Rye Barcott's Blog, page 17

Welcome Back, Salim!

We are tremendously thankful to Salim Mohamed, CFK co-founder, for agreeing to serve as CFK-Kenya’s Interim Executive Director!

Salim co-founded and led CFK for 8 years during a period well known for the speed and intensity of the organization’s growth.  This period of CFK’s history included a variety of challenges, from the difficulties of starting an NGO in an informal settlement to the harrowing post-election violence that dominated the year 2008.  Salim and the dedicated staff and volunteers of CFK managed to build and expand programs, a state-of-the-art clinic, and relationships that have evolved even further over the intervening years.

Salim departed for the University of Manchester in Manchester, England in 2009, where he completed a Master’s Degree in Management and Implementation of Development Projects. From there, he moved back to Kenya, where he began working for Ashoka: Innovators for the Public as their East African Regional Representative. In the last year, he also began working as a social consultant for CESVI, an organization that develops socioeconomic programs for women in three conflict regions of Somalia.  Through his work at Ashoka and CESVI, Salim has continued to serve and empower disenfranchised people across Kibera, Kenya, and East Africa more broadly.

As a founder, Salim is well-versed in CFK’s vision and has watched it evolve over the years to its current phase.  He also brings with him new management and project implementation ideas from his studies at Manchester University and his time at Ashoka.  We’re happy to have him back and are excited to work with him for the next several months.  He is as well, saying, “I am thrilled to be back at CFK, reconnecting with the community and working with the talented staff to take CFK to the next level.”  Karibu sana, Salim!

Farewell, Hillary

Hillary, with Jacqueline and Esther from the CFK Nutrition Center.

 

When Hillary first joined CFK, no one anticipated just how strong his influence would be.  Hillary has been an innovative leader, dedicated teammate, and an inspiring mentor for our staff and the community members that CFK serves.  Though this past July marked his last month with us, his impact and ideas will continue at CFK for many years to come.

Hillary began his journey at CFK through the organization’s partnership with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which hired him to serve as the manager of the Tabitha Medical Clinic.  Later, CFK asked him to step into the role of Head of the Health Services Department, where he managed both the clinic’s operations and disease prevention efforts throughout the community.  In 2011, he assumed the role and responsibilities of Executive Director.

Over his time with Carolina for Kibera, Hillary has helped improve CFK as an organization, a team, and a family.  Under his leadership, new initiatives grew and flourished, including the launch of the Nutrition Center and the newly-widened scope of our medical outreach in Kibera.  He helped bring in new ideas and talents by hiring a strong team of young and committed Heads of Department to support CFK’s various programs and provide an opportunity for the organization to grow their leadership skills.  He also made frequent trips to the U.S. to speak directly to supporters of CFK at film screenings, guest lectures, and other events.  His dedication to CFK’s mission and vision propelled our programs forward and helped us provide resources and support for thousands of Kiberans daily.

We are sad to see him go, but excited for this next phase in his career.  Carolina for Kibera exists to identify and nurture leaders in order to make a change in society.  We are proud of Hillary and confident that he will apply the leadership skills learned at CFK in all his future positions.  While he will be physically away from the organization, he has promised to maintain his relationship and participation in CFK activities.  We look forward to mutually beneficial partnerships with him in the near future.

We cannot express how thankful we are for his time and for everything he has helped CFK achieve for the community of Kibera.  Asante sana (thank you very much), Hillary!  We wish you all the best.

 

Meet Kathleen McGinn, New CFK Board Member

By: Sophia Wilhelm, Communications Intern

—

Dr. Kathleen McGinn, a professor at Harvard University’s prestigious business school, first met Rye Barcott while he was a graduate student pursuing his MBA.  Their conversations led her to learn much more about Carolina for Kibera (CFK), culminating in a multi-media Harvard Business School case on CFK’s early years (consider providing link to HBP case). The case conveyed how CFK flourished from its humble beginnings and transformed into a robust organization. Now several years later, it’s fitting that Kathleen has once more become part of CFK’s journey by joining the Board of Directors.

Since her first exposure to CFK in 2009, Kathleen has thought of CFK as an “interesting organizational case.” Many of its features make it unlike most organizations—operating in an informal community in Kenya; community-based mission; inspiring co-leaders sharing responsibility; and unique parallel governance structures in the US and Kenya. But CFK also faces organizational challenges that arise in nearly all growing organizations—succession planning; uneven growth; internal tensions; and complicated partnerships with other organizations. This combination of the unusual with the common makes CFK a compelling case for teaching and learning about organizations, especially value-based organizations.

