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Bordered by two rivers, Karima closely neighbors our Kwambekenya community, and its name is a Kikuyu name meaning "small hill". Karima's greatest need is water, as they are dependant upon agriculture as the main source of income. Currently, water can only be retrieved by hand from the river, but there are plans with the leadership council to begin a water project in Summer 2008. Education is also a major need here. Like many Kenyan communities, Karima has an abundance of youth, who they recognize will be the future of their community. The primary school is overcrowded with more that 1,000 students, and is in need of additional classrooms and teachers. This makes learning difficult, thus preventing many children from advancing to secondary school. Along with the youth, there are a large number of widows and single mothers struggling to provide for their children and grandchildren. Karima is also home to the Tumaini Children's Home, which currently houses about 60 orphans, with capacity for about 100. Karima is unique, in that it is a melting pot of people from different areas of Kenya. The community saw a surge in populations back in the early 1990s due to political instability in nearby areas of Kenya. Members of the Kikuyu tribe that were evicted from their homes, migrated to Karima, and eventually settled there. There exists a different, but positive dynamic among the people, as they build a culture in their community and learn how to work together towards growth and stability. |
Pastor Phyllis Wangechi – Chairperson Getrude Njambi Kimani - Sectretary James Thiga Gitau - Accountant Lucy Waithero Ng'ang'a James M Karugah John Muigai Gitau Samuel Waweru Gitau Tambaya |
