- The leaders from 30 CBOs spread across Nairobi also received grants from SHOFCO to carry out community services in their areas.
- Shofco intends to support CBOs across Kenya in the next five years to undertake community services.
Image: HANDOUT
Shining Hope for Communities (SHOFCO) Founder and CEO Dr Kennedy Odede met Community-Based Organisations (CBOs) in Kibera on Tuesday in a bid to mentor them to be change-makers in their communities.
The leaders from 30 CBOs spread across Nairobi also received grants from SHOFCO to carry out community services in their areas.
“When I started SHOFCO, I believed in myself and my community. That is why we have grown to where we are today. It is all about community service and not to enrich oneself,” Dr. Odede told the CBO representatives," he said.
Dr Odede further told them to avoid corruption and misuse of donor funds because they are meant to uplift the people's lives in the community.
“I hope the money you have received will help your CBOs to grow. I encourage you to use the money prudently to change your communities and be an example to other organisations out there,” he stated.
The SHOFCO founder said his organisation will also help the CBOs in capacity building, including training on governance, leadership, and report writing.
“We need you to lead change in your communities. We need other ‘SHOFCOs’ to come from you. We are proud of what you do and that’s why we are here to support you,” Dr. Odede added.
CBO leaders expressed appreciation for the grants and promised not to let SHOFCO down.
“I have tasted Odede’s generosity after he came through for us as Maono Africa. We were struggling with rent arrears amounting to Sh300,000 and he cleared it for us.
“This is a testimony that Odede likes building others. He doesn’t support the community alone; he also supports upcoming CBOs which is a unique thing. May God bless him and SHOFCO as a whole,” Kenneth Owili, Maono Africa Executive Director and Co-Founder, said.
Owili further said finding ways to fund CBOs has been Odede’s dream for many years and he was happy to see it come into fruition.
“I am pleased to see that Odede’s dream has come to pass. I want to thank SHOFCO for believing in grassroots organizations and the impact they make in the places they work,” Owili stated.
Loise Atieno, another beneficiary of the grant, thanked SHOFCO for believing in youth-led CBOs.
“I want to thank SHOFCO for believing in young people. This means the organization is committed to change not only the current generation but also the future of our country. I am a proud empowered youth today,” she said.
Kawangware-based Warembo Unique CBO Chairperson Margaret Wamaitha said SHOFCO’s empowerment program has helped sex workers in Dagoretti North to fend for themselves.
“As sex workers from Kawangware, we did not know that we could be given a platform to express ourselves and be funded. People have called us names but SHOFCO has given us a reason to smile.
“Workers no longer sell their bodies to get bread, because you have taught them how to get bread. They are no longer in the streets because they have something to do courtesy of SHOFCO,” Wamaitha said.
SHOFCO intends to support CBOs across Kenya in the next five years to undertake community services.