“You might not know much about Congo,” Elie said, “but I assure you: every one of you carries a piece of Congo in your pocket.” Dear friends and supporters, Elie Mastaki, a young Congolese change-maker, spoke with quiet strength about his country’s breathtaking beauty; fire-spitting volcanoes, the world’s second-largest rainforest, mighty rivers, and vast lakes. […]
Happy Holidays wishes from kanthari Read More »
kanthari blog – Justus Muhwezi – Uganda “Good morning, Muhwezi. I heard Sabondo, your brother, is no more. He died last night.” This is the message I received while I was in India attending the Kanthari leadership course, far away from my family. I was born and raised in Kabale District, southwestern Uganda, in the
Leadership Rooted in rural Ugandan Community Read More »
kanthari blog – Alfred Ngulo – Tanzania That day, my body became a broken compass spinning in pain, directionless, beneath a mango tree. I had tried to walk, but my legs had turned to water and my sight to fog. Just as I surrendered to the silence, a stranger appeared and gave me a second
When Malaria Struck, Purpose Awakened Read More »
kanthari blog – Esther Oke – Nigeria I was in my third year, trapped in a lecture hall I hated. The professor was talking about complex formulas, but all I heard was noise. I felt like a fraud pretending to be a student. I looked again at the photograph of our village’s only clinic at
The Day I Walked Out, And Found Myself Read More »
kanthari blog – Adelaide Bih – Cameroon Imagine overhearing your grandparents worrying about where to borrow money so you can go to the hospital while you’re lying sick in bed? That was me as a child. I felt like a burden. My grandparents had spent everything they had, but my health just wouldn’t improve. I
When Sickness meets poverty – health care in Cameroon Read More »
kanthari blog – Archford Kiwiti – Zimbabwe In 1997, at a CITES conference held at the Harare Sheraton, a young woman’s powerful voice captivated the room. Her singing moved dignitaries, diplomats, and even the president, capturing the heart of the nation and unsettling one man confined to a life of limitations. When I approached her,
Breaking Barriers: Archford’s Triumph Over Disability and Bullying Read More »
Lessons from Matibi -Gilbert Rupere – Zimbabwe Every story has a beginning, and mine traces a journey across continents, cultures, and hard-won transformations. Raised in a small mining village by my grandparents, I spent my childhood herding cattle with friends under the Matibi sun, blissfully unaware of the burdens that would soon come. My father
When Staying Becomes the Bravest Choice Read More »
Stitched from Struggle: Sewing Hope Into the Future For over a decade, Emmanuel worked in fashion houses, draped not in glamour, but in silent frustration. He was the skilled hand behind someone else’s vision, the mind bursting with creativity that no one ever asked to hear. While others cashed in on his long hours and
Sewing Hope Into the Future Read More »
Alick Mandandi grew up in rural Zambia, where he saw hardworking men, like his father, struggle with poor health and neglect after retirement. Witnessing his father’s decline due to untreated chronic illness deeply impacted him and inspired the Men’s Healthy Initiative. Through this project, Alick aims to provide elderly men with healthcare, nutrition, and purpose.
Knowledge Should Never Gather Dust – restoring dignity for Elderly men in Zambia Read More »
My journey as a teenage mother began in 2011, during my first year at university, when I found myself staring at a positive pregnancy test. I was only 18 and felt like my world had collapsed. I dropped out of school, hid from my peers, and struggled to find meaning or direction. But through the
Echoes of Courage: Teen Moms in Cameroon – Rita Bih Fon Read More »