CFK Africa (Carolina for Kibera)

Over twenty years ago, Rye Barcott, an undergraduate student at UNC-Chapel Hill, traveled to the informal settlement of Kibera to research youth empowerment and ethnic violence. The experiences he had and the relationships he built inspired him to do more than simply write about what he had learned. After returning to the US, he co-founded Carolina for Kibera (now CFK Africa) with Salim Mohamed and Tabitha Festo, a Kenyan community organizer and Kiberan nurse, to connect his network’s resources with pressing needs in Kibera.  

Since 2001, CFK Africa has grown into a leading NGO collaborating with residents of informal settlements to address inequities around access to quality health care, develop local leaders, reduce gender disparities, and catalyze positive change. An affiliate entity of UNC-Chapel Hill and headquartered in Kibera, Kenya, CFK Africa advances the university’s global research mission by combining service delivery with responsible research and has provided dozens of UNC students with invaluable international experiences.   

CFK Africa’s annual Peacock Fellowship provides funding for students to travel to Kibera and work alongside the Kenyan team, applying their skills and talents to engage in participatory research and development. As the world grows increasingly interconnected, it is vital that students have opportunities to expand their perspectives and develop critical cross-cultural communication skills. This GiveUNC, help us provide more students with hands-on opportunities in Kibera by making a gift to CFK Africa.