KENYA
NAKURU, KENYA
Kenya holds a special place in Youthlinc’s history. It was our very first international site! In 2000, a small group of 20 participants worked in a village near Mombasa, Kenya and we have been traveling in Kenya ever since.
This year, the team will be opening a new site on the outskirts of Nakuru, Kenya. Nakuru is a beautiful area known for its farming, wildlife, and national park. The team will be working with the wonderful school community at Muriundu Primary to complete their committee projects, including building a water trench and catchment system to help eliminate classroom flooding. The team will be lodged at Wendo Retreat, an amazing outdoor residential facility that promotes learning, cooperation, responsibility, environmental-awareness, community and resourcefulness through experiential education and adventure challenges.
The team will end their stay at the Sweetwaters Serena Tented Camp where they experience elephants, giraffes, rhinos, zebras, impalas, buffaloes, lions, and more on guided safaris.
David Muiru, a Rotarian in the Nairobi Utumishi Rotary Club, is our In-Country Coordinator. Fun fact: He actually met the very first Youthlinc team way back in 2000 and has been helping Youthlinc in one way or another since then. We are grateful for his oversight and continued support over the years!
Read the details about our 2019 Team Projects
In-country Coordinator
David Muiru
My name is David Muiru a Kenyan real estate consultant with thirty four years experience in the real estate with a wide range of exposure in Kenya, Tanzania and Rwanda and a good part of East and Central Africa Regions.
I received a Bachelor of Arts Degree in (Land Economics) Upper Second Class Honors obtained from the University of Nairobi in 1985, in addition I earned a Diploma Certificate of the Institution of Surveyors of Kenya and honored as a Senior Valuer in Kenya through the award of a Fellowship Certificate of the Institution of Surveyors of Kenya.
My involvement in charity began in early 1977 when I joined the first Interact Club of Starehe Boys Centre & School in Nairobi under the initiation of Senior Rotarians Rtn. Prem Patel and Rtn. Ramlal Sharma. In 1989 long after graduating from University of Nairobi, I became a charter Member of the Nairobi Utumishi Rotaract Club and in the same year I joined Nairobi Utumishi Rotary Club.
In 1996, I was requested by now Past District Governor Peter Mbui of Rotary International District 9212, if I could help the late Shirley Michel of Salt Lake City to manage a charitable project on her behalf at the Ngala School for the Deaf in Nakuru through regular visits on and off my way to my home in Nakuru. At the time of my acceptance little did I know what I had gotten myself in.
In the year 2000 a gentleman and a missionary Dr. Vanderhoof of Salt Lake City had contacted me and requested if I could meet and take him to Ngala School for the Deaf on behalf of Shirley Michel and obviously, the answer was yes and so we went.
In the summer of 2001, I participated at the 2001 Rotary International Convention in San Antonio, Texas and during my visit I visited Salt Lake City courteously hosted by Rtn. Dr. Vanderhoof and Rtn. Sue Vanderhoof and the Rotary Club of Holladay in Salt Lake City.
During this visit I was hosted for dinner by Rtn. Judy Zone , the founder of Youthlinc. It was there in her home where I met for the first time the Youthlinc team that would be joining me in Kenya. That began my long journey with Youthlinc. At that time, I did not realize I was going to be its Country Coordinator, my engagement as a volunteer has been to help it with local logistics while in Kenya.
We did five years in Ngala School for the Deaf until 2005; then another five years in Kaaga Special School in Meru from 2006 to 2011. Part of our many achievements in Meru was chartering of the Rotary Club of Meru in 2006. In the year 2012 Judy Zone identified a new site in Kajuki in Tharaka which endured eight years to 2019 of continued Youthlinc support.
It’s a milestone achievement that from 2020, Youthlinc will be hosted in a new site/s in Nakuru under my coordination and the story goes on to infinitum.
I am a family man married to Jane Muiru an Insurance Underwriter at ICEA-LION Company Limited, a father of two boys one of whom is a graduate of Bachelor of Commerce (Finance) at University of Nairobi in 2016 and working for a local insurance company. The second boy is attending university education at Daystar University.
Candice Noss
KENYA TEAM LEADER
Hello!! I’m Candice Noss and I’m so excited to be the team leader for the Kenya team this year!! I’ve gone to Peru and Fiji- both incredible experiences with Youthlinc. I absolutely love humanitarian work and am looking forward to another fantastic year of service.
I am married to a phenomenal man and we have 6 kids (5 girls and 1 boy). We live in Henefer. As a physical therapist and a life coach I created my own business, The Mind Body Spirit Trifecta, where I empower women. I coach freshmen girls basketball for our HS, I breed mini-Ausiedoodles, I do a jump rope club for our elementary school and I spend most of my time as a taxi driver for all my kids and their sports. ;) I love riding horses, playing sports and reading books.
Anna Moore
KENYA ATL
Anna has been with Youthlinc for the past two years. Her first year she discovered her love for local service and had an amazing trip abroad, so she signed up again to Vietnam. Vietnam was such a culturally enriching experience so she signed up again. Anna is excited to be the assistant team leader for the Kenya team this year.
Other than Youthlinc, Anna loves camping, hiking, skiing, and anything else outside. She is currently attending BYUI to get a bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering with a minor in international studies.
