Community Profile
The Tassia community is located in the Nairobi Eastlands and has an estimated population of 37,000, most of whom are unemployed and live in extreme poverty. The HIV infection rate in Tassia is reported at 12%, and the community is known for its high rate of drunkenness, prostitution, and crime. The CARE for AIDS center in Tassia operates in partnership with Christ Community Church of Tassia under the leadership of Reverend Daniel Makara.
Center Staff
Spiritual Counselor: Dominic Muchir
Dominic joined CFA in 2017 because he has a passion for the needy in society. He and his wife Mary, have two children. His favorite part of the job is, “When I am helping people know themselves better and grow closer to God.”
Medical Counselor: Ruth Wambui Kamau
Ruth grew up in Nairobi, the first of six children raised by a single mom. Today she is married raising three children of her own. She joined CFA to bring hope to the hopeless and to love the unlovable. She feels a calling to serve through CFA.
“My dream for the clients is to see them overcome the stigma of HIV and be able to stand and take care of their families.”
Center History
Year graduates Faith-Decisions Orphans prevented
2017-2018 75 11 250
2018-2019 73 20 202
2019-2020* N/A N/A N/A
2020-2021 73 11 218
*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
naomi, 2019 graduate
Naomi found that she was HIV+ in 2016 when she fell ill. She was devastated to hear the news. Because of her overwhelming fear, she refused to accept the diagnosis and neglected to take her medication.
After her diagnosis, she withdrew from her friends and family. Naomi was used to taking care of herself - both of her parents passed away when she was young and when she was in 8th grade she had to drop out of school to work and support her younger siblings. But a few years after her diagnosis, she was too weak to do it on her own.
In early 2019, one of Naomi’s friends found her weak and bedridden and insisted that she get the help she needed. Bravely, Naomi decided to join the CARE for AIDS program in Tassia, Nairobi. When she first met center counselors Ruth and Dominic, Naomi felt an instant connection. She committed herself to the program and never missed a single counseling session, group therapy, or seminar.
Naomi’s favorite part of the nine-month experience at CARE for AIDS was the spiritual nourishment she received. In addition to weekly prayer and discipleship from the spiritual counselor, Naomi received her first Bible.
“ I had never owned one before - we could never afford it. When I got it, I found a friend in the Bible. Nobody in my home knew my status, but in the Bible, I found comfort and acceptance.”
Naomi graduated from the CARE for AIDS program on November 28th, 2019. She is beginning to implement some of the business skills she learned throughout the program and, most importantly, she now can read and study the word of God daily.
Naomi’s favorite Bible passage is Luke 11. She says she feels comforted by this story about persistence and knows that, if she is persistent in her work and her relationship with God, she will have a flourishing life.
Zihurra, 2018 graduate
When Zihurra found that she was HIV-positive, she wanted to die. Her husband had left her to care for their 1-month old baby alone, and she had no way of making money. She was lonely and feared for her son's future. Her anxiety about the future overtook her life, and she stopped taking her ARV medication. She quickly became very sick. Eventually, her sickness drove her to the local clinic, where she was referred to the CARE for AIDS program at Christ Church Tassia.
When she first joined the program, Zihurra's viral load was high and her immune system was weak. She told the center counselors truth about not taking her medications, but that she was ready to change and that she wanted to get better. She wanted to live and be the one to raise her son. Zihurrah now has many new friends who she shares life with. She is an active member of a savings group, and she now fellowships at Christ Church. After hearing the Gospel from Dominic, Tassia Center's Spiritual Counselor, she accepted Christ as her personal savior. Zihurra celebrated her graduation from the program in mid-November, and she has a great deal of hope for the future of her family.