Friends of Kenya - Friends of Kenya contributes to grassroots projects in Kenya,and hosts events in the United States.

Help Kenyan deaf student in U.S. to learn

2011-10-17T02:20:57Z

From Cheryl Hermann—

I am a teacher for the Deaf in St. Louis and a new student recently came to my school. He is from Kenya and uses Kenyan Sign Language, KSL.

I am trying to find someone who can converse with him in KSL (so he doesn’t feel so alone), and help us understand his primary language (so we can build upon that). We can SKYPE to help make this happen.

I know there are huge numbers of Deaf Peace Corps Volunteers (current and returned), and I’m hoping to find some help from some of these wonderful people.

If you are interested in helping one student from Kenya find success at school here in the States, please contact me, Cheryl Hermann, at one of my school email addesses: cahermann@ssd.k12.mo.us: chermann@pkwy.k12.mo.us.

We remember Wangari Maathai

2011-10-11T01:48:01Z

Friends of Kenya expresses sympathy in the passing of Wangari Maathai. Her work and dedication have helped improved the lives of people, particularly women and children, not only in Kenya but throughout the world. Her influence in the areas of protecting the environment and in supporting the rights of women extends well beyond the borders of her country.

Many years ago, the Friends of Kenya group that met regularly in Washington, D.C., invited her to come to their dinner meeting and speak about her work when she was visiting the U.S. We were pleased when she accepted our invitation and spoke about her work and about Kenya. Later, when she returned to D.C. and spoke at another venue, we met her there and made her an official member of our group—complete with a Friends of Kenya teeshirt.

We were thrilled when she deservedly was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, becoming a symbol worldwide of what can be accomplished despite hardship and opposition by her own government and others. She is truly a hero.

We remember Wangari with admiration, and, collectively and individually, we will continue to support those issues that were so important to her.

Asante sana, Wangari Maathai, for all you've done. Now be at peace.

Celebrate the 50th Anniversary in D.C.

2011-08-01T05:23:51Z

This is certainly an exciting year for Peace Corps! Happy 50th Anniversary!

While there have been many celebrations throughout the year and around the world, Peace Corps, the National Peace Corps Association (NPCA), and Friends of Kenya are celebrating the Peace Corps’ 50th Anniversary in Washington, D.C., the weekend of September 23–25. Please click on this link if you have not already checked out all that is happening or if you want to register for activities:

http://www.peacecorpsconnect.org/resources/peace-corps-50thanniversary/september-events/

Friends of Kenya is looking forward celebrating this very special occasion. We are planning several activities in conjunction with the anniversary weekend and also encourage participation in PC/NPCA activities! (And, by the way, Peace Corps Kenya will celebrate 50 years in Kenya in 2014!) (Click the attached pdf file to read the full letter with activities and schedule.)

Job Available (Kenya: Malindi): Part-Time Agent for Exporter of Kenyan Handicrafts

2011-04-22T08:32:27Z

Global Girls seeks to hire an agent currently living in Kenya (preferably in Malindi)— a returned Peace Corps volunteer or a Kenyan resident who shares the values and objectives of the Peace Corps—for part-time work, who has an interest in growing with the company.

Global Girls is a three-year-old, U.S.-based company that wholesales Kenyan handicrafts to the U.S. and international markets.

Global Girls’ mission is to empower African women and promote traditional crafts by providing jobs at fair trade wages to Kenyan artisans. (Click title for complete description and contact information.)

Friends of Kenya suspends project grants

2010-12-18T04:30:11Z

Friends of Kenya has suspended grants for projects in Kenya until further notice. FOK has donated more than $50,000 in the last 20 years for local projects throughout Kenya that contributed to a community. The funds for these contributions have come from membership and individual contributions. (Click title for more information and how to contribute to grant funds.)

Looking for a Kenya RPCV for Board

2010-02-18T04:56:43Z

I am an advisory board member of Education For All Children, a New Hampshire-based, non-profit that basically offers scholarships to Kenyan secondary students who qualify (need, academic achievement, etc.). It was started very recently by a couple from this area who fell in love with Kenya while traveling there. Please see our website.

http://www.educationforallchildren.org/about/

So, the question is, are there any Kenya RPCVs out there who might like to participate as a board member in a purely advisory manner (not that you couldn’t be more involved if you wanted)? If you live in northern New England, even better. (Click title for complete article and contact information.)

Exciting Opportunity for Africa RPCVs

2010-02-16T03:36:29Z

Whole Planet Foundation is Whole Foods Market’s non-profit that supports microcredit around the world where WFM sources products. We are expanding our portfolio of projects into Africa and will be hiring a person for this. We believe a Returned Peace Corps Volunteer would be ideal.

The key managers in the organization are RPCVs and know first-hand the transformative experience of Peace Corps service.

More information about the idealist.org job post can be found at: http://www.idealist.org/if/i/en/av/Job/366736-107

Can You Help a Writer?

2010-01-14T12:20:56Z

My name is Melissa O’Brien and I am a freelance writer who lives in Atlanta, Georgia. I was not in the Peace Corps but visited a friend who was, in Kenya, in 1993. It left a huge impression upon me and now that my children are older, I am beginning to move away from my career as a reporter and begin my first fiction novel.

