The Imani Project

The Imani Project is a vision of hope, faith and inspiration; a demonstration of what a small group of dedicated people across the world can accomplish to mobilize against HIV/AIDS. Imani is translated “faith” in Kiswahili. The project is a partnership between Americans and Africans based on cultural understanding and mutual respect.

The co-founders of the Imani Project are Marlene Anderson of Portland, Oregon and Francis Kahindi Mwaduna of Masheheni, Kenya. The Imani Project was designed and implemented by African people in a rural village on the Eastern coast of Kenya. The need for such a project was staggering; no one had ever been to the rural villages outside Malindi, Kenya to talk with villagers about HIV/AIDS awareness and prevention. Fear, caused by lack of education and awareness has exacerbated the spread of HIV/AIDS throughout the villages at an alarming rate. The people are so poor they are primarily concerned with food resources and sanitation issues (clean drinking water) rather than the enormous threat posed by the HIV/AIDS pandemic. They have none or very little money, and are unable to access HIV/AIDS resources in the larger town or cities. Many villagers do not speak or read English, as it has only been in the last two years that Primary Education (grades 1-8) has been free to all Kenyan children.

After many months of planning on both sides of the world, The Kenya Imani Project was registered with the Kenyan Department of Social Services in December 2004. It is a CBO, or Community Based Organization. The certificate number is SS/MLD/CD/2/3328/2004. In January 2005, the American Imani Project became part of the non-profit Community Information Center, and in November 2007 The Imani Project became an independent 501C3.

The Imani Project is a grassroots effort based on the concepts of community and connection. Marlene Anderson has traveled to Kenya for the past seven years. She has worked closely with African villagers to develop programs that are economically and environmentally sustainable. The goal of the Imani Project is to enable Africans to become educators, caregivers and advocates so that HIV/AIDS awareness and prevention information will continue to spread throughout the rural villages.

Summer 2007 Update

• Marlene Anderson, Imani Project Director, and five Imani Project volunteers traveled to the coastal villages in Kenya for one month to work with village project volunteers. Many, many thanks to Dana Smith and Heather Smith from Lake Oswego Oregon, Julie McKinley from Cathlament, Washington, and Branda Tiffany and Kimberlee Sheng from Portland Oregon. This summer we accomplished more work to educate, prevent and treat HIV/AIDS than ever before.
• Classes on awareness, prevention and treatment of HIV/AIDS were taught to children in the following villages: Sabaki, Masheheni, Majahazini, Burangi, Mwangatini, Majenjeni, and Manziwani. Classes were taught in both English and Swahili to Class 6, 7 and 8. (compares to 6th, 7th, and 8th grade). Students are often older as they have dropped out to help with younger siblings, farming or sheparding, etc.) Kenya passed legislation four years ago 0that all children are entitled to a free primary education (Class 1 through Class 8). Many families are now sending all their children to school, and the schools are very overcrowded resulting in a grave teacher shortage. Legislation is now being considered by the Kenya government to make secondary education free, and this would be a great victory. Altogether classes were given to about 1500 children. The children are the most educated members of their families, and were encouraged to go home and share information with parents and other relatives.
• Classes were held for adult villagers focusing on HIV/AIDS education, awareness and prevention. Classes for men and women were given in Sabaki, Masheheni, Majahazini, Barangi Mwangatini, Musifini and Mnazimoja. Hundreds of villagers attended these classes. Swahili was used to teach these classes as most adults so not speak English as they didn?t attend school. Each adult received handouts in Swahili, a one kilogram bag of maize flour, and condoms.
• American Imani Project volunteers brought l00 HIV/AIDS saliva tests to be used for testing children and very ill adults. The results were amazing. A quick swab of the upper and lower gum line, a dip in solution for 20 minutes and you have a 98% accurate reading of HIV status. In villages where the Imani Project has been presenting classes for the past several years, the death rate from HIV/AIDS has been dramatically reduced.
• Medical Clinics were held in the villages of Sabaki, Masheheni (including villagers from Musifini Mnazimoja, Majahazini), and Barangi ( including Mwangatini). Julie McKinley, R.N., an American IP volunteer provided medical treatment to over 500 villagers. Several months ago the Imani Project paid for training for fifteen Imani Project Volunteers from the villages to be trained as Community Health Workers. Community Health Workers are able to give medication.
• CAREKITS for villagers living with HIV/AIDS are now being put together at the Imani Project office in Masheheni. Imani Project volunteers visit people living with AIDS on a regular basis, and provide medication and CAREKITS as needed. Caregivers can get additional CAREKITS from the office as needed.
• The Imani Project office in Masheheni has been extended to three rooms (examining room, medication dispensary and storage). Updates to the building have included a new roof, building 0a porch with railing, chairs and table, and a much needed coat of paint. The Imani Project office is the center of village activities (immunizations for school children, meetings with District Health Officer, village chiefs and elders, Masheheni school Board meetings, and other important village meetings).
• Lucy Hawthorne, a talented young woman from England spent six months volunteering for the Imani Project (Novembe r2006 to May 2007) Lucy was instrumental in helping the Imani Project staff with organizational structure, accountability, budgeting, income generating activities (IGA?S), and program proposals. We are very grateful for her assistance; she made a tremendous difference.
• American IP volunteers and village IP volunteers visited with each orphan identified during last years orphan registration. Letters, pictures, and gifts from sponsors were given to each sponsored orphan. Each child drew a picture or wrote a letter to be given to their sponsor. This program has been very successful in setting up personal connections between orphans and sponsors. Please consider sponsoring an orphan; their pictures and social stories are on the Imani Project website.
• Gifts kits were put together by the youth group at the First Unitarian Church in Portland Oregon for all orphans who do not have a sponsor. These kits included pens and pencils, candy, jump-ropes, bubble blowers, toothbrushes and toothpaste, balls, shampoo, conditioner and soap.

All itineraries and travel arrangements are through Benson Mugambi of Ben's Ecological Safaris and Tours.
Accommodations may be arranged through Rodger Karabu at Sabaki River Camp and Cottage.