provides emergencytransportationto community members.A majority ofthe ambulance transports areOB-GYN–relatedemergenciessuch as pregnancy or delivery complications, andourmaternity home staffwork closely withourambulance crewto ensure the patient needsare addressed.
Meet Nicholas, CFK’s Ambulance OperatorWe recently had the opportunity to talk to Nicholas,ourambulance operator, and askabout his experiencesduring his first yearon the job.
Before working for CFK, Nicholasworkedas adriver,which was where he learned how toskillfullyoperate an ambulanceacrossAfterdriving ambulancesand experiencing emergencies first-hand, Nicholas decided togainadditionalskills by studying paramedicine.
“I did paramedicine so that I don’t just sit and watch when a patient needshelp,� Nicholas said.“Now,I know what to dotohelp,andIcan work very quicklyto ensure the patient has the best outcome. That’s why I wanted to do both patient care and ambulance driving.”�
WhileNicholas explainedthateach day on the job can be very different, atypical day is always busy.
“Some cases may be less of an emergency,but then you may have one where a patient only has 15 minutes to surviveand needs full resuscitation, which can be very exhausting,� Nicholas said.
Due to the unpredictable and critical nature of his work, Nicholas goes through a checklistevery morning at the start of his shiftand after eachcall he makes.Hecleansthe ambulance,mentallyprepares forthe various medical emergency callshe mayget in aday, andmakessure that the ambulancehas the equipment and medications needed.
Since beginning its operations just under one year ago, our ambulance hasprovided emergency transportation toover 100 patients.Depending on patientneeds, Nicholas either transports themdirectlyto CFK for servicesortakes themtolarger hospitals,like KenyattaNationalHospital,in Nairobi for more extensive procedures.
Nicholas in his "office," the CFK ambulance (Photo Credit, Hannah Bain). Although itisa challenging and sometimes exhausting job, Nicholas expressedthathe finds fulfillment in his work every day.
“I really enjoy having a positive outcome for each and every patient,� he said.“People will come back to the facility and thank and appreciate you for saving the life of their loved ones, and that is something very powerful.”�
As a paramedic, Nicholas is also a role model for his two young children.
“My kids think it is very interesting that I drive an ambulance, but I want them to aimevenhigher and become doctors or something in the medical field,� Nicholas said. “I want them to be better than me.”�
When asked about his favorite part of working with CFK, Nicholas mentioned the positive team dynamics between allthe health care providers.
“At the end of the day, we all hope for better outcomes for everyone,� Nicholas said.“We want all the problems in Kenya to be taken in a serious way. The team dynamics� from the director to thenurses to thevolunteers –keepus going.”�
Learn more about our and .
This year, we're celebrating the second anniversary of our Tabitha Maternity Home and marking one year of ambulance operations. Meet our ambulance driver, Nicholas Okumu.It all started with $26, an unlikely connection, and a commitment to service. Read about the origin of CFK as we celebrate our co-founder Tabitha's birth week.CFKExecutiveDirector, HillaryOmala, andPartnerships andFundraisingManager, Ann Kungu, discussed CFK’s expansion plans and the importance of community development work in informal settlements during anhour-long NTV Kenya segmenton August 31.The post appeared first on .
posted by Rye Barcott on September, 24 ]]>
It all started with $26, an unlikely connection, and a commitment to service. In 2000, , then a student at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC), was studying ethnic violence among youth in Kibera when he met Tabitha Festo, a local nurse, and Salim Mohamed, a Kenyan community organizer. Tabitha’s drive to make a difference and Salim’s passion for locally-led change inspired Rye to do more than research. He decided to begin raising money for locally-led projects when he returned to the U.S.
The day before he left Kibera, Tabitha approached him and asked for $26 so she could buy and sell vegetables to support her family. Her kindness and quiet confidence compelled Rye to grant her the money, but he would never have guessed that Tabitha would use the initial investment to
Talent is Universal, Opportunity is NotAfter returning to North Carolina for his senior year at UNC, Rye co-founded a nonprofit and named it Carolina for Kibera (CFK), connecting his current network with an informal settlement over 7,600 miles away. At its inception, CFK was a designed to promote leadership development and reduce ethnic violence among youth in the community. It was built on the knowledge that talent is universal, even though opportunity is not, and it sought to provide young people with greater opportunities to develop valuable skills.
