About Jitegemee
Jitegemee Children’s Program is a non-governmental organization based in Machakos, Kenya that provides educational and other support services to the neediest children and youth in our community.
We employ a three pronged approach to supporting our students, which emphasizes school support, economic empowerment, and health.
OUR VISION
“All destitute children and youth in Machakos, Kenya have access to educational opportunities, and become self-sustaining.”
OUR MISSION
Jitegemee’s mission is to provide educational and integrated support services for children and youth living in poverty in Machakos, Kenya. We work to remove the obstacles of poverty that prevent children from attaining their educational goals. Our child-centered holistic programming includes school support, vocational and livelihood training for youth and their caregivers, healthcare and education, and psycho-social support. We are committed to helping our young people gain decent employment, live dignified lives, and contribute to their community.
OUR CORE VALUES
Jitegemee is child-centered and all our activities focus primarily on our children and youth. At our heart and soul, Jitegemee strives to be a positive role model by embracing the following Core Values:
…Sustainability…
At the heart and soul of Jitegemee is sustainability – it is even the meaning of our name, “to sustain yourself.” In everything we do, we commit to ensuring our youth, as well as their families and community, are self-reliant and independent. We also undertake to increase self-dependency for our programs and ensure resources will be managed in a way to ultimately ensure the independent functioning of the program.
…Growth…
Everyone at Jitegemee should be growing – through education, improved livelihoods, and good health. We believe growth applies to our students, our families, our team, our programs, our finances, and our impact – all should be constantly striving to be stronger and greater.
…Interconnectedness…
At Jitegemee we believe in the universal bond of sharing that connects all humanity. We see our students, team, families, programs and all of Machakos as intrinsically linked and necessary. We partner and collaborate with others to ensure educational success and financial sustainability for our young people. We strive to ensure our programs are integrated, so as to strengthen the support we provide. We are committed to effective teamwork in the implementation of everything we do.
…Dependability…
In everything we do, Jitegemee should be relied upon by the community we serve, and we should be trusted to provide the very best support services that we can. We promise to be true to our word, and that our actions will match what we promise. We will be there when we say we will; we will do what we say we will. We are honest enough to communicate our limits as well. We are trustworthy and reliable. We inspire and encourage others to be dependable too.
.
Jump to: Team | Board of Directors, Kenya | Board of Directors, USA
Our Team
Jennifer Katiwa
Executive Director
Joshua Muema
School Support Manager
Faith Kiliku
Program Officer
Miriam Mutindi Mativo
Operations and Finance Officer
Alex Mutiso
Senior Founding Teacher
Florence Mwanzia
Vocational Program Teacher
Veronicah Kioko
Economic Empowerment Assistant
Cecilia Mutisya
Front Office and Programs Assistant
Peter Muasya
Project Manager
Martha Wanza
Social Worker
Faith Wayua
Front Office
Moses Ndonye
Child Care Officer
Dorris Mutuku
Child Care Officer
Muteti Titus
Communications, M&E Officer
Board of Directors, Kenya
Jitegemee’s governing board in Machakos, Kenya provides direction for and oversight of the program activities and finances. They also leverage their connections in the community and garner support and local funding for our programs.
Dr. Agnes Wanza Mutuku
Board Chair
Agnes is an experienced HR practitioner and is a part-time lecturer at numerous Kenyan universities. She is the Chairperson of Jitegemee’s board.
Joseph Mawili Mwongela
Board Secretary
Joseph is a Kenyan High Court Advocate in Machakos. He specializes in criminal, land, conveyancing, and succession matters and provides legal expertise for diverse cases.
Lydia Kimondo
Treasurer
Lydia is an education specialist and is the director of Machakos Academy, a leading elementary school and (girls’) high school in Machakos.
Dominic
Board Member
Dominic has over 23 years of progressive work experience in government and NGOs focusing on project management at the grassroots and national level. His passion is to empower youth to become self-reliant.
Martina Amoth
Board Member
Martina is an EdTech specialist from Siaya, who has worked for 15+ years using tech to tackle education disparities in marginalized communities. She has been a Jitegemee board member since 2017.
Chris K. Mutua
Board Member
Chris is an experienced Financial Expert with 15+ years in Pensions, Insurance, Finance, Risk, and Governance. He served on Central Bank Pension Fund and Syokimau Adventist School boards.
Jump to: Team | Board of Directors, Kenya | Board of Directors, USA
Board of Directors, USA
Abby Kral
Board Chair
Abby is an executive with experience across the full spectrum of the healthcare industry: providers, patients, payers and regulators. She has served on the Jitegemee board since 2015.
Shefali Frampton
Treasurer
Shefali is an analytics consultant with 15+ years of experience, is passionate about early learning and making education fun. She is also an economics and public policy expert.
Catherine Mosca
Secretary
Catherine has been a member of Jitegemee’s Board of Directors since 2004 and is a retired copyeditor with 20+ years of experience.
Shulamit (Shu) Kahn
Board Member
Shulamit is an Economist and tenured professor at Boston University and specializes in high-skilled immigration and science careers. She has served on Jitegemee’s board for 15+ years.
Mark Palmer
Board Member
Mark is a licensed healthcare architect in Richmond, Virginia, and has supported Jitegemee since 2009, contributing to the design of Jitegemee’s campus in Machakos.
Jill Geary
Board Member
Jill is an attorney in Seattle, Washington, focused on social justice in education. She has been an administrative law judge, advocate for students’ with disabilities, and urban school board member.
Jacqi Mosselson
Board Member
Jacqi is a tenured professor at UMass Amherst specializing in international development and education for youth living in vulnerable contexts. She has served on Jitegemee’s board since 2019.
Desire Aime Nshimirimana
Board Member
Desire is a specialist medical consultant working for Avenue Healthcare Group as a medical practitioner in Thika, Kenya. He is a part-time university lecturer in Kenya, and is currently pursuing a PhD in Arizona, USA.
Christina Stellini-Orr
Board Member
Christina has worked in the development sector for 15+ years, and is committed to advancing opportunities and building assets of children, youth and families vulnerable to disparities in health, education, social and economic mobility.
Dr. Verity Norman-Tichawangana
Board Member
Verity has served as the Executive Director since 2016 leading the Strong Team to offer support to vulnerable Children, Youth & Women in Machakos. A cornerstone of Verity’s legacy was Jitegemee’s transition to local leadership and she has since transitioned to Jitegemee’s board in 2024 supporting the local team in Machakos and the Kenyan Board of Directors
Jump to: Team | Board of Directors, Kenya | Board of Directors, USA
You must be logged in to post a comment.