An Evening with Karambu L. Ringera

SPARC Presents an Intimate Evening with Karambu

Dear Friends:

It is our privilege to host an intimate gathering at SPARC, in Venice, California,
where you will have the opportunity to meet Karambu Ringera, hear her speak
and ask her questions regarding her work in her homeland of Kenya. She clearly has an impressive command of African-related issues and history and a strong, bold vision on how to change the lives of oppressed women and children in her country. Part of that vision includes running for Parliament in 2007 and representing North Imenti, a region of 400,000.

In addition to being captivated by Karambu’s intellect — (she has a bachelor’s
degree in education and a postgraduate diploma in mass communications from
the University of Nairobi, a masters in media from Natal University in South
Africa, a degree in theology from the Illiff School of Theology in Denver and is completing a doctoral program in human communications at the University of Denver) — by her optimism and her goals for Kenya, we felt motivated to do something on her behalf because she is a woman in a position of power who could be a major change agent. While there is often so much bad news about various countries in Africa, Karambu is a voice of reason and hope. In her own words:

“I am vying for the parliamentary seat in North Imenti because I want to work and add voice to the few voices in our Parliament that have fought for the rights of children and human rights for woman to take root in Kenya. I have worked with people who live in abject poverty in my constituency: the majority of them are women. It is not because they are not hard working–it is because the structure of our institutions favors men more than women. I have worked with orphans, and the orphan girl is more vulnerable than the orphan boy. I want to be a leader who partners with others in this country, in Africa, and the world at large, in order to build institutions and put in place systems that empower people to free themselves from the shackles of poverty, disease, and violence.”

Her bid to beat her 14 opponents–all of them men, will not be easy, but we are hoping you will consider aiding this exciting, dynamic woman in her quest. Please join us to talk with Karambu about her grassroots work, her immediate political plans as well as her long term projects–she has her sights set on running for the presidency in 2012.

When: 7-8:30 pm. Monday May 21st

Where: SPARC 685 Venice Boulevard 310-822-9560

Light refreshments will be served.

For more information:
Official Karambu Web site www.karambu.com

If you would like to make a contribution to her grassroots organization: International Peace Initiatives,
you can do so through an American 501c3. You can find information on her website: ipeacei.org.

Please feel free to forward this e-mail to friends who you think might want
to support Karambu change life in Kenya and Africa.

When we help one women, we help all women!

MORE ABOUT KARAMBU

KARAMBU L. RINGERA

She is an educator, an academic, a grassroots organizer, an international
speaker and a pro-peace activist.

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A native of Kenya, Karambu is pursuing a Ph.D. in Human Communication in the
U.S. at the University of Denver, Colorado. She received her Bachelor of
Education degree and Postgraduate Diploma in Mass Communication from the
University of Nairobi, Kenya. She also holds a Masters degree in Media from
Natal University, South Africa and a Master of Theological Studies (peace
and justice) from the Iliff School of Theology, Colorado.
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Before coming to the U.S., Karambu worked in administration and public
relations at Nairobi University. She was a lecturer at Daystar University
and a communications consultant at Africa-Nazarene University in Kenya.
Karumbu is also the founder and driving force behind the organization

IPI is a U.S. based organization dedicated to supporting grassroots
organizations and their leaders in Africa. It promotes peace and supports
initiatives that mitigate the effects of war, poverty, and discrimination.
IPI primarily seeks to support women who are grassroots organizers, their
organizations, and their children. The nature of IPI support is primarily
financial, but also provides education, training and technical expertise.
IPI helps individuals and through them it expands into surrounding
communities. By supporting community-based organizations in their infancy,
IPI increases the odds that they will survive to foster lasting change.

Since 2002, the AID’s Orphans Education Fund, one of IPI’s programs, has
sent 145 orphans and vulnerable children to primary and secondary school.
IPI has also been instrumental in the formation of nearly ten registered
self-help groups (with membership of over 1,000 people) that are providing
social and economic support throughout the region.
International Peace Initiatives (IPI).[/accordion][accordion title=”Platform”]
Kenya needs fewer politicians and more doers. Karambu has a history that
clearly demonstrates her dedication to improve the lives of Kenyans. By
fostering peace, economic opportunity and sustainable development in
communities, she works to improve the quality of living for everyone. As she
says, traditional economic measures are not enough, economics has a human
face and we must look to the people as a barometer of development.

She knows first hand the threat that HIV/AIDS poses to Kenyan society and
works to improve the lives of those most devastated by it. In an effort to
minimize the displacement and further alienation of Kenya’s estimated 1.7
million orphans, she expanded upon the AIDS Orphans Education Project by
developing the Kithoke Amani, or “Peace” Homes Initiative. These community
homes, the first of which is scheduled for completion in 2007, are situated
within the communities of orphaned and displaced children, thereby
preserving a child’s network of support and sense of home.

To better understand the impacts of war, inequality, poverty and AIDS and
ways grassroots organizations can overcome them in Africa, Karambu convened
a Women’s International Grassroots Peace Congress in Nairobi, Kenya in
August 2005. The IPI Congress was attended by individuals from Africa, Asia,
Seychelles, Taiwan, Canada, and USA. Another Congress will be held in Kenya
in August 2008.

“Change can only come from us. Working with the people in north Imenti these
last 5 years has taught me that engaged citizens working together can
accomplish extraordinary things.” Karambu combines her experience,
compassion and connections to help leaders and the leaderless identify their
needs and develop strategies to meet those needs.

Simply put, Karumbu Ringera has the education, experience and resolve to
lead. She has dedicated her life to improving the condition of her fellow
Kenyans. Now she steps into the political arena determined to bring positive
change to North Imenti and Kenya as a whole.

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