Salim had already co-founded and run nationally acknowledged youth development programs using similar strategies, and he began leading CFK on the ground in Kenya. Guided by the principles of participatory development, CFK engaged community members to help assess needs and develop solutions within Kibera.
In 2001, Salim and Rye set off to engage local youth in Kibera when they re-connected with Tabitha.
Tabitha Festo, co-founder of CFK 
Rye Barcott and Salim Mohamed, co-founders of CFK Using the $26 investment that Rye had given her one year earlier, Tabitha had built a business and used her earnings to open a . The clinic was attached to Tabitha’s home and served patients 24/7 because, as Tabitha said, “people don’t stop getting sick at night.� One of the few clinics in Kibera operated by a trained nurse, the facility provided critical healthcare services to all who were in need. No one would be turned away, regardless of their ability to pay.
While Rye and Salim had co-founded a sports for development program, their ultimate vision for CFK was to promote comprehensive health and wellness in Kibera. Tabitha and her clinic became a natural part of CFK and laid the foundation for the organization’s primary healthcare services.
Youth participating in CFK's soccer program 
Tabitha Medical Clinic in 2008 Founding Binti Pamoja: “Daughters United�One year later, and Emily Verellen, two undergraduate students who had spent a year studying and volunteering in Kenya, sparked the idea for CFK’s . Through their experience working in a reproductive health clinic and with children on the streets of Nairobi, Karen and Emily recognized a gap in services and programs tailored to the unique needs of girls.
After receiving a small grant from Columbia University, they returned to Kenya and partnered with CFK to implement a two-month program using photography as a tool to engage adolescent girls in discussions about women’s rights and reproductive health.
Binti Pamoja group Based on interactions with these teenage girls in Kibera, Karen and Emily recognized the need and developed a curriculum for a long-term girl-centered program in the community.
Equipped with the girls� photos and their personal experiences, Karen and Emily returned to the U.S. to apply for additional funding and raise awareness by hosting photo exhibitions across the country. After securing more sustainable funding, the two women returned to Kenya to lay the foundation for what is now CFK’s Girls Empowerment Program. Following CFK’s participatory development models, they identified and cultivated local female leaders to head the program.
Building an Equitable Research PlatformAfter working with and learning from the community for a few years, CFK recognized the need for greater global public health equity and discovered how community-based research could inform people and policies beyond Kibera. In 2006, CFK established a partnership with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), helping form the organization’s largest overseas population-based infectious disease surveillance program and supporting data collection to inform health policy formulation in Kenya and around the world.
Through the partnership, CFK helped introduce household mapping and GIS technologies to Kibera, which have played essential roles in ongoing population projects. Over the last 15 years, our work with the CDC has generated more than , all of which have Kenyan lead authors or co-authors.
Furthermore, the research that CFK is involved in is not extractive. Findings benefit the community by informing program development, leading to tangible health improvements, and more inclusive national and global policies concerning informal settlements.
Tukisonga Mbele: “Forward Together�Over the last 20 years, CFK has learned that addressing informal settlements� complex health and social challenges requires multilateral solutions, local leaders, and evidence-based programming. Through partnerships, participatory development, and sacrifice, CFK has developed a comprehensive approach to poverty alleviation, with a range of primary healthcare services, education and livelihoods programming, and girls� empowerment initiatives.
While our work has been rooted in Kibera, our 20 years of experience in the community is now .
to CFK during our 20th anniversary, and learn more about our
It all started with $26, an unlikely connection, and a commitment to service. Read about the origin of CFK as we celebrate our co-founder Tabitha's birth week.CFKExecutiveDirector, HillaryOmala, andPartnerships andFundraisingManager, Ann Kungu, discussed CFK’s expansion plans and the importance of community development work in informal settlements during anhour-long NTV Kenya segmenton August 31.This year, CFK celebrated a milestone as 89% of the 2020 graduating class of Angaza Scholars excelled in the KSCE exam with university-qualifying grades. A few graduates discussed their future plans and the experiences they had through the Angaza Project.The post appeared first on .
posted by Rye Barcott on September, 21 ]]>
Moderated by GladysGachanja, the interview focused on the lessons CFK has learned over the past 20 years, the rapid growth of informal settlements, and the importance of collaboration in community development work.
