CFK Africa, an international non-profit organization with offices in Kenya and the U.S., held its annual community awards celebration in the country’s largest informal settlement, Kibera, on Saturday, July 13. United States Ambassador to Kenya, Margaret “Meg” Whitman, spoke at the event, which honored members of the community who have performed exemplary service.
The awards are given annually to individuals and groups who represent CFK Africa’s mission of transforming informal settlements across Africa by investing in informal settlement youth and public health initiatives.
“We were honored to have Ambassador Whitman grace the occasion,” said CFK Africa executive director Jeffrey Okoro. “As an entrepreneur, Fortune 500 Tech CEO, and now U.S. Ambassador, she has been a pioneer in both business and public service for women. Ambassador Whitman’s career exemplifies our motto of ‘sacrificing for success.”
Ambassador Whitman addressed awardees and other stakeholders at the event, sharing key variables to her own success and advice for younger generations during a moderated discussion with CFK Africa scholarship alumna Sheba Chacha. “I am grateful to be an alumna of CFK Africa, and I will continue to serve my community with the skills CFK Africa has empowered me with,” said Chacha.
CFK Africa is one of the few organizations in Kibera that truly champions local leadership, a key component of its Theory of Change. The awards ceremony at CFK Africa’s HQ in Kibera featured two outstanding awardees, including the only women’s team from informal settlements in Kenya’s Premier League, Kibera Soccer Women FC. The team uses its platform to act as CFK Africa’s “social change” champions and advocate for girls’ empowerment around issues related to sexual and reproductive health, as well as education.
The second awardee was the Kibera Community Emergency Response Team (KCERT), which serves the community during great times of need alongside CFK Africa and other local partners. The KCERT was awarded for their life-saving response during catastrophic flooding earlier in the year, including distributing donated food and other essential supplies to victims.
In addition to the awardees recognized at the event, every participant of CFK Africa’s youth leadership and health programs is integrated into the organization’s alumni network, connecting them with future services and opportunities. At the event, CFK Africa acknowledged a $250,000 gift from alumnus Peter Dixon, which will enable more young leaders to thrive. Dixon completed a Peacock Fellowship with the organization in 2003 and has since maintained his commitment to service in the United States and globally.
A community celebration at Olympic High School in Kibera followed the awards ceremony with entertainment and a football exhibition by CFK Africa’s community youth teams who represent the organization’s values of fostering youth leadership, peace, and social transformation through sports.
A Time Magazine and Gates Foundation “Hero of Global Health,” CFK Africa fights extreme poverty by investing in local leaders and advancing public health with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Kenya Medical Research Institute, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and other partners across urban informal settlements in Kenya.
“All of our work is co-created with the community,” added Okoro. “This weekend’s event allowed us to recognize and honor the resilience, creativity, and innovation of our community members, fostering a sense of pride and unity among us.”
