Friends of Kenya/Marafiki Wa Kenya (FOK) is a non-profit organization that seeks to strengthen the ties between Returned Peace Corps Volunteers (RPCVs) who served in Kenya and their country of service. Top priority FOK activities include grant making to Kenyan nonprofits, educating members about Kenya, and hosting events that feature Kenyan visitors to the United States. In the past two decades, FOK has contributed more than $60,000 in assistance to some 80 projects in the East African country.
Kenya RPCVs and staff founded FOK in 1986, following the 25th Anniversary Conference of returned volunteers, to reaffirm their commitment to the ideals and goals that first drew them to the Peace Corps. Affiliated with the National Peace Corps Association, FOK membership is open to anyone who shares its goals and interest in Kenya. FOK is a 501(c)(3) organization, so all contributions are fully tax-deductible.
Remembering your Kiswahili (glossary)
Can't quite remember why you needed a duka? Wondering about the alphabet soup of acronyms? Look no further!
Contact Us
Please address all correspondence to:
Friends of Kenya
43968 Championship Place
Ashburn, VA 20147
info@friendsofkenya.org
Web Site
Website comments and submissions may be sent directly to the Webmaster and content coordinator:
Sandy Seppala
sanseppa@mac.com
Note: Friends of Kenya (FOK) is NOT affiliated with Friends of Kenya USA (FROKUSA), an organization that is also sometimes referred to as "Friends of Kenya," and is known to take partisan stands on Kenyan issues. Since its inception, FOK has maintained a non-political position, dedicating itself mostly to assisting Kenyans through a variety of projects.
Board of Directors
The Friends of Kenya's Board of Directors has seven members: six elected and one appointed. Elective terms are for two years. The appointed term is for one year, with the appointed member selected by the Board. The Board elects its own officers.
The Board oversees FOK activities such as membership, finances, the newsletter, projects, events, and conferences. It meets once a month by conference call. Board members also try to attend the FOK General Meeting, held at the time and place of the National RPCV Conference.
Interested in becoming a member of the board? Nominations are accepted each summer.
Current Board of Directors
Below is the list of current board members with email addresses slightly mangled to discourage spam.
Jensy Richards, President
jensy@verizon.net
Robert Gribbin, Vice President
rgribbin@hotmail.com
Carolyn Kari, Treasurer
carolynkari@earthlink.net
Peggy Benz, Secretary
mpbenz@cox.net
Joseph Permetti, Membership
fokmembership@gmail.com
Roland Johnson, Board Member
rhjrpcv@aol.com
Tessa Finlev, Project Manager
tfinlev@iftf.org
Sandy Greenberg, Historian
TBD, Membership (Database)
Sandy Seppala, Webmaster
sanseppa@mac.com
Coordinators
Members serve as coordinators of various programs for Friends of Kenya.
Awards
motomoto (print newsletter, now replaced by this Web site)
- Newsletter Design, 1999 NPCA National Conference
- Editorial Design, 1999 NPCA National Conference
Web Site
- Country of Service Web Site (inaugural award), 2000 NPCA National Conference (shared with Friends of Mongolia)
All photos taken by Paula Hirschoff.
