The Why: Addressing Urgent Community Challenges
In 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic struck, the already vulnerable community of Korogocho faced extreme hardship. Families were pushed into deeper poverty due to job losses, lockdowns, and the collapse of informal livelihoods. Hunger rose sharply. Education came to a halt. Elderly women and young girls were particularly exposed to neglect, abuse, and health risks. Street families had nowhere to turn.
Amid this crisis, Florence Nyambura and her brothers stepped in; offering food, basic support, and a sense of hope. This grassroots response laid the foundation for what would become a transformative partnership with Sunworld Safaris.
The Collaboration: How It Came About
Sunworld Safaris began by supporting Florence’s community-based emergency response in 2020. What started as a compassionate reaction to the pandemic quickly grew into a meaningful collaboration rooted in trust, shared values, and sustained impact.
Sunworld’s CEO not only supported the initial efforts, but also introduced KOCH to new partners like GA Insurance and Mark and Julie Jones, broadening the circle of support for the Korogocho community.
Actual Initiatives: What We’ve Done Together
Over the years, KOCH and Sunworld Safaris have worked together across several impactful fronts, including:
- Emergency Relief during COVID-19: Distributing food packages, masks, soap, and other hygiene items; supporting a feeding program for street families; and ensuring continuity of care for the most vulnerable.
- Ongoing Elderly Support: Two elderly women from the community continue to receive monthly food and rent assistance to maintain their dignity and safety.
- Girls’ Education Empowerment: One young woman has completed a certificate in massage therapy; another is about to graduate with a diploma in tourism management; both fully supported by Sunworld Safaris.
- Educational and Life Skills Programs: Sunworld continues to provide vital resources like books, sanitary towels, a public address system, and mentorship support for KOCH’s academic revision and life skills sessions.
- Environmental and Inspirational Exposure: Inspired by the safaris, KOCH began integrating climate education into its programs. Sunworld’s role in these trips has helped children build an appreciation for conservation and nature.
- Annual 3-Day Trips: Every year, Sunworld Safaris hosts a three-day safari experience for KOCH children and volunteers, offering a transformative getaway filled with learning, bonding, and nature exploration.
- Scholarship Support: The launch and facilitation of the Sunworld Safaris–Florence Nyambura Scholarship is providing long-term academic pathways for bright, underprivileged children from Korogocho.
The Impact: What Has Changed?
The collaboration has sparked lasting transformation:
- Dignity Restored: Vulnerable elderly women now live with security and regular support.
- Futures Rewritten: Girls once at risk of missing out on furthering their education now walk confidently into their careers.
- Dreams Awakened: Children who’ve never left their neighborhoods now speak of wildlife, college, and conservation.
- A Community Strengthened: KOCH has grown from a small initiative into a recognized organization, serving children, youth, and families with consistency and compassion.
This partnership has done more than provide aid; it has ignited belief, created access, and nurtured hope in one of Nairobi’s most marginalized areas.
Continuity: What’s Next?
We have come far, but our journey is far from over. With Sunworld Safaris and our other partners, we hope to:
- Expand the scholarship to support more children through secondary and tertiary education.
- Scale up life skills and mental health support for adolescents.
- Deepen our climate action work around Korogocho, particularly given the dangers posed by the nearby Dandora Dumpsite.
- Grow our mentorship, and internship programs through the tourism and conservation industries.
- Launch community forums to involve even more volunteers and stakeholders in meaningful service.
We also look forward to involving Sunworld team members more actively, through mentoring, guest speaking, or participating in our youth events.
In Summary
The KOCH–Sunworld Safaris partnership is more than a success story. It’s a living example of how authentic collaboration, rooted in trust, compassion, and shared purpose, can transform lives.
Together, we’re not just responding to challenges, we’re building a community where dignity, opportunity, and hope are accessible to all.
