KENWA’s executive director Asunta Wagura was only 22 and just beginning her studies at Nairobi Medical School in Kenya, when she was diagnosed as being HIV-positive.
Expelled from school and shunned by her family, she was sent home and given just six months to live. "My family would not come near me or talk to me. I was banished to my room and left alone to die,” she remembers. “
"At the beginning I was in shock. Then I was in anger, anger mounted to heartbreak, heartbreak to grief, grief to surrender and acceptance. Then, I decided it was time to take action against HIV/AIDS.”
In 1993, she and four other HIV-positive women founded KENWA, a grassroots community-based organization. Its humble mission—to improve the quality of life for women with AIDS and their children. KENWA gained NGO (nongovernmental organization) status in 1998. Now it provides life-supporting services to 6951 people.
KENWA FACTS AND LINKS
- Asunta Wagura OGW received the honor Order of the Great Warrior of Kenya by the president of Kenya for her work for people with AIDS.
- Last year, KENWA supported 2% of Kenyans that were on ARV therapy.
- KENWA was featured in the VH1 Documentary "Tracking the Monster: Ashley Judd and India.Arie Confront AIDS in Africa."
- Click Video: India.Arie listens to children sing about how their parents died of AIDS.
- Bono's remarks at the National Prayer Breakfast.
Executive Director: Asunta Wagura (Nairobi, Kenya)
Email: Information
Director of Operations: Debra Sale Wendler (Austin, Texas)
Email: Director of Operations
Telephone: 254-20-6766677 (outside Kenya)
6766677 or 765925 (inside Nairobi)
Mailing Address: KENWA
P.O BOX 10001, 00100
Nairobi, Kenya
Delivery Address: City Gate House
Second Floor, Marang'a Road, Nairobi, Kenya
Regular mail is not reliable (even if registered). We use Air Parcel Express 877-597-0258 (toll free)
KENWA runs extensive programs from the following community care centers:
Pangani–Nairobi (Head office) |
Soweto–Nairobi (Embakasi constituency) |
Korogocho–Nairobi (Kasarani constituency) |
Kiandutu–Thika (Central Province) |
Mathare– Nairobi (Starehe constituency) |
Mjini–Murang’a (Central Province) |
Kiambiu–Nairobi (Kamukunji constituency) |
Kiawara–Nyeri (Central Province) |
KENWA'S UK affiliate: Izabella Tolowinska (London, England)
Email: KENWA UK
KENWA.ORG Copyright 2006