Kathleen met Rye at a dinner for students interested in social enterprise.  He described the major transitions the organization was going through at the time. From then on, Kathleen found herself intrigued by CFK and its mission, and the more she learned, the more she was drawn in. When Leann Bankoski, CFK’s Executive Director, asked her to join the board last November, Kathleen knew it was the right thing to do. “I have deep respect for universal talent,” Kathleen explains. “Working with two different worlds simultaneously is a tough balance, but CFK manages to do that well and they respect what both sides have to offer to the endeavor.” Kathleen values what CFK does and notes that the staff members “treat people with a different type of respect that’s just remarkable.”

CFK is very fortunate to work with someone dedicated to studying and improving women’s role in business and society at large. Kathleen has studied and conducted research on gender perceptions and non-traditional gender roles as they pertain to employment across 20 countries (including Kenya), thus giving her an in-depth knowledge of the gender gap in business. Her research on women’s employment, attitude, education, and lifestyle helps advise social justice leaders working to improve rights and opportunities for women globally.

Kathleen first decided that she wanted to contribute her expertise in women’s employment to CFK after learning about the Daughters United (Binti Pamoja) program. In her first visit to Kibera in 2009, the Binti girls were her guides to the community. This year, CFK plans to build a brand new center for girls in Kibera. The Daughters United Training Center will serve as both a resource and community center for the young women of Kibera, where they can take classes, discuss critical issues in their lives, and build friendships in a physically and psychologically safe environment.

As a researcher, Kathleen takes a trip to Kenya once a year to study women’s work in different settings. Kathleen mentions that Kibera is her favorite place to go when she visits. “Being such a big place, it’s incredibly alive and vibrant.” In addition to working with the Daughters United program, one of her fondest memories of Kibera includes being there during the construction of the Tabitha Medical Clinic. “Seeing the clinic grow to serve the full community was impressive to watch.” While in Kenya, Kathleen also enjoys attending soccer games, because matches bring more than an enthusiastic crowd for the game. They also function as community events, giving people opportunities to get tested for HIV, sign up to volunteer, and watch the members of CFK’s Daughters United program come together.

Being new to the board, Kathleen admits, “I have to allow myself to learn, because as much as I feel like I have already learned about CFK, there’s so much I don’t know. And the organization is constantly evolving and changing.” She hopes that CFK will grow to be a model for other organizations and desires to help that goal come to fruition. Having a new addition to the Board like Kathleen is extremely beneficial for CFK and strengthens the organization’s commitment to community members—especially girls—of Kibera.

Beyond Small Businesses: Announcing the Work Readiness Program!

It’s been close to 9 years since Carolina for Kibera launched Trash Is Cash (Taka ni Pato), a program designed to provide mentorship for entrepreneurs who see garbage as an economic resource for their businesses. Starting with trash collection services throughout the community, it has since expanded to include several small businesses using “waste” as their primary raw material or input. In the past year, Trash Is Cash has also welcomed other small businesses without a focus on waste to participate in business counseling sessions and workshops. The reason behind this is simple: we want all Kiberan small business owners to succeed.

We’ve written before about how the shops of Kibera line the roads and business owners clamor for the attention of passersby. This marketplace is central to daily life in Kibera. However, not everyone in Kibera wants to own a small business. Competition is fierce, and making a living through a small business can be tough and risky. Thousands of people living in Kibera dream of entering many other professions, like engineering, accounting, journalism, or professional sports.

That’s why CFK’s Economic and Entrepreneurship Department has launched the Work Readiness program.

Breaking into these professions can be difficult for anyone—but it’s especially difficult for residents of Kibera.  Many who live in Kibera don’t have the money to finish school. Spending money on a future degree also takes funds away from things that sustain daily, like food or water. On top of the economic and educational limitations they face, there is a pervasive stereotype that residents of Kibera are lazy and uneducated, which makes finding secure employment even more difficult.