“Ours has been a very natural growth,� said Hillary about CFK. “This has not come with just success stories. We have also made our mistakes and learned from those. We are now developing a plan that expands our work in terms of depth within informal settlements as well as additional numbers of informal settlements.”�
CFK’s newfocuses on improving service delivery in Kibera, Kenya’s largest informal settlement, whileexpanding services to informal settlements across seven new counties, including Nakuru, Kajiado, Machakos, Kisumu, Kilifi, Mombasa, and Kiambu.
“We know that almost 50% of the world’s population lives in cities,� said Ann, emphasizing the importance of working in urban areas. “The informal settlements within those cities host 25% of the world’s population. With that backdrop, coming down to Kenya itself, we have over 1,000 informal settlements. Mombasa alone has over 50.”�
Though Hillary and Ann agreed that no two informal settlements are the same, manyfacesimilar challenges and can benefit from CFK’s long-standing partnerships, data-driven services, and 20 years of experience.
“Our number one partner is always the community,� said Hillary, illustrating CFK’s strong commitment to participatory development. “They understand their needs and can take part in developing solutions to those needs.”�
Over the last two decades, CFK has led primary healthcare, education and livelihoods, and girls� empowerment work in Kibera. The organization embeds research in every aspect of its programming to inform project design and ensure that impact can be clearly measured and shared.
Collaboration & Collective ImpactCFK has also developed local and international research partnerships with organizations such as the CDC, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Kenyatta University, Washington State University (WSU), and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill to build a network of knowledge and maximize its impact.
Most recently, CFK carried out a seroprevalence study in partnership with the CDC and WSU to determine the prevalence of COVID-19 antibodies among residents of Kibera.
Safeguarding The Informal Settlements
“In all this areas we have operated our number one partner is always the community. They understand their needs and they can take part in finding the solutions to those needs� �- Hillary Omala
� NTV Kenya (@ntvkenya)
The study found that 64% had been exposed to COVID-19 and that 87% of households had at least one household member infected with the virus during the pandemic. In addition to informing government responses to COVID-19, CFK plans to use the data to champion vaccine access in informal settlements.
Moving forward, CFK hopes to establish additional partnerships and networks of knowledge as it seeks to reach 2 million more people living in informal settlements by the end of 2025.
“I would consider CFKthe place you’d go if you needed information and you were interested in working in informal settlements in terms of data, technical expertise, and experience,� said Hillary.
At the end of the NTV segment, Hillary and Ann called for interested individuals, corporations, or institutions to contact CFK and discuss potential partnership opportunities.
“We want to emphasize long-term partnerships,� said Hillary. “We need to begin to work toward collective impact. We shouldn’t compete but collaborate to realize maximum impact in these communities.”�
Learn more aboutandcontact usabout potential partnership opportunities.
CFKExecutiveDirector, HillaryOmala, andPartnerships andFundraisingManager, Ann Kungu, discussed CFK’s expansion plans and the importance of community development work in informal settlements during anhour-long NTV Kenya segmenton August 31.This year, CFK celebrated a milestone as 89% of the 2020 graduating class of Angaza Scholars excelled in the KSCE exam with university-qualifying grades. A few graduates discussed their future plans and the experiences they had through the Angaza Project.Educating young people on proper menstrual hygiene management is the first step in addressing misinformation and menstrual shame. On this year's Menstrual Hygiene Day, CFK led open discussions with adolescent girls and young women and distributed critical sanitary products.The post appeared first on .