I want to write about a place I visited while I was in Kenya. While the novel will be fiction, it is very important to me to have an accurate description of the region. The location of the book would be in and around Timau, specifically, Kentrout. (Click title to read entire article)

Merging Communities for Education: A Bodo Initiative Fundraiser

2009-11-11T09:08:28Z

Embassy of Kenya, 2249 R St., NW, Washington, D.C.

Friday, December 4, 6:00-8/9 pm

The Education for the Future Foundation: Bodo Initiative invites you to join friends and a diverse community in celebrating the beauty of education and uniting to provide the eager students in Bodo Village, Kenya, with the chance to realize their right to education.

Enjoy FOOD, MUSIC, and SPEAKERS! (Click title for more information)

Africa Rural Connect Selects First Round of Winning Ideas for Online Contest to Lessen Rural Poverty

2009-08-26T03:00:09Z

Africa Rural Connect (ARC) is a new online community that connects individuals with life-long commitments to Sub-Saharan Africa. Hosted by The National Peace Corps Association (NPCA), ARC announced today the first round of winning ideas for participants in its online contest on how to help rural Africa. (Click title to read the entire article.)

Kenya Women’s Finance Trust Empowers Kenyan Women

2009-08-26T12:21:50Z

Joyce Wafukho, is a perfect example of how microfinance really makes a difference. Joyce is a businesswoman in Lugari (western Kenya) who started with a microloan of $730 and has turned it into a construction business worth more than $26,000. Her business, Lugari Hardware Agencies and Construction Enterprises, currently employs 25 people and builds schools and public buildings. Joyce did this with loans from the Kenya Women’s Finance Trust (KWFT). (Click title to read entire article.)

Obama’s Country

2009-02-15T10:50:47Z

Commentary by Bob Gribbin

Kenya is abuzz with Obama. Remember that Kenya declared a national holiday upon receiving news of his election. Obama’s picture is painted on matatus, tee shirts, coffee mugs, and printed on kangas worn by market women. Dozens of newborn babies are now named Obama. Maasai beadwork features his image as well as the stars and stripes from the “O” of campaign posters. Matatus bear the names “Obama Express,” “Fastest Obama.” Senator beers are ordered by asking for an “Obama.” Obama’s books are jumping off the shelves. Indeed on flights in and out, I saw a dozen Kenyans avidly reading his tomes. The airwaves resound to Obama songs. Even Obama numbers have been incorporated into the dance performances by Maasai morans at tourist lodges. (Click the title to read full article.)

Friends of Kenya Supports a Nomadic Kenyan Student

2008-08-13T01:24:31Z

Friends of Kenya awarded a grant to the Nomadic Kenyan Children’s Educational Fund (NKCEF) to help send Marriel, who is Maasai, to secondary school where she can strive to achieve her goals of teaching her local community to read, write, and use better hygiene.

Marriel is in Form 1 (9th grade) at St. Brigid’s Girls School in Kitale. She is 16 years old, and one of 3 children. Her favorite subjects are science and English, and she promises to work hard to pursue her education.

She will attend secondary school through sponsorship from NKCEF, which is a non-profit organization dedicated to helping children from nomadic communities attend secondary school.

For more information about NKCEF and how to directly support their scholarships for Kenyan students, visit their website at http://www.nkcef.org.

It’s your membership and support of Friends of Kenya that allows us to funnel funds to worthy organizations, such as NKCEF, and community projects in Kenya. Contributions to Friends of Kenya projects are tax-deductible. To make contributions, go to http://www.friendsofkenya.org/project/donate_project. (Click title for full article and link to photo.)

Write for the Peace Corps at 50 Anniversary Story Project

2008-03-10T01:03:10Z

From Dennis Cordell
Editor, Volume on Africa and the Middle East
The Peace Corps at 50 Anniversary Story Project

In three years, the Peace Corps will reach the ripe old (or young, if 60 really is the new 40) age of 50. Several other former volunteers and I have organized The Peace Corps at 50 Story Project to honor that event in writing. It is described in detail with pictures at www.peacecorpsat50.org. We are all actively soliciting non-fiction stories for four volumes to mark this milestone in Peace Corps history.

The four volumes—on, respectively, Africa and the Middle East; Asia and the Pacific; Central America, South America, and the Caribbean; and After the Cold War (Eastern Europe and Central Asia)—will include stories from past and present volunteers, staff, instructors, and “Peace Corps friends.” (Click the title for more information)

Projects Supported by Friends of Kenya

2008-03-10T12:44:32Z

Project summary:
Below is a list of the current projects that Friends of Kenya is funding, as of February 2007.

Uluthe Community Safe Water Project (October 2007)
$1,000 to support the protection of five water sources in Siaya district of Nyanza Province. In partnership with the Conifer Rotary Club of Colorado.

Project Baobab (November 2007)

$1,500 to provide 15 small business grants to women who have completed Project Baobab’s Life Skills and Entrepreneurship Education program at the Ollooseos School in Kiserian and Lang’ata Women’s Prison in Nairobi. (Click the title for more projects and information)