The Work Readiness program aims to do exactly what it promises: help Kiberans interested in formal employment become prepared to work in the field of their choice. The program consists of workshops to develop both hard skills (such as creating budgets, drafting memos and e-mails, and creating work plans) and soft skills (such as managing work flow, working collaboratively, and interacting with partners and supporters). Participants have the opportunity to enroll in a certificate or degree course in one of a few pre-selected fields, and have the option to pursue an internship in that same field as well.

Out of 67 community members who applied, 22 were accepted into the first cohort after being thoroughly evaluated by CFK staff. All of them have been a part of CFK in the past and are eager for this new initiative! With their leadership, this new program will debunk negative stereotypes and will secure livelihoods for more determined Kiberans.

Staff Spotlight: Andrew Kerr, Director of Development

By: Sophia Wilhelm, Communications Intern

–

When Andrew Kerr applied to work for Carolina for Kibera as its Director of Development, both parties quickly found out that he was a perfect fit.

Andrew was drawn to Carolina for Kibera by new professional challenges, as well as its location. Though he had extensive prior experience with international non-profit work, the one area Andrew had never visited was the continent of Africa. After traveling to Kibera, Andrew found that it was similar to places he had been before. “It felt familiar. The sight, sounds, and smell all reminded me of places that I had traveled to with other organizations.”

Fundraising for CFK also presented an exciting, new challenge. Whereas his previous work focused on short-term projects in multiple places, CFK’s work focuses on developing long-term projects in one specific, multi-faceted place. To help develop these projects, Andrew knew that CFK’s U.S. office location on UNC’s campus in the FedEx Global Education Center provided unique opportunities to partner with neighboring professional schools, including the School of Social Work, School of Public Health, and UNC’s prestigious Medical School.

For CFK, Andrew’s past accomplishments made him an ideal candidate for the organization’s first Director of Development. Before Andrew joined the team, the U.S. office only had one full-time staff member. In an effort to grow and move forward, it was clear that another staff member with an in-depth knowledge of development would be needed. Andrew previously served as the Director of Development for All Hands Volunteers, an international disaster relief non-profit, staying in that position for a total of 4 ½ years.  Under his direction, the organization’s revenue soared tremendously from $500,000 to $3 million a year. When Andrew made his way to CFK, he knew he could set similar goals to create a better and broader impact.

In addition to his work with All Hands, Andrew has completed both Duke University’s Non-Profit Management Certificate Program at Duke and Boston University’s Professional Fundraising Certificate Program.  He is also on the Executive Board of the Research Triangle Park Rotary Club.  These credentials and experiences further cement Andrew as an experienced fundraiser in non-profit settings.

Fitting with his area of expertise, he views CFK’s Economic and Entrepreneurship Department as its most compelling and exciting initiative. “It’s often the case that a steady income helps solve a wide range of problems,” he explains. “If you get sick, you need to be able to afford going to a doctor. With more funds, people can also lead healthier lifestyles.”  He adds that this applies to more than just health, citing education as another example. “When you educate children, it creates a positive effect for them and their families down the road. It takes an initial investment to do that.”

Andrew recognizes that sometimes big changes can be intimidating, but that in order to move forward, you have to embrace them. “What people think and feel all change as we go through life. Organizations are no different.” Among CFK’s upcoming projects, Andrew is particularly energized for the construction of CFK’s new center for the Daughters United program, saying, “It will be fascinating to watch the impact the Center will have on girls in Kibera.” He also believes that building fundraising capacity is necessary for CFK’s stability and sustainability.  “Growing our financial base in both the U.S. and Kenya will be critical for CFK’s success as an organization.”

Andrew’s experience, insight, and innovative spirit help him carry out the duties of his position. We are lucky to have him as a member of the U.S. team, dedicated to expanding our reach and helping CFK provide more services to more people.

Entrepreneurship Day

By: Brandon Wong, 2014 Peacock Fellow

—

Everywhere you go in Kibera, there are businesses and their owners clamoring for customers’ attention.  They include everything from roadside shops that sell charcoal, shoes, or mandazi (Kenyan doughnuts), to barbershops, video game parlors, and athletic stores.  In the media, people who live in informal settlements are sometimes portrayed as lazy, dumb, or responsible for their ongoing economic need.  Nothing could be further from the truth.

People who live in Kibera are incredibly busy.  It’s common for multiple members of a family to work in order to bring in extra money for food, children’s school fees, or climbing rent prices.  Often, residents of Kibera will sell goods from their storefront to people that pass by.  However, because there are so many people selling the same things or offering the same services, distinguishing businesses from one another can be a difficult task.

