Dr. & Mrs. Kamuyu did it! They organized a very successful fundraising walkathon on behalf of Isaka Memorial Foundation for the benefit of Nyamila Community Center for AIDS orphans Kenya. The event took place in Willow Run, bringing together students, parents and teachers from the school district, led by their superintendent Ms Laura Lisiscki; and the members of Brown Chapel A.M.E. of Ypsilanti, whose Pastor is Jerry Hatter.

The inaugural walkathon kicks off a series of fundraisers which will culminate in a major "harambee" at Nyamila later in the years. The purpose of these events is to help build an all-purpose hall which will be used as a vocational training center for our orphans fail to make it to the few high schools of the even fewer University places.

NCC Children perform at President Obama's Annual Inauguration Ceremonies at Kogelo, Siaya. - January 20, 2010

Our children at Nyamila community center are proud to have been invited by Mama Sarah Obama to perform at the annual inauguration ceremonies at Kogelo village. In attendance were the US Ambassador, Michael Ranneberger, Mama Sarah, Siaya District Administration led by the DC, Mr. Cherutich, other senior government officials, a cross section of the NGO's and a multitude of members of the public.

The NCC orphans performed a selection of their now familiar emotional songs, poems and drama. There were moments of riveting fascination, and tears of sadness and joy all at the same time!

MF President's annual visit to Nyamila - Dec 2009

The 10 day visit came a bit early this year - 30th Nov to 12th Dec 2009. As usual it was a joyous occasion to see how well the children had developed over 3 short years. Their song and drama performance was so compelling that we convinced Siaya District Commissioner Mr. Boaz Cherutich to invite them to showcase their talent during the Jamhuri Day Celebrations at the district stadium on 12/12/2009

Courtesy call on President Obama's grandma in Kogelo

While in Kenya, we made the short journey from Kaluo Nyamila to Kogelo to visit Mama Sarah. Unknown to many people, Mama Sarah looks after many orphans from within her village at Kogelo. While planning to build a formal center, she collects and distributes food and clothing to the many unfortunate children on a regular basis. It was very encouraging to hear her heartfelt concerns for the less fortunate of our society. During the annual celebrations marking President Obama's inauguration, to be observed at Kogelo on 18th-20th Jan 2010, our children at Nyamila Community Center have been invited to showcase their songs and drama performances. These children are quickly becoming desirable at most local celebrations.

Agricultural assistance program takes off!

The long awaited volunteer agronomist from VSO (Volunteer Services Organization )has arrived from the Philippines and is onsite at Nyamila Community Center. Ms. Julia Alisto will transform our nascent agricultural program into a real income generating activity, ridding the community of food aid dependency, and providing the badly needed food security.

2nd Annual Lincoln High Walkathon Oct., 2009

Under the leadership of Principal Mr. Quezada and his two very able and active members of staff Marcia Lyttle and Aferdita Silverman, along with the rest of the Lincoln High School team, this year's walkathon was very successful. We had a very busy morning with the students and their siblings, teachers, parents and well wishers flocking the athletics track to take part in the second annual walk-a-thon. All the proceeds will go towards supporting the programs at Nyamila Community Center for Aids Orphans.

Material Donations - FactSet Research Systems

Karen Ashley of FactSet Research Systems is now well known to those who follow our cause. She has been organizing her colleagues at their offices in Connecticut, USA to hold an annual hunger awareness week. This time, August 2009, she got her company to ship goods directly to Nyamila Community Center. The goods included Blankets, T-shirts, Caps and School Supplies.  The orphans at our center have greatly benefited from this generous and thoughtful donation.

Innovative Fund Raising in New York - Zahra Waliji

Zahra has been interning at UNFPA, with Dr. Mary Otieno, the IMF Secretary & Co-founder. When she heard about the plight of AIDS orphans at Nyamila Community Center, in Kenya, she decided to do something about it. Instead of accepting gifts from relatives, colleagues and friends for her birthday, she asked them to donate to Isaka Memorial Foundation. This single individual effort has raised a considerable sum of money for our center.

Born in Kenya and educated in USA (Franklin & Marshall College, in Lancaster, PA., and Monterey, CA), Zahra says “My professional interests include combating HIV/AIDS through education and providing universal access to preventative medicine.“, she continues, “I have witnessed HIV/AIDS kill my country’s people. I have seen individuals wither away within three months. HIV/AIDS is destroying a large segment of the underdeveloped world”

During this period when corporate donations have reduced, every dollar that we can get helps to keep our center open for the unfortunate AIDS orphans. In addition to collecting funds for us, Zahra has helped publicize our cause through our website: www.isakamemorial.org. She grew up in Kenya, and has an insightful understanding of how devastated the AIDS orphans are, given that their community was already impoverished.

You will continue to read about Zahra as she joins Isaka Memorial Foundation in our effort to better the lives of AIDS orphans.

Siaya District Commissioner Mr. Cherutich visits Nyamila Community center - March 19, 2009

The Siaya DC, Mr. Cherutich, accompanied by his departmental heads, visited the newly opened Nyamila Community Center. The DC inspected the new center building and the water bore-hole before addressing a large gathering of local leaders, the children, the caregivers and the members of the community.

This was a historical occasion because, no previous DC had ever visited this area. The DC applauded his invitation commenting that it indicated the transparency and accountability of the center. He promised to assist the center in its many needs through his departmental heads.

