For the last 20 years, Phil Rasori, director and owner of Rasori Expeditions has been leading safaris and medical seminars to Kenya.
Our trips in Kenya always have an option to visit Village HopeCore International, a health and micro enterprise program that Dr. Rasori co-founded in the year 2000. Dr. Rasori remains the medical director for Village HopeCore International, which now offers medical services to over 300,000 community members.
This post will share about our program in Kenya as we are incredibly proud to be part of this organization and how they have grown from 12 village women in the year 2001, to now serving over 700 villages on the slopes of Mt. Kenya.
About Village HopeCore International
HopeCore is a community development organization with a mission to empower communities in Kenya and Sub-Saharan Africa by providing public health, education, income generation and capacity building programs.
Impact to Date
- 2,103 individuals received loans to start their business
- 213,000 home visits for COVID prevention education have been conducted
- 80,000 children now have access to clean drinking water
History of HopeCore
Twenty years ago, in the year 2000, Founder and CEO, KK Mugambi, the current Medical Director, Dr. Phil Rasori, 12 women, and $5,000 USD launched what we now know as Village HopeCore International. Since then, we have expanded and evolved our programs to support the health and livelihoods of community members in Tharaka Nithi, with a special focus on children and their mothers.
For 20 years, HopeCore has developed relationships and grown deep roots within the community. HopeCore’s approach is sustainable and replicable. All programming works within existing institutions to ensure the longevity of programming. We partner with the Department of Health Services and sanitation, Ministry of Education, schools, and many others to ensure all activities are working hand in hand with other area interventions and that we do not duplicate efforts.
HopeCore’s Core Activities
HEALTH
Delivering holistic school and community-based interventions that meaningfully address chronic family and community health challenges faced by rural Kenyans.
WASH
Empowering school children with water, hygiene, and sanitation education, ensuring school children have access to clean drinking water, soap for hand washing, and providing menstrual hygiene management products to girls.
YOUTH
Ensuring youth have access to quality health information, youth-friendly health and financial services, sexual and reproductive health resources, and safe meeting spaces.
ENTREPRENEURSHIP
Filling the chronic gaps in financial access and financial literacy that are endemic to rural Kenya through loans, business training, and capacity building for farmers and entrepreneurs.
Every August, our Rasori Expeditions Safari has an optional 3 day village visit where participants can experience all the amazing programs that Village HopeCore conducts. It is an incredible way to witness village like on the slopes of Mt. Kenya and see an authentic public health program.
Medical professionals who are interested in learning more about Global Health or using their medical skills to volunteer abroad can visit one of our partner programs, MedTreks Kenya.
If you would like to donate to this program please visit Village HopeCore International Donation page