Throughout my two months at Carolina for Kibera, I have worked with the staff in CFK’s Economic and Entrepreneurship Department (EED) to support the small businesses in the community.  CFK’s economic branch began several years ago with Trash Is Cash, and has since expanded to provide a range of workshops and training programs to business owners interested in gaining an advantage over tough competitors.  (You can read about some of these businesses below.)

During my first week of work, the Head of EED, Stella, informed me that they were in the process of implementing a new annual event, called the Marketing Plan Competition.  The competition sought to identify 4 entrepreneurs from Kibera with exemplary small businesses, as well as a strong personal ethic and a commitment to improve employment in Kibera.  The motivation behind holding this competition was two-fold: to identify and award the most outstanding entrepreneurs that had worked with the program during the past year, and also to encourage and motivate other young entrepreneurs to build and improve upon their own businesses.

And I would say they were motivated.  During the 2nd week of May, CFK received 79 written applications for the award.  Eventually, these got pared down to 4 winners, 2 from the self-employment category, and 2 from the group employment category.

In addition to the competition itself, CFK threw its first annual Entrepreneurship Day celebration honoring all the applicants and officially awarding the winners with monetary prizes.  CFK volunteers performed skits and songs, while others gave rousing speeches and shared business stories.  Each time a winner was announced, they were met with raucous applause as they shared words of thanks.

In short, CFK’s first annual Entrepreneurship Day Celebration and Marketing Plan Competition were great successes!  Honoring the efforts of small businesses associated with CFK is important for recognizing their role in driving local economic development.  Below are short profiles on the 4 winners.  Get to know them here—and if you’re ever in Kibera, stop by and take a look!

Frederick Gor (1st Place, Individual Category)

Frederick Gor has been designing and handcrafting a variety of high quality bone crafts for over 10 years, and he has known CFK for 8 years. He works under the umbrella group of Victorious Bone Crafts, and produces a variety of bracelets, necklaces, earrings and bottle openers originally made from cow bones, and other hard materials such as wood. Frederick has learned through the CFK business trainings that his key value proposition in the highly competitive bone crafts market is quality and durability, and he estimates that his profits have risen 20-50% as a result of CFK trainings. With additional capital, Frederick would consider traveling to Zanzibar and Tanzania to sell his stock, however his main concern is starting a poultry farm as a second stream of income.

Teresa Adhiambo (Runner-up, Individual Category)

Teresa Adhiambo has been an independent businesswoman for over 8 years, and has known CFK for the past 2 years. She operates under the business title “Emico and Brothers Supplies” selling omena, a local type of small fish, in Toi Market. Teresa has taken out three Kiva Zip loans previously, two of which she has fully paid back and one of which she is halfway through repayment. These loans have provided Teresa with the capital to, in her own words, “move forward” in business. With additional funds, Teresa plans to stock a new product such as cereal or baby clothes. Because her husband does not currently work, Teresa generates all the income to sustain her household, and she hopes that the profit from her omena business will pay for her children to attend college.

Young Challenges Business Solutions (1st Place, Group Category)

Young Challenges Business Solutions Youth Group, pictured above, provides a weekly garbage collection service for approximately 250 clients near the Nairobi River. Young Challenges has known CFK for 2 years, and the founding members of the group attribute the entire formation and current existence of their trash collection business to CFK’s business trainings and mentorship. In addition to revenue generated through trash collection and the sale of recyclable plastics and second-hand metal, Young Challenges also created a group pool of money for savings and loans. Members of Young Challenges contribute to the pool on a weekly basis, and any member can take out a loan with 10% monthly compounding interest. Last year, the pool totaled over KSH 35,000, and the group split these funds among their 19 active members. With additional capital, Young Challenges would first invest in safety and protective gear for its members during trash cleanups.