NCC officials look forward to working with the district offices to leverage assistance in the areas of Health, Agriculture & Nutrition, Education, Electric power and other infrastructural developments.

The local Maendeleo Ya Wanawake leader Ms. Patricia Apoli also addressed the gathering.

During the occasion, the center orphans showcased their newly formed choir through their songs and poems.

Before the main part of the occasion started, NCC officials took time to give the DC and his team a brief history of the center and its accomplishments. The Center Manager Mr. Charles Omondi was accompanied by the NCC Chairman Mr. Caleb Owiti. The NCC Asst. Treasurer, Mr. James Ochieng took all these impressive pictures.

A section of the orphans took time to enjoy their newly opened community center. As can be seen from the pictures the school girls look quite healthy and confident, thanks to the tireless work of the officials and staff at NCC.

Seminar by VSO Jitolee at Nyamila

After discussions with VSO (Voluntary Services International), their Kenyan chapter VSO Jitolee sent their program Manager for HIV & AIDS Mr. Charles Maloba to Nyamila Community Center on 9th February 2009. He conducted a whole day Seminar with the caregivers to determine the technical assistance required at Nyamila Community Center. The caregivers have agreed that the most pressing need is to upgrade their agricultural knowledge and practices. VSO has undertaken to provide a volunteer expert to assist with Agriculture and Horticulture for a period of 2 years starting July 2009.

Professor Gerhard Wiegleb and his wife Anna, of Dortmund, Germany have donated a Solar Cooker to be used at the Center. The Solar Cooker will be used in preparation of hot lunches for the school-going orphans at the center. This new approach is to ensure that the children get regular balanced meals, at least once a day.

See picture of Solar Cooker next to the passing pupils.

Below: The children enjoy a hot meal at the center during the seminar.

Visit from Boulder, Colorado, USA (Jan., 2009)

Mr. Darryl Brown and Ms. Sally Fistler from Boulder Colorado, USA visited Nyamila Community Center on 7th January, 2009. While on a trip to work on the modalities of twinning their home city Boulder and Kisumu, they took advantage of the opportunity to visit our center as well as Kaluo Health Center where our orphans receive medical services. Our long time associate Mr. Maxwell Marx, of Maryland, USA, also attended the occasion. With backgrounds in medical institutions, we are looking forward to working with the two to upgrade our only medical facility, among other badly needed programs at the center.

During the week-long visit by IMF President to the  Center, several meetings were held with the center staff and management officials. We also met with the Siaya District Commissioner, Mr. Boaz Cheruiyot and reviewed areas where his office will assist our center.

FactSet Research Systems – Hunger Awareness Week (Nov., 2008)

For another year, Ms. Karen Ashley, a member of our board of directors, has organized a very successful Hunger Awareness Week at their offices in Norwalk, Connecticut, USA. During this annual event, Karen asks her colleagues at FactSet Research Systems to forgo their lunches for one week and donate the proceeds to assist Isaka Memorial Foundation, among other charities. This donation will go towards installation of Solar Power at our newly built administration block at Nyamila Community Center in Siaya, Kenya.

Ms. Marcia Lyttle put together a wonderful walkathon to help raise funds for Isaka Memorial Foundation, on Saturday, November 22, 2008 at their school in Yonkers, New York. Despite the chilly and windy weather the students, teachers and volunteers braved the conditions and remained upbeat throughout the event. For those who have followed our fund-raising efforts, you will remember that Marcia had organized a similar event through her church, Bezer Holiness Church. Lincoln High plans to make this an annual event, and listening to the students and their teachers, next year will be even bigger and better. Go Lancers!

This time, with the blessings of Lincoln High School principal, Mr. Edwin Quezada, the teachers students and volunteers came out in large numbers to assist the AIDS orphans in Siaya, Kenya. It may interest the readers that Nyamila Community Center is located in Alego location, the home of the father of President Barack Obama.

IMF President Visits Omicron/
Crossing Boarders in Austria, (July 28, 2008)

After lengthy long distance discussions with Crossing Borders, the philanthropic wing of Omicron Electronics GmbH, of Austria, the IMF President visited the company for face-to-face discussions about the possibilities of a long-term partnership.

The president had an opportunity to have a 2-hour presentation with the leaders and members of Crossing Borders, which included the top management of Omicron Electronics. Ms. Britta Pfeiffer has been selected by Crossing Borders to be the mentor (liaison) for Isaka Memorial Foundation. The details of the partnership are being documented and will be available shortly.

Click here to see members of Omicron/Crossing Boarders...

KCA College Chapter Visits Nyamila, (June 2008)

A group of 14 members comprising KCA College Chapter from Oklahoma University and Maisha International Orphanage visited Nyamila Community Center in June 2008. See pictures below:

IMF Secretary and Co-Founder, Dr. Mary Otieno
Visits Nyamila Community  Centre - October 6, 2007

While attending  UN meetings in Nairobi, Kenya, Dr. Otieno made a weekend trip to Nyamila Village in Siaya District to inspect the project and report back to IMF board of directors in USA. She was accompanied from Nairobi by the NCC Asst. Treasurer,  James Ochieng'.

All the orphans and their surviving parents were at the site to welcome IMF and to witness the official opening of the water project.

Water Project Details: