Patrick has been involved with Ugali Youth since its beginning in 2001. He came to the U.S. as a Presidential Scholar at Xavier University in Cincinnati, Ohio, where he earned a degree in psychology. He now works with Iwata Bolts Inc. in Cincinnati and works to support Ugali Youth’s programs.
Who We Are
Ugali is a 501 (c) (3) public charity, founded to fulfill the mandate of Matthew 25 “To care for the needy, to clothe the naked, to feed the hungry and welcome the strangers.” Our vision is to provide vital resources and assistance to the youth in Kenya, to help them see opportunity and realize dreams for a better tomorrow.
Mathare: Why We Serve In Mathare
Mathare is one or the oldest and worst slums in Africa. Located three miles from the center of Kenya’s capital city, Nairobi, Mathare is home to 700,000 people crowded into two square miles.
Among these congested living spaces, families of four share a ten-by-ten foot home, cobbled together from sheet metal, scrap wood and mud. They have no source of clean water, streets that are really open sewers, and roads that do not allow fire or police vehicles to enter. They lack adequate food, shelter and healthcare; disease and lawlessness are rampant.
This is where Ugali Youth works to empower Kenya’s next generation. Our work focuses on three areas: creating learning spaces, improving quality of life and equipping leaders.
Ugali team believes that deep human connection is the purpose and result of a meaningful life, one that will inspire the most amazing acts of love and generosity amongst the next generation. We are therefore committed to promoting welfare of youth, allowing them to live a happy life without being left out.
Our prayer is that as you join with us in serving the youth of Kenya, you will know the shared blessing of ugali.
Asante Sana!
Become a Mentor: Spend some time getting to know youth in need of a friend and positive role model.
Volunteer Your Time: Volunteer at the Nuru Center
Advocate For Us: Help youth find answers and purpose in life.
Work With Us: Share your skills/talents to help us with day-to-day operations.
Advisory Board Member
Dr. Stephanie Ibemere
I am a registered nurse with an eclectic nursing background with a passion for global health capacity building and clinical education related to chronic disease management. I particularly focus on three parts of the globe at this time: Sierra Leone, Guatemala, United States. My aim is two fold: the first is to develop a research program to build the existing healthcare capacity of sickle cell disease providers to improve access to and quality of culturally appropriate patient care; the second aim is use the same framework to improve health outcomes for children and adults in neglected regions of Guatemala.
Board Member
Dr. Angela Migowa
Doctor Angela Migowa has a Bachelors degree in Medicine and Surgery, a Masters in Paediatrics and Child Health and a third degree in Paediatric Rheumatology. Angela is also an Assistant Professor at the Aga Khan University Hospital in Nairobi, Kenya. There are many doctors who specialize in adult rheumatology, but very few pediatric rheumatologists, especially in Africa. As it stands now we are 13 in Africa. About six in South Africa, about four in North Africa, in Eastern Africa about two and there's one who just completed her training headed for Ghana. Angela is a great spiritual individual with a sensitive ability to touch and change lives for the better, she is truly a great asset to Ugali team.
Board Member
Dr. Mercy Kitavi
Mercy Kitavi became involved with Ugali Youth because she herself knows the struggle to overcome poverty. She grew up in a rural village in eastern Kenya and pursued her secondary education in a provincial school, where she experienced water shortages among other hardships. Through hard work, she obtained a degree in science from Edgerton University in the Rift Valley region of Kenya, giving her the education that has lighted her path.
Board Member
Rosemary Wachera
Rosemary became involved with Ugali Youth because she has a big heart for children and believes that every child is a gift from God and deserves to be loved, nurtured and treasured. A graduate of Daystar University with a bachelor’s degree in psychology and business administration, she is engaged in charity work, mentorships in schools and prison ministry.
Board Member
Christopher G. Odongo
Christopher is part of the Ugali Youth team in the U.S. to give back to the youth in Kenya. He grew up in Sega, a village in western Kenya and came to the U.S. to study at Thomas More University in Northern Kentucky. There he earned a bachelor’s degree in accountancy, a minor in business administration, and an associate degree in computer information systems. He worked for PWC in Cincinnati as a Risk Assurance Associate and now getting his masters in Customer Analytics at Xavier University.
Board Member
Jamie Gobeille
Jamie is a freelance web developer and tech blogger, based in Cincinnati, Ohio. He has a bachelor’s degree in Japanese and Asian studies from the University of Cincinnati. He is passionate about developing interesting websites and new applications for technology and is happy to be part of the Ugali Youth team.
Member
Emma Kinyua
When girls experience trauma or severe life stressors, it is not uncommon for their lives to unravel. Emma Kinyua is a great and important part of bringing healing to the Maisha Safe House girls of Nairobi, Kenya. Emma is welcoming, loving, and passionate about helping vulnerable youth fight injustices against women in her community.
Member
Florence Keya
"Florence keya is the embodiment of life- Maisha in Kiswahili. Flo provides a new life of safety, care, and love for young women with nowhere positive to turn. I see new life and the joy it brings every single time I visit Maisha Safehouse.
On one memorable visit, the girls were coming home from boarding schools all over Kenya for holidays and I witnessed their reunion at Maisha. There was a joy in that room that I have rarely beheld on this earth. They were beyond exhilarated to see one another and hug each other in their new safe home of love and life... MAISHA!"- Joshua Peters SJ
Member
Sylvia Chemweno
Sylvia Chemweno is from ElgeyoMarakwet County in Kenya. Through Zawadi Africa she got a Scholarship to Study at Xavier University where she majored in Environmental Science and and double minors in Gender & Diversity Studies as well as Peace and Justice Studies.
Sylvia is passionate about giving back to her community and advocating for disadvantage communities. She is vocal about gender issues and she unapologetically calls herself a feminist.
Member
David Omondi Okoth
David Omondi Okoth is a jump rope coach and founding member of both the Jump Rope Association of Kenya [JRAK] and Kenya Jump Rope Federation [KJRF]. As a trained peer youth educator, he has been dedicated full-time to the formation of youthful change-agents for close to a decade. He is passionately engaged in both school-based and informal programs which are designed to accompany and transform the next generation of children and youths using rope-skipping skills.
Member
Larry Liza
Larry is Director of the World Customs Organization, East and Southern Africa Regional Office for Capacity Building. Previously, he served in various positions in the region with the Customs and Border Control Department of the Kenya Revenue Authority.
Member
Steve Kariithi
Steve is pastor of a church serving the people in Mathare. He grew up in Nairobi, Kenya, where his parents were also pastors, serving there. They named him for Steven Biko, the anti-apartheid activist. Steve is now an activist of a different type, seeking to improve the lives of youth in Mathare, through the Nuru Center.
Member
Coach AJ
Augustine James, known as Coach AJ by the youth, runs year-round programs and works closely with young people, developing relationships built on caring, compassion and mutual respect. He was drawn to Ugali Youth to help young people deal with the incredible challenges and life-threatening risks they face on a daily basis.