Zero Waste Women’s Group (Runner-up, Group Category)

Zero Waste Women’s Group has been designing handbags and other handicrafts out of polyethylene plastic for over 14 years. Khadara Abubakar, also known as “Mama Taka,” has chaired the group since its inception, and continues to instruct other women from Kibera and international visitors in the craft of polyethylene crochet. Abubakar has known CFK since the organization’s founding over 12 years ago, and Zero Waste has been a central component of Taka ni Pato since the program began. Abubakar estimates that the monthly sales revenue has increased KSH 10,000 – 20,000 as a direct result of the CFK trainings. With additional capital, Zero Waste Women’s Group would improve their kiosk and purchase higher-quality machines to finish their handbag products; however, the group also spends much of their extra revenue on charitable, community-oriented projects, such as paying the school fees of children in their neighborhood.

Wycliffe Takes Bronze in the 2014 World Jump Rope Competition!

When Wycliffe performed the above routine at the 2014 World Championship Tournament & Camp, everyone was impressed — including the judges.  Out of a large pool of contestants, Wycliffe earned a 3rd-place medal!

The four members of CFK’s jump rope team, the CFK Sprinters, who traveled to the U.S. to compete in World Jump Rope‘s annual World Championship Tournament & Camp made a triumphant return to Kibera a few weeks ago, bearing many accolades for their performances.  Beryl, Brian, Christine, and Wycliffe jumped marvelously, earning multiple trophies, medals, and ribbons in several different individual and group categories.  With each year, the Sprinters’ skills and performances at competitions improve.  This year, collectively, the group earned one 2nd-place medal and five 3rd-place honors in individual routines, and one 3rd-, one 4th- and one 5th-place honor in group routines.

With help from CFK partner organization, One World One Rope, this is the 3rd year that members of the team have been able to participate in the World Championship.  (You can read more about last year’s tournament here.)  Traveling to the U.S. to meet with and compete against jumpers from all over the world gives the Sprinters a unique and indispensable opportunity to share their skills globally, learn from others, and make friends.

Congratulations to these four outstanding athletes, and to all of the CFK Sprinters!

From left: Christine, Beryl, Brian, and Wycliffe, proudly presenting their awards from the 2014 World Jump Rope Championship Tournament & Camp.

—

Want to read more about the CFK Sprinters’ trip?  Check out this beautifully written article from the LA Times about their journey.

A Day in the Life of a CFK Student Volunteer

By: Brandon Wong, CFK 2014 Peacock Fellow

—

Every year, Carolina for Kibera sends students to Kibera to design and implement short-term projects alongside staff members.  Prospective volunteers go through a rigorous application process for the James and Florence Peacock Fellowship, which provides them with partial funding for their trip.  This year, two students were selected, along with one student from UNC’s School of Nursing (who recently wrote a blog post about community clean-ups).  CFK Peacock Fellow, Brandon Wong, recently shared this update with us.  Read on for an inside look about what daily life is like volunteering in Kibera!

—

8:00 – Wake up

Every morning, I wake up for Kenyan tea and a light breakfast of cereal, bread and butter, pancakes (occasionally), and one ripe banana to take on-the-go. My homestay father, Yusuf, and my homestay mother, Nasra, go into work at varying times in the morning.  However, I have the opportunity to see and chat with Mercy, the live-in house help. The other morning we ended up discussing Mercy’s favorite American music artists, including Chris Brown and Lil Wayne.

9:00 – Head from Woodley Court to Kibera

The homestays for the US volunteers this summer are all in Woodley Court, a gated middle-class neighborhood located next to Toi Market, the most well-known second-hand clothing market in Nairobi. We will often meet up in the neighborhood to head over to the main CFK office together, taking either of two routes: the first walks towards Ngong Road and takes a matatu, a van-type shuttle for 10-20 Kenyan shillings (Ksh), to Olympic Estate; the second goes through the back end of Toi Market, weaving through the narrow alleys of street vendors until reaching the main road in Kibera. Ultimately, we end up at CFK’s main office in Olympic Estate.

9:15 – Arrive at CFK’s Main Office

The first thing we do at the office is a round of hellos (or mambos, and other greetings combined from English, Swahili and Swahili slang, called Sheng) and a warm handshake for the dozen-or-so CFK staff already there. This is the perfect time to discuss the World Cup soccer matches from the previous night, especially if an African team has triumphed.

9:30 – Meet with CFK supervisor for the day’s assignment

For my two months at CFK, I am interning for the Entrepreneurship and Economic Department (EED) under Stella, the Department Head, and Moses, the Program Officer. My role involves program assistance and support for CFK’s small business initiatives in the community, such as Taka ni Pato (Trash is Cash), and I often work alongside Mjee and Botul, the two Field Officers for EED, in different areas of Kibera.

