A Legacy of Love – Our inspiration

At the heart of our mission lies an inspiring story of compassion and dedication. Born in 1928 in Muguna Village, Joseph W. Odipo was a visionary who never forgot his roots. Despite a successful career with the East African Railways Corporation, Joseph’s heart remained firmly in Yimbo. His unwavering belief in education led him to personally sponsor countless children’s schooling and, most notably, to found Muguna Primary School – the first in the region. What began as a single classroom built by villagers he mobilized has blossomed into a thriving institution with 470 students across ten classrooms.

 

Though Joseph tragically passed away in 1992, his dream of empowering Yimbo lives on through his wife, Joyce Odipo. with remarkable grace and warmth, Joyce opens her home to volunteers during our annual humanitarian trips, providing an immersive village experience that deepens our connection to the community. together, Joseph and Joyce’s legacy continues to inspire our work, reminding us that one person’s vision can indeed change the world, one village at a time.
 

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A forward-Thinking Culture

Many were inspired by his work, none more than his family. The family wanted to carry on his legacy; Charles and Ben, two of Joseph’s seven children, founded Friends of Yimbo (FOY).

FOY believes in educating and empowering local populations in order to achieve sustainable and comprehensive change thus ensuring the community is able to address its needs. It is the goal of FOY that this serves as a model for community development for the entire region. As a practice, FOY conducts a participatory needs assessment jointly with the village development committee before the commencement of any project. Indeed, these meetings are vital to the success of the project.

Sustainability is the key to all FOY engagements!

Muguna School Profile