posted by Rye Barcott on September, 01 ]]>
This year, CFK celebrated a milestone as 89 percent of the 2020 graduating class of Angaza Scholars excelled in the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KSCE) exam with university-qualifying grades. This is the second consecutive year where 100 percent of the cohort scored well enough to earn direct admission to local universities or colleges through the National placement body KUCCPS. �
“The KCSE is a difficult and stressful exam for students under normal circumstances,� expressed Joshua Omweno, the head of the and an Angaza Alumni himself. “Our scholars� performance this year in the face of constant uncertainty, heightened stress, and an irregular class schedule is a testament to their resilience and ambition.” �
Since 2016, the proportion of Angaza graduates scoring university-qualifying marks has increased by more than 75 percent. �
Many of this year’s graduates expressed their gratitude for the Angaza Scholarship and how it served as a stepping-stone to their post-high-school education and aspirations. They also discussed their interests, future plans, and the various learning experiences they had through the Angaza Project. �
The 2020 Angaza Scholarship Graduates Meeta few ofour�2020 Angaza Scholarship Graduates:CherylAtieno:
Cheryl is the top scorer of this year’s Angaza cohort. Her goal is to pursue medicine or a health-relatedcourse. She is passionate about helping sick people and would like to be a surgeon in the future.
Favorite Angaza experience: Participating in community service at CFK’s . “I got to interact with the clinicians, support staff, and patients,� said Cheryl. “The experiences I got through the Angaza Project assisted me to work even harder and pursue the field of medicine.”�
ElkanaAkoko:
Elkanaplans to study marine technology at the Technical University of Mombasa, and he is also currently taking . He enjoyed geography class in school,and his dream job is to be a marine.
Favorite Angaza experience:The community service programsbecause“it wasagreatinteractive platform with locals,and I pride myself inhaving the opportunity to help other people.”�
Fortune Mohammed: �
Fortune plans to attend the University of Nairobi to pursue medicine, and he is also currently taking CFK computer classes. Fortune’s interest in medicine comes from his caring nature. “I do not like seeing people sick and suffering, so I want to help them out of the pain they are in,� Fortune said. “The Angaza team taught me life skills beyond education, like how to interact with other people, which will help me in my field.” �
Favorite Angaza experience: When he volunteered at one of the project’s outreach activities to sensitize community members about sanitation and proper handwashing. �
IsaiahAhono: �
Isaiah plans to attend the Technical University of Kenya to study engineering. His passion is in civil engineering, and his dream job is to work at an architectural firm. �
Favorite Angaza experience: Volunteering with the Nutrition Centre, washing clothes, and feeding children. Isaiah hopes to continue serving his community in different capacities going forward, including helping children who lack funds to continue their education. �
Three Angaza 2020 students ImmaculateAkoth: �
Immaculate is very passionate about music and plans to pursue a degree in music technology from Kenyatta University. She is interested in orchestral instruments like the harp, guitar, and piano. Her dream job is to teach music at either the high school or university level. �
Favorite Angaza experience: The mentorship program when everyone got together to share experiences from school and community service. She also enjoyed volunteering at the Tabitha clinic to help sick patients and also learn basic hospital operations.
WhitneyAkinyi:
Whitney has an interest in veterinary medicine and plans to pursue pharmacy at the University of Nairobi. She is currently taking CFK computer classes and also online programming classes from home. Since it is difficult to find a veterinary job in Kenya, Whitney hopes to get a scholarship to study veterinary medicine abroad in the future.
Favorite Angaza experience: Participating in the mentorship programs and the computer classes. Mentorship gave her an opportunity to learn from the experiences of a diverse pool of professionals and discover what it takes to achieve personal goals towards professional attainment.
Learn more about and .
This year, CFK celebrated a milestone as 89% of the 2020 graduating class of Angaza Scholars excelled in the KSCE exam with university-qualifying grades. A few graduates discussed their future plans and the experiences they had through the Angaza Project.Educating young people on proper menstrual hygiene management is the first step in addressing misinformation and menstrual shame. On this year's Menstrual Hygiene Day, CFK led open discussions with adolescent girls and young women and distributed critical sanitary products.CFK executive director, Hillary Omala, discussed the social and economic impacts of COVID-19 on residents of informal settlements during a panel discussion broadcast on NTV Kenya on April 28.The post appeared first on .
posted by Rye Barcott on July, 09 ]]>