community profile
Ziwani (Majengo Village) has an estimated population of 25,000 and is divided into four sub-settlements— Sofia, Mashimoni, Katanga, and Digo. The majority of the community’s residents live in shared room plots with an average of 6 occupants per room. Many of the housing plots lack access to electricity, and are made of scrap materials and mud. Ziwani has a high HIV infection rate mainly because of the commercial sex industry. The population of the community is extremely diverse, and there is a strong Muslim presence.
"You walk around our community and see there are so many needs. We are grateful to be the conduit by which God meets some of those needs. We trust Him to meet the rest." - Pastor Regina, Ziwani
center staff
Spiritual Counselor, Kefa Naya:
Kefa grew up in Ziwani, Nairobi and is now serving in the same community where he was raised. “When the opportunity to serve the suffering people in my community, I thanked God that I got the privilege to do so.” Kefa wants supporters to know,
“You are not only giving money but also hope, care, and a platform to show God’s love to a hurting world. Thank you so so so much, and God richly bless you all.”
Health Counselor, Lillian Munki:
Lillian joined the CARE for AIDS team in 2016 and serves as the Health Counselor at Ziwani. She is pictured here with her “miracle baby”, Aliza! Lillian says, “The church can fully embrace people with HIV.” She wants to be an example in her community and she believes CARE for AIDS can bring an end to the stigma of a positive status.
center history
YEAR GRADUATES FAITH-DECISIONS ORPHANS PREVENTED
2016-2017 60 14 105
2017-2018 63 8 155
2018-2019 66 14 168
2019-2020* N/A N/A N/A
2020-2021 69 11 162
*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
Paul, 2020 Client (story from Spiritual Counselor, Kefa)
Serving as a spiritual counselor at Ziwani has been an awesome experience, just to see the great things that GOD is doing in the lives of our clients through CFA, and the local host church. One of our clients had fallen on quite difficult times, when a series of very unfortunate events happened to him. Paul, a husband, father of four, and the sole breadwinner had lost his job at a security firm, where he was working as a security guard four months ago. Previous to this, his health condition had been declining and due to this, he had been visiting his local comprehensive care clinic where he took his Anti-retroviral medication. The scheduled appointments put him in a precarious position, whether to tend to his job or adhere to treatment. Paul opted to keep to his appointments, his supervisor who knew about Paul’s HIV status, used Paul’s unfortunate situation as an opportunity to discriminate against him and falsely accuse him. He castigated Paul for absenteeism from his place of work, even though he had always asked for permission when visiting the clinic. With that Paul was fired.
Falling on very difficult economic times with five mouths to feed was an extremely challenging time for Paul. Losing his job and later his family since his wife had left him taking with her the children, she went to live with a relative, because he could no longer provide for them. The food rations he would receive at the center were helpful to his family, at least he could take something to his children, who were living with their mother at his sister in-law’s house, despite the shame that as a man he couldn’t provide for them, he tried to press on but still, nothing seemed to work. His landlord’s ultimatum had elapsed, his house rent was already more than three months overdue. Anticipating his eviction, Paul despaired and fell into a deep depression. Despite the many conversations over the phone and the few times he’d visit the center for his food rations, Paul decided he’d had enough and resolved to end his life by hanging himself and ending his misery. On the very day he had decided on committing suicide, was the day we had called him along with other clients to come to the center for a therapy session, we conducted the therapy and on closing shared from Mathew 11:28 – “Come unto Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” Paul requested to see me urgently after the session and amidst tears recounted all that had befallen him, the grave conclusion he had arrived at and how GOD had convicted him and dissuaded him from the dangerous decision he was about to take. I encouraged him but also shared the Gospel with him, Paul gave his life to Jesus. I’m discipling him through the church discipleship program and walking with him.
I’m grateful to GOD for CFA, that HE has chosen to use wonderful people who are so far away in the USA, in partnership with local churches to touch the lives of people who are in HIS Heart, people who are hurting such as Paul. There are many others like him who may never be reached, but by the grace of GOD, this soul - a father, a husband, and a man whose dignity is being restored, has been reached.
May GOD bless you all abundantly, for your compassion.
SUSAN, 2017 Graduate
Susan joined the CARE for AIDS program at Ziwani in 2016. Before joining the program she had kept her HIV status secret for years- even from her husband and son. Susan was terrified of her family finding out about her status for fear they would abandon her, but a few months into the program she gained the courage to speak with them openly about her disease. She has found an incredible amount of healing both physically and spiritually during the nine-month program. She and her husband are discordant, but are still together and are working through their challenges in a healthy way.
Susan is now a proud CARE for AIDS graduate and she continues to be an ambassador for the program in her community.