About us

Our Story

PLIKEN was established in 2016 as a non-governmental organization to address poverty in disadvantaged communities. The founder was motivated by a deep concern for teenage girls who were forced to leave school because of early pregnancies, lack of access to feminine hygiene products, and other challenges. Growing up in a single-parent household after the loss of their father, the founder empathized with the struggles of these young girls and mothers and felt compelled to help them become self-sufficient and successful. In impoverished communities, girls often drop out of school to seek daily sustenance, which can lead to early marriages and domestic violence. Many are also compelled to engage in risky behaviors, jeopardizing their health and future. These circumstances result in food insecurity and prevent some children from attending school due to lack of funds.
Motivated to empower young women and mothers, PLIKEN initiated an empowerment program for teen mothers in the Kiambui slums from 2016 to 2021. The program aimed to provide transformative skills and training to help these young women start their small businesses and achieve financial stability. A total of 50 women and teen mothers were trained, with 35 completing the program and establishing small businesses. They eventually formed a welfare group to provide mutual support, engaged in table banking, and accessed government funding for women’s groups, which increased their capital and income. As a result, these women achieved financial stability, with 90% of them moving out of the slums, being able to pay their children’s school fees, and meeting their basic needs.

This newfound financial freedom allowed the women to envision a better future for themselves and their families. Encouraged by these results, PLIKEN expanded its mission to include mentoring youth and implementing comprehensive development programs for children in impoverished communities.
To date, PLIKEN has impacted more than 500 youths, 465 children, and 250 young mothers through mentorship, education support, and empowerment programs. More recently, PLIKEN launched the PLIKEN CONFIDENCE KIT initiative, providing reusable feminine hygiene supplies and mentorship to underprivileged girls in rural Kenyan schools, aimed at reducing school dropout rates among early adolescent girls due to the lack of feminine hygiene products, within a period of 11 months, this initiative impacted more than 1,835 girls and 1730 boys in 15 primary schools in rural areas of Busia County. For the girls who have benefitted from the Initiative, they are able to attend school consistently, their confidence is built and the stigma around menstrual hygiene is broken as boys and the entire community are empowered on menstrual hygiene management.

Meet Our Team

Behind every great initiative is a passionate team dedicated to change

When Joan was a young girl, she developed a strong compassion for disadvantaged girls and wanted to help them receive an education and succeed. In many impoverished communities, young girls don’t have access to quality education and often have to drop out of school due to early pregnancies, poverty, and other societal challenges. This makes it difficult for them to pursue their dreams and have hope for a better future. Joan’s desire to make a difference in the lives of these girls led her to establish PLIKEN. With over 10 years of experience in project management and coordination, Joan oversees the progress of PLIKEN’s projects and manages their strategic direction. She is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Community Development and holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Management with a finance concentration.

Nelson is a consultant working with corporate property development organizations. He also volunteers at PLIKEN as a board chairperson and IT coordinator. In this role, he provides oversight and leadership to the board members and supports the operation of PLIKEN through his IT skills. Nelson’s expertise in IT is particularly valuable in helping the organization stay up to date with the latest technology. He holds a degree in Graphic Design and Information Technology.

Lauren grew up in Texas and Louisiana, attended LSU and Fordham University, and earned her Master’s in Photojournalism from UT Austin. She developed a love for African culture and people when her parents moved to Angola. During her time in Africa, she focused her photography on community-oriented programs providing healthcare, water, and education, as well as empowering women. She and her husband met Jane at an orphanage in Kenya and have been supporting her education. Through Jane, Lauren connected with Joan and her family in 2020, sharing their passion for helping others. Lauren now volunteers at PLIKEN, advocating for young women and children’s education, and contributes to development and fundraising strategies to help the organization achieve its goals.

Johnson is a Medical Social Worker who has worked in the fields of child sponsorship, project management, and child protection. He is passionate about community outreach and empowerment, and volunteers in several community-based organizations including PEFA Syokimau Hope Center, Hear My Sign Voice Africa, and Pathway for Livelihoods Initiative (PLIKEN), where he serves on their boards. At PLIKEN, Johnson supports the development of sponsorship and engagement strategies. He is a strong believer in positive mentoring, especially when working with teenagers and youths.

Maureen’s passion and love for the less fortunate in the community led her to volunteer in many non-profit organizations. This allowed her to share God’s love with those who needed it the most. Her involvement led her to PLIKEN, where she happily volunteers, supporting the day-to-day operations of the organization, as well as planning and organizing events. Maureen holds a bachelor’s degree in supply chain management and an advanced diploma in procurement.

Nelly has found fulfillment in community work, which has led her to volunteer with several non-profit organizations for 5 years. Prior to that, Nelly worked as a marketer and salesperson for corporate organizations for 20 years. With the extensive experience she gained over the years, she joined PLIKEN as a volunteer program manager, offering support in designing, planning, implementing, and reporting on program activities. Nelly holds an advanced Diploma in Sales and Marketing as well as a professional certificate in leadership and management.

Grace is passionate about transforming lives and families through financial literacy training and mentorship. As the founder of Uplift Management Ltd, she provides financial mentorship and coaching to individuals, corporations, and civil society organizations. Her dedication to empowering the underprivileged led her to volunteer at PLIKEN, where she supports financial operations, fundraising strategies, and provides training on financial literacy to caregivers and teen mothers. Grace holds a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting and an Advanced Diploma in Leadership and Management.

Our Approach

Our Mission

Transforming Lives of children and families through a holistic approach- We see a world where every vulnerable child has the opportunity to thrive, supported by caring mentors and comprehensive educational resources that foster holistic development

Our Vision

To provide comprehensive and accessible Child development programs, that empowers every vulnerable child to realize their full potential

Core Values

1. Servant-hearted: We prioritize the needs of the children we serve, listening intentionally and responding to them, and providing guidance and support tailored to their individual strengths and challenges.

2. Inclusion: We embrace diversity and celebrate the unique backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives of vulnerable children, ensuring that our programs are accessible and inclusive for them.

3. Collaboration: We promote collaboration and teamwork among children, youths, mentors, educators, caregivers and communities, recognizing the collective effort needed to support children’s holistic development.

4. Solution-minded: Because we tackle problems head-on, we are honest about our short coming and leverage resources to continuously improve.

5. Resilient: Because we can withstand hardship for our children, we learn, adapt, grow and overcome with a sense of urgency.