community profile
Mtopanga is a community in Mombasa with a dense population and high infection rate. CARE for AIDS began operations in partnership with the African Inland Church of Mtopanga in October 2016.
center staff
HEALTH Counselor: Beatrice Cherono Bii
Beatrice serves as the Health Counselor for the Mtopanga center in the Mombasa region. She is caring for her clients’ physical health through medical intervention and adherence and educating clients on proper nutrition as a way of managing their disease.
Spiritual Counselor, Douglas Mgolo
Douglas is married to Loise and they have two children. In 2015, Douglas joined CFA motivated by a desire to transform lives and to show love to the unlovable. He loves talking about Jesus to show clients there is hope.
center history
Year graduates Faith-Decisions Orphans prevented
2016-2017 68 8 241
2017-2018 50 8 162
2018-2019 69 11 209
2019-2020* N/A N/A N/A
2020-2021 TBD TBD TBD
*The cohort in the 2019-2020 class was impacted by delays in the CARE for AIDS program caused by COVID-19 lockdowns and health precautions. To learn more about how we responded to the pandemic, visit this page.
graduate profiles
Rajab Stephen Otieno and Lilian Aoko Okut, 2020 client couple
Rajab and Lilian joined the CARE for AIDS program in Mtopanga as a couple in 2019. When they first joined, Rajab was using alcohol to self medicate. He was so distraught about his HIV status that he did little other than drink, a habit that nearly drove Lilian to leave him.
Since they had joined the program as a couple, the center counselors offered to do marriage counseling with them in addition to their one on one sessions. During one of these sessions, Lilian expressed her desperation about Rajab’s drinking, and he realized the impact his self medication was having on his marriage. He vowed to work toward sobriety, and the couple began the process of healing and reconciliation. In the course of this marriage reconciliation process, they both gave their lives to Christ. They joined the CARE for AIDS partner church and are now enrolled in a long-term couples discipleship program.
Though the pandemic has affected their business, Lilian still practices the skills she learned in the empowerment seminars at the center. She makes and sells liquid soap and bleach in the neighborhood. Rajab and Lilian are full of hope when they look toward the future. We cannot wait to see how they continue to heal and thrive in the coming months and years.
Esha, 2018 Graduate:
Esha found out she was HIV-positive when she was pregnant with her last born. She had married young and had a strained relationship with her husband, so she was hesitant to share with him about her status.
Esha learned about the CARE for AIDS program through another client and immediately joined. Although it was a risk for her to join a program in a Christian church, she has no regrets- she is less stressed, encouraged, and she has learned how to make liquid soap she can sell to make a living.
“To Muslims, it may be bad to go to this Christian church. But I think it’s good because it helps me. I want to be an advocate for others to join the program.”
Abdallah, 2017 Graduate:
Abdallah Kazungu is a single father of three. He joined the CARE for AIDS program in Mtopanga, Mombasa after being referred there by the local clinic. As a dedicated Muslim, he was hesitant to participate in the spiritual counseling sessions, but he soon warmed up to the idea of connecting with the counselors and his classmates about spiritual growth. He even asked for a Bible that he could read at home with his children.
Abdallah graduated from the program in August and has learned all of the skills necessary to care for himself and his children. " Through the program, I have been able to overcome fear and stigma and now live a happy, healthy and peaceful life." Join us in praying for Abdallah and his family- we are thrilled that the Lord has planted a seed in his life through the program and we are hopeful that he will continue in his faith journey.