Introduction
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IcFEM is an interdenominational Christian organisation, currently operating in Western Kenya. The aim of the Interchristian Fellowships' Evangelical Mission is to build up people in the rural areas both spiritually and practically, to be wholly for God and hard- working, especially in the area of self- help and sustainable projects, to run a mercy ministry to the needy and to involve in various community development projects while conserving the environment.
As our Mission is to Accelerate Community Development, IcFEM has now developed a gap programme for international students and volunteers to share their valuable skills. The Gap Programme involves volunteers in meaningful and enjoyable tasks in Western Province, Kenya and is run and managed in a relatively large town of Western Province called Kimilili.
Please visit our blog and keep up to date with the Missions work at www.icfem-mission.blogspot.com Quotes by Past Volunteers
Scott Strong
"On coming to
The thing is it's not just the projects that made our stay in
Also, I was able to grasp, in just four weeks, some of the significance of God in these people's lives, what I could have been, and will be doing, to improve my relationship with God, both passively and actively, and really what we "westerners" can do for this country, that we are choosing not to. I just hadn't realized that we were so capable of making a difference, and the people of
To read more about Scott's time with the
Paul Robinson
“I have a saying at home that is, ‘Friends are the family we choose for ourselves’ and I feel so happy to have made so many new friends and one amazing big family.
Being around so many wonder full people for three months, I have learnt how to appreciate certain things in life. Now that it is time for me to leave, I know I can take away all the special things I have learnt and use them to inspire and encourage others as I have been.
It’s been an absolutely amazing experience and the effect it makes on my life has become even more obvious. I really wish I was once again with the friends and people I have met over in
To read more about Paul's time with the
Emma Slater
“I’ve spent only three weeks on the gap programme, yet I feel as though I have learnt so much. I wouldn’t have believed it was possible before I came. In fact, I wasn’t really sure what to expect, both from IcFEM, and from
However, what I have experienced has really been fantastic. Everyone at IcFEM made me feel extremely welcome, and valued: everyone was willing to help whenever I had any problem, however small. The programme itself, although in its infancy, is tremendously well organised, and I was kept busy throughout my stay. I saw many examples of IcFEM’s excellent work in the surrounding communities. The way in which the mission integrates community development with spreading the word of God is particularly commendable interesting program.”
To read more about Emma's time with the
Director's Letter
Dear Students,
Living in poverty is not just an issue of material deficit. The poor develop their own adaptive culture, which includes withdrawal from participating in wider society institutions/activity and a strong feeling of marginality, helplessness, dependency, weak self-image and a sense of resignation. Any meaningful transformation development process must focus on reversing this negative culture, by building up their self esteem and giving them back their sense of worth, self-respect, identity, respect, honour and recognition.
Through participation, IcFEM uses projects not as an end (material benefits) in themselves but as a means to free the poor from socio-psychological poverty and thus pave the way for ‘Holy Living’. Participation promotes empowerment through changes of attitudes and self-realisation, power within oneself. This process includes the promotion of cooperation and not competition, power sharing and not power concentration, community building and not individualism, care and concern and not selfishness, justice and not exploitation. Participation consolidates collective empowerment and builds peoples’ power to take charge through capacity building. Participation enables the development process to be internalised.
In line with our mission of accelerating community transformation,we have receognised that students in the developed societies can be a great asset in various ways within the strategic programmes and projects the Mission is undertaking to alleviate poverty.To involve them, the Mission has opened up opportunities through our service delivery structure called IcFEM gap programme. For those who will trust us enough to choose IcFEM gap programme for their gap year, a deliberate arrangement has been made for them to gain maximum benefits from the programme by also including a range of interesting ecotouristic activities students may like to do. As God is central in most people's lives in Kenya (87% Christians), those who feel the need to know God better and to strengthen their relationship with Him will find the programme most rewarding.The IcFEM Mission will give you a fantastic opportunity to do your part to stamp down on poverty in Africa.
Solomon Nabie,
Director, IcFEM-Mission
(Western Kenya)
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