World Café Live from Nairobi: A Conversation on Local Giving for Social Chang

Morine Akinyi Odongo - Founder, ichild Africa

Morine (36) has vast experience in field research. She is enthusiastic about community development and loves working with kids. She is a girl child advocate and a STEM champion!

ichild mentors young boys and girls between the ages of 12 and 19 in areas not limited to quality Education (STEM program) and life skills topics like Responsible Citizenry, Relationships, Menstrual hygiene, and Self-esteem. Through research, Morine and her team discovered that girls in rural set up where finance is a major hurdle cannot afford a sanitary towel that retails at Ksh.50 which has led many to go for “sex for pads”. ichild Africa aims at reducing the statistics of teenage pregnancies by providing girls with pads every month. This is made possible by mobilizing friends and well-wishers for contributions. Anyone can contribute to this vital course; one pad saves one girl a month.

Grace Maingi - Executive Director, Kenya Community Development Foundation 

KCDF focuses on shifting the power to communities and works to promote social justice and the sustainable development of these communities. Grace is a human rights lawyer and has led various not-for-profit organizations in Kenya working in the area of constitutionalism, women’s rights, community development, and the legal profession.

Over the last twenty-one years, Grace has been working on social justice issues that align with her personal values and passion for justice and equality. Grace’s focus now is on enhancing the philanthropy space in Kenya and beyond.

Carolyne Mbithe Nzilani - Youth Development Programme Coordinator, Mathare Roots

Carolyne (27) is the Youth Development Programme coordinator at Mathare Roots, a grassroots organization in the heart of the second-largest informal settlement of Nairobi, Kenya which was founded by young people from Mathare. A group of schoolmates came together with the objective of changing the perspective and narrative about Mathare and transforming it into a better place.

She believes in the power of neighborhood regeneration activities, such as tree planting, arranging musical concerts, and creating awareness-raising murals to bring the whole community together and solve local challenges through the bottom-up approach.

James Gatere - Head of I&M Foundation  

James Gatere, the Head of I&M Foundation, has vast experience in managing corporate philanthropic networks and leading sustainable development projects in different organizations from various geographies in Africa.

As a strategic planner who clearly connects purpose to action with a passion to shape and optimize opportunities, James has worked with not-for-profit organizations and led diverse teams in multiple-country projects. His experience includes program implementation, networking and collaboration, resource mobilization, and knowledge management. He holds a Bachelor of Science (Mathematics) degree from the University of Nairobi, has various qualifications in Project Management, People Management, and Accounting, and is a Certified Mediator.

James is a man of faith who believes that God has a purpose for each and every one of us and our ultimate joy will come as we fulfill that purpose. As a curious learner and talented people person with a sense of adventure, James works to inspire hope, build trust and harness the collective skills of those he leads towards a common purpose. James enjoys empowering young people bringing out the best in them to become all that God created them to be. James is married and has two adult children.

Bhekinkosi Moyo - Director and Adjunct Professor of the Centre on African Philanthropy and Social Investment (CAPSI)  

Bhekinkosi Moyo is the Director and Adjunct Professor of the Centre on African Philanthropy and Social Investment (CAPSI), a writer, researcher, and thought-leader who has championed the African discourse on philanthropy contributed to the growth of many African civil society formations and has taken part in most of the continental processes of development and governance. He has gained considerable experience in management, leadership, and strategic roles over a significant period. He served as Director of programs for the pan-African organization TrustAfrica, where he developed its strategy to cultivate a conducive investment and business environment. He was also part of the formation of the African Union Foundation and became one of its founding council members, working closely with the AU chairperson.

Dr. Sheth Chandu - Medical Doctor (Retired)  

Dr. Sheth Chandu is a retired medical doctor having practiced in the medical field for over 40 years. Since his retirement 18 years ago, he has committed his time and resources to giving back through philanthropy by meeting different communities day to day social needs in areas of health, education, and livelihoods.

Dr. Chandu sits on a number of boards contributing his expertise and resource mobilization skills all aimed at improving the lives and conditions of Kenyans.

Kingwa Kamencu (Moderator) 

Kingwa is a lifelong lover of learning, she has been a recipient of numerous media, leadership, and entrepreneurship residencies, fellowships, and accelerator programs. Starting out as a fiction writer (her first book won the country’s three main awards), she has worked as a contributor, reporter, and editor in publications including Expression Today (ET), The Nation, The People Daily, The Standard, UP! Nairobi, The Guardian, Pambazuka, and The Elephant, among others.

Ms. Kamencu’s approach to change is informed by the recognition of the necessity of enabling changemakers to have a loud voice and presence in the space. Known more on the national scene as a political player, she got into party politics as a student, sitting on the National Executive Committee (NEC) of Ford Kenya Party, and later running for the Kenyan presidency in 2013. Her current projects explore the use of media and popular culture as levers to transform the socio-economic culture from one of violence and trauma to one of nurturing and power.