Carolina for Kibera

Established in 2001, Carolina for Kibera, Inc. (CFK) is a 501 (c)(3) international non-governmental organization based in the Kibera slum of Nairobi, Kenya. CFK has an office and youth center in Kibera, as well as support services housed at the University Center for International Studies (UCIS) at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. CFK has established a youth sports program, girls' center, medical clinic, and waste management program. Time Magazine named CFK a "Hero of Global Health" in 2005.

Purpose

Run by Kenyans and advised by American and Kenyan volunteers, CFK's primary mission is to promote youth leadership and ethnic and gender cooperation in Kibera through sports, young women's empowerment, and community development. Additionally, CFK works to improve basic healthcare, sanitation, and education in Kibera.

Philosophy

CFK's philosophy is grounded in the concept of participatory development. Solutions to problems involving poverty are possible only if those affected by it drive development. Concerned outsiders can help by mobilizing communities, advising, networking, and providing resources. Ultimately, however, the community possesses the knowledge and motivation that are necessary to solve its own problems.

External links

* [http://cfk.unc.edu Carolina for Kibera]