The two main projects that Stella has directed me to work on this summer are: 1) to assist in the selection process for the 2014 EED Marketing Plan Competition, which received 79 applications from different entrepreneurs in Kibera, and 2) to support her market research and start-up planning for a briquette-making social enterprise. Briquettes, as I learned after initial research, are alternative fuels made from biomass that have the potential to replace charcoal and wood fuels for daily cooking needs.

10:00 – Dive into the day’s work

During my initial week of working at CFK, I spent the first couple days reading through the 79 written applications for the 2014 Marketing Plan Competition, and the latter part of the week conducting on-site interviews and business assessments with the 20+ finalists. The finalists ranged from trash collection youth groups to bone craft artisans and local vegetable vendors, and the interviews gave me an extensive look into income-generation, youth employment, and access to loans and capital from a grassroots level in Kibera. Overall, the interviews took 20 hours total over 3 days, and I have now spent much of this second week compiling the interview data, and creating a summary report on the Marketing Plan Competition and some business profiles on the applicants.

Brandon talking with leaders of Victorious Bone Crafts.

1:30 – Take a lunch break

On most days, I’ve gone with Mjee to get lunch. We often joke about how many portions of Kenyan food that he can eat. However, two other options I love are a small restaurant on Arusha road that serves a full plate of chapatti, a type of fried dough, and beans for 50 Ksh (less than $.75 USD), and a local stand that sells a large fruit salad of mango, avocadoes, papaya, and more for 60 Ksh.

2:00 – Return to the CFK Office to complete work

The afternoon provides more time to continue the daily assignment, and check-in with a final update for Stella and Moses before the day is over.

5:00 – Stop by Java House, and then head back to Woodley Court

Java is a nearby cafe that has become, jokingly, like our second home because we spend so much time there to email parents, Skype back home, or just relax.

Back in Woodley Court, the neighborhood kids (ages 4-15) usually come out to play before dinner, and it’s always fun to join in their games of hide-and-seek, or hear some of the hilarious stories from their school day.

6:00 – Relax at the homestay

Some days I get home early enough to help prepare dinner or watch some TV with my homestay Dad, but usually I have just enough time to journal and reflect on the day. The seven checklist items from the day I always complete are a daily recap, new Swahili words, things tried for the first time, the names of new people met, purchases made, observations, and weekly goals.

8:00 – Have dinner with host parents

I have fallen in love with Kenyan food. From ugali, a maize-type dough, to sukuma wiki, sauced kale, and the classically stewed meat, I could eat dinner for days.

9:00 – Fall asleep early

Brandon, talking with Botul Abubakar (left) and Daniel Mjee (right), both of whom are Field Officers with the Economic and Entrepreneurship Department.

Arguably my favorite part about our days is simply how exhausting and rewarding it feels at the end. I literally fall asleep already excited for the next day, and the sensation reminds me of how I used to feel during my happiest times working at summer camp.

Final Note

While this is a typical weekday, the daily schedule always has slight changes here and there; for example, this morning, a friend invited me to train with his semi-pro soccer team in the morning from 7-9:30 a.m., so I arrived at the office a little later than usual.

Additionally, the weekends for us are completely free. So far, we have spent most weekends singing, dancing, and playing games with CFK’s Daughters United girls program, which meets on Saturdays and Sundays.  However, we’re also hoping to make some day trips to see Hell’s Gate (the location that inspired the setting of the Lion King), a chimpanzee sanctuary, and other destinations outside of Nairobi.

In short, our time as CFK interns have been incredible. Here’s to the rest, full of excitement and great work in Kenya!

Meet Francis Kibet, New CFK Board Member

It probably comes as no surprise that Carolina for Kibera has lots of plans from now through the rest of 2014.  To help guide us through, we welcomed two new members to CFK’s Board of Directors earlier this year for their mentorship, partnership, and expert advice.  One such member is Francis Kibet.

