The Ukarimu Initiative is a youth-led, community based program launched to uplift the lives of school children in Kenya who live in some of the country’s most vulnerable environments specifically those located near waste dumpsites and flood-prone areas. The word Ukarimu means hospitality or compassion in Swahili, reflecting the core values of the initiative: dignity, care, and community-driven support.

This initiative was Founded by Jeremiah Muuo and Co-founded by Meek Amani in response to the alarming realities faced by children who must navigate toxic surroundings, unsafe school conditions, and the compounded stress of poverty, environmental hazards, and limited access to basic needs like food and menstrual hygiene. Many of these children experience:

• Chronic absenteeism due to lack of lunch money or menstrual products,

• Poor mental health from growing up in neglected or unstable environments,

• A lack of access to climate education or knowledge of how to advocate for safer spaces,

• Minimal exposure to mentors or programs that foster gender equity and emotional well-being.

UKARIMU INITIATIVE VIDEO 

Vision Statement

A compassionate society where communities are actively engaged in creating equal opportunities for all to access quality education, grow with dignity, and break the cycle of poverty through shared support and collective care.

Mission Statement

To bring communities together in the spirit of Ukarimu — promoting collective action to support vulnerable learners with access to education, food, and hygiene essentials, while nurturing a culture of kindness, inclusivity, and shared responsibility. We rise by lifting others — kwa wema na mshikamano — from watoto to wazee, spreading love and making compassion a way of life.