The only thing worse than being blind is having sight but no vision.
[Hellen Keller]
A Life Worth Living
About Josephine
Josephine was born in Nairobi, Kenya. When she was just five years old, her father succumbed to cancer, leaving her mother, a 34-year-old widow, to care for four children aged between 3 and 12. Three years after his passing, the family relocated to the countryside, settling on her father’s family farm. There, they became sustainable farmers on a one-acre plot.
Life in the country was challenging; all farm work was done by hand, from feeding the cows to fetching water from a 35-foot well, to gathering and chopping firewood. These early experiences instilled in Josephine the values of resilience, hard work, and discipline.
Josephine attended a convent high school with aspirations of becoming a nun. However, after four years, she realized that this was not her calling. She then pursued studies in accounting and computer science in college but had to drop out after two years due to financial constraints.
Life outside of college was tough, but God opened a door for Josephine and her younger brother to start a computer business in the small suburban town where their family had moved after she graduated high school. The business thrived and continues to operate successfully over two decades later.
Josephine met and married her missionary husband, who had traveled to Kenya to support a church-building project. The church happened to be Josephine’s brother-in-law's. Together, they founded a nonprofit organization dedicated to uplifting impoverished Kenyans through community partnerships and grassroots solutions.
At the age of 27, Josephine immigrated to the United States, determined to pursue the education she had long coveted. Her research in collaboration with Native American community schools in New Mexico exposed her to the multifaceted nature of poverty. This experience deepened her commitment to making a difference through education and the development of sustainable solutions.
Josephine and her family are devoted to reaching and empowering communities worldwide. Through education, encouragement, and enabling initiatives, they strive to uplift impoverished communities globally. She currently resides in New Mexico, continuing her mission to positively impact lives.
Humanitarian Work
In 2002, Josephine and her husband Scott founded Imani Yako, meaning "Your Faith" in Swahili, later rebranded as Imani4Change. This organization, formally registered as a United States 501(c)(3) nonprofit in 2007, is dedicated to educating, encouraging, and empowering impoverished communities by developing sustainable solutions.
Currently, Imani4Change is focused on collaborating with Maasai communities in Kenya. The organization supports these communities in implementing their own solutions to overcome the various challenges they face. This partnership approach ensures that the initiatives are tailored to the unique needs and circumstances of the Maasai, fostering long-term, sustainable development.