Francis was born in Kenya, specifically in the city of Eldoret in Western Kenya province.  He is well-acquainted with Nairobi, having completed a Bachelor’s Degree in Commerce at the University of Nairobi.  Ten years ago, he moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico, with his family—now, he, his wife, and their two 4-year-old twin daughters are based in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Francis joined the CFK Board of Directors with the hope and expectation to be able to give back to communities in his home country.  He’s most excited about what’s in store for the Daughters United Program (Binti Pamoja in Swahili), saying, “As a father, a son, and a brother—and having grown up mostly in Kenya—I am well acquainted with the challenges facing the girl child.  The least I can do now is to join those who share the same burden and use a little portion of my time, resources, and experience to give hope and faith to those who need it most.”

Carolina for Kibera will greatly benefit from Francis’ many years of experience in both for-profit and non-profit consulting.  He is a Certified Public Accountant of Kenya (CPA(K)), Certified Information System Security Professional (CISSP) and Certified Internal Auditor.  A brief list of his past work experience includes auditor positions at Commercial Bank of Africa, PriceWaterHouseCoopers, Delhaize Group, and Sun Healthcare Group.  He’s consulted for several non-profits including AMREF Health Africa, Kenya Scouts Association, and the Kenya Hospital Association.  He now works at Duke Energy as the Lead IT Audit Consultant.  Not only will his technical expertise be invaluable, but he also holds a unique geographical perspective that greatly benefits CFK as well.  Having worked as a financial consultant in both the U.S. and Kenya for many years, Francis knows how each system works and will be able to advise CFK in navigating the differences between them.

Francis with a colleague at a recent community service event.

How Francis became interested in finance requires a bit of explanation.  “I got into it by mistake,” he says, laughing.  “Originally, I was interested in Information Technology”. In college, he reluctantly enrolled in a required course on basic accounting.  However, from the very first day of class, his professor, Essajee, made the topic exciting and intuitive for Francis.  He explains, “Somehow, it really made sense.  I took the exam, got a good grade, and thought that maybe I should try it out.”  He went on to complete his degree in commerce; once in the U.S., he completed a Masters of Business Administration from Eastern New Mexico University.  Inspired by Essajee’s mentorship, Francis later served as an adjunct professor of finance at College of the Southwest in New Mexico.

We’re thrilled that Francis has decided to join us.  His expertise in the finance field and his background as a Kenyan will prove invaluable to CFK’s financial health and programmatic initiatives.  We look forward to working with him for many years!

Home Visits with Esther

By: Micaela Arneson, 2014 CFK Peacock Fellow

–

Millicent and Mary.

Recently I had the opportunity to tag along on a couple of “home visits” with Esther, one of the nutritionists at Carolina for Kibera’s Lishe Bora Mtaani Nutrition Center. Our destination was Gatwekera, a village in Kibera located south of the CFK office.

CFK staff members and Community Health Workers (CHWs) conduct regular home visits for several health-related reasons.  CHWs go door-to-door to administer health surveys, acquiring basic health information from families all over Kibera.  They also screen children for malnutrition; if the child is malnourished, they send them to CFK’s Nutrition Center.  The purpose of our visits was a little different.  We were checking up on some of the children who had completed the Nutrition Center’s 8-week program and been successfully brought back to full health earlier this year.

Esther is a resident of Gatwekera and led me through the maze of houses and narrow, winding streets— it’s been raining recently in Kibera, and although the dirt alleyways have been turned to thick, slippery corridors of mud, Esther made her way quickly and nimbly in her flats while I struggled to keep my balance in a pair of oversized gum boots.

Our first stop was at the home of Millicent and her 2-year-old daughter Mary, who was released from the nutrition center in January. As we stepped inside their home, Mary instantly hid herself behind the curtain separating the family’s bed from the main living area— she was happy to see Esther (her second mom/auntie), but wasn’t too sure about me. We sat down with Millicent and Esther asked her about Mary’s progress and status since leaving the center. She’s maintained a healthy weight, has good energy, and is meeting important developmental milestones such as walking and talking. Her mom told us that Mary is also a great eater: her favorite foods are rice and beans, spaghetti, and cabbage. Millicent also recently referred a neighbor to the nutrition center.

The home visits with Mary and other former patients of the nutrition center are a critical element of its holistic approach to treating malnutrition. Parents are equipped with the knowledge and skills to keep their children strong and healthy, and follow-ups serve to identify any challenges and provide support and assistance where needed. It was exciting and encouraging to meet the plump, happy, and healthy babies and their equally happy parents—it takes a village to raise a child, and nowhere does that ring truer than here in Kibera.