Stories of Progress
Promoting Healthy Decisions through Counseling and ConnectionsVictrine Oluoch was born to be a counselor. Growing up, she frequently offered advice to her friends, and, after serving as a peer mentor in high school, she recognized that her interest could lead to a purposeful career.- 2020 Year in Review: Our Work in PicturesIn 2020, CFK expanded its impact in Kibera, responded to emergency needs created by the COVID-19 pandemic, and celebrated milestones across its programs. Moving forward, CFK seeks to expand its programs and services to additional informal settlements in Kenya.
- Empowering Girls & Creating Sustainable ImpactRaised in an informal settlement, Sarah Waithera has always been acutely aware of the challenges girls face in disenfranchised communities. Understanding first-hand the threat of gender inequality, she made it her personal mission to work with and empower young girls.
- Coaching Sports & Teaching LeadershipCFK's flagship Sports for Development Project was founded in 2001 to promote peace and reduce ethnic violence. While the project shifted its approach in 2018, its core belief remains the same: sports can do much more than provide entertainment and physical activity.
- The Power of Economic OpportunityBramwell connected with CFK’s entrepreneurship and economic development initiative in 2019. Now, he has a full-time job and is continuing his education, paying off his school fees, and helping support his friends and family.
- The Impact of COVID-19 on SGBV in KiberaFueled by a combination of confined living conditions, economic insecurity, and food insecurity, there has been an alarming increase in physical, psychological, sexual, and economic forms of domestic violence against women and girls in Kibera.
- From the Field: A Day in the Life of a Community Health VolunteerLiving in Kibera for many years, Bentado, one of the Community Health Volunteers (CHVs) working out of CFK’s Lishe Bora Mtaani Nutrition Centre, has experienced firsthand the health challenges facing the community. Now, she has become part of the solution.
- Working Together to Address SGBV in KiberaWorldwide, 1 in 3 women experience sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) in their lifetime. In Kibera, that statistic is likely higher, but CFK is empowering girls, mobilizing the community, and helping create a path to justice for survivors.
- 4 Reasons to Invest in CFK WASHWater, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) initiatives are cost-effective ways to help save lives. CFK established its WASH project in 2014, targeting households with expecting mothers and children under five and seeking to reduce the cases of diarrheal diseases in the community.
- From Class to Coding: Angaza Alumnus Andrew Otieno OdongoAfter completing information and communications technology courses through CFK's entrepreneurship and economic development program, Andrew Otieno Odongo studied coding at the Moringa school and now works at a health-tech startup.
- Making Handwashing More Accessible for AllWith the emergence of COVID-19, CFK increased its WASH activities by making soap and installing additional handwashing facilities throughout the community and at individual household levels.
- Expanding Impact While Staying True to the MissionBoard Treasurer, Francis Kibet, discusses how CFK furthered its mission while expanding its impact during 2020 and the COVID-19 pandemic. He believes that CFK's model and programs will only continue to grow.
- Addressing Youth Unemployment & Environmental PollutionVictorious Craft Group employs youth to turn waste into valuable products. After connecting with CFK's Entrepreneurship & Economic Development program, they were able to hire more youth and increase their impact.
- CFK Named Finalist for 2020 .ORG Impact AwardsCarolina for Kibera (CFK) is pleased to announce that we have been selected as a finalist for the 2020 .ORG Impact Awards. Winners will be announced during a 10-day event beginning November 30.
- Using Data to Drive PurposeCurrent Board Member, Claire Rotich, grew up in Kenya but learned about CFK after re-connecting with a family friend in North Carolina. She is an advocate for using data to inform, strengthen, and center programs.
- Emphasizing the Importance of Mental HealthBy integrating mental health services into existing CFK programs, psychological counselor, Elmard Rigan, hopes to help debunk myths and address the stigma surrounding the topic.
- Angaza Alumni Support Home Learning Initiatives During COVID-19Though students are facing many challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic, CFK's Angaza program and alumni network have supported their abilities to continue learning at home.
- Tabitha Maternity Home: Celebrating One Year of Service in KiberaCFK's Tabitha Maternity Home celebrated one year of service in Kibera and introduced its first-ever ambulance, which will provide affordable, accessible emergency transportation for Kibera residents.
- Sacrificing for Success: A Tribute to Tabitha FestoWith $26, a personal sacrifice, and a fierce commitment to serving her community, Tabitha Festo, a Kiberan nurse, laid the foundation for CFK in 2000 when she opened a 24/7 clinic attached to her home.
- Championing Affordable Access to Quality HealthcareThe daughter of the late CFK co-founder Tabitha Festo, Joy Barnice Henry is committed to upholding Tabitha's legacy and championing affordable healthcare through the same clinic her mother started in 2001.
- Expanding Access to Education in Kibera and BeyondA bright kid with a passion for service, Joshua Omweno received an Angaza scholarship in 2011. Six years later, he began leading the very same program that had given him the opportunity to pursue higher education.
- Creating Global AmbassadorsIn 1999, CFK co-founder, Rye Barcott, walked into Jennifer Coffman’s office with a drive to make a difference. Neither of them knew that their conversation would lay the foundation for CFK a few years later.
- Three Fundraisers, One Common GoalFrom running one mile per day to writing a memoir to establishing and raising money for a program, three of our supporters, each from a different country, adopted creative approaches to fundraising.
- The Power of Positive Communication During the COVID-19 PandemicMitigating the COVID-19 pandemic requires community buy-in and cooperation. Positive communication strategies can help and are a critical part of an effective response.
- On the Ground: Young People Perform Vital Work on the Frontlines of COVID-19 Response in KiberaYoung people in Kibera are creative, innovative, and energetic and have devised ways to ensure continued health and education services in Kibera during the pandemic.
- Thinking Beyond Education to Empower CommunitiesGrowing up in Kibera, Board Member, Dickson Omondi, developed an appreciation for development work and an in-depth understanding of the complex challenges facing his community.
- Improving Healthcare & Serving HumanityWorking across four different health facilities has its challenges, but our Primary Healthcare Manager, Eddah Ogogo, has learned how to manage diverse groups and implement effective individualized approaches.
- CFK Healthcare Staff Featured as Frontline HeroesWhile the COVID-19 pandemic continues to create new healthcare challenges and exacerbate existing ones, CFK staff are on the frontlines continuing to provide quality healthcare and support the Kibera community.
- COVID-19 Response: Healthcare FacilitiesAt CFK, we are taking action to mitigate the COVID-19 pandemic in Kibera while continuing to maintain critical healthcare services. CFK Primary Healthcare Manager, Eddah Ogogo, summarizes CFK's response.
- COVID-19 Response: Girls EmpowermentEmergencies like the COVID-19 pandemic compound existing inequalities, and women and girls often suffer the most. CFK Partnerships Manager, Ann Kungu, discusses how CFK continues to support women and girls.
