Grassroots OT in Kenya
by Bob Spensley and Kim Barthel
We all know that we cannot control many things that we perceive as unjust. However, with clarity of mind and courage of heart we can all still try to have influence. Today, our wish is to influence the supporting of some people we know and trust in rural Kenya who have a deep will, capacity and emerging opportunity to provide occupational care (in the broadest sense) for the very first time.
This is a new opportunity to support one of our dear colleagues, Jimmy Muriithi, a trusted member of our Global Mentorship Alliance, in his efforts to set up a mobile therapy clinic in difficult-to-access rural Kenya. He is already active doing what he can with very few resources and a team of local volunteers in the Kajiado and Samburu villages, hoping to expand support to the village of Kisoro located along the relatively unstable Uganda-Congo border. As background, Jimmy is an Occupational Therapist, Medic, Mission Founder of Village of Love Africa, and recently earned his law degree so that he can begin to impact more societal change going forward.
Kim recently interviewed Jimmy about his team’s grassroots initiative, see short 9 minute video here and here's a link to the fuller interview. If you’re like us in that you’re called to financially help what they’re doing – perhaps also to feel more hope about the positive things we humans are capable of influencing, here is the link to where we believe even tiny donations will make a significant and direct contribution.
UPDATE AS OF JANUARY, 2025:
Happy to report as of January 4th, 2025 they have just topped the 1/2 way mark ($5,100 so far!) in their goal of raising $10k USD for occupational therapy outreach in rural Kenya. Immense thank you to those who donated. The first shipping container is being transported (see images and video below) to the site where it will be customized as a base for supporting people in ways they haven’t had the chance to be supported before. An additional upside from the international sharing of this project is that a couple OTs from Australia who happened to be in Africa recently heard about it, met up with Jimmy in-person, and were able to do some volunteering with him. The power of positive intention and connection! For those who would still like to be a part of helping Jimmy’s team reach their goals, please click the button below! In particular, Jimmy has let us know that they have come across an imported combination of a hoist and examination couch which they hope they can acquire for $500, the photo is below.
