Kennedy Odede is one of Africa’s most prominent community organizers and social entrepreneurs.
"I believe that well organized urban communities hold the power to create their own change."
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Writer. Social Entrepreneur. Community Organizer.
About Kennedy
Kennedy Odede is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer at SHOFCO, Kenya’s largest grassroots movement, and one of Africa’s most esteemed social entrepreneurs and community organizers. He is best known for his award-winning work to transform the lives of slum residents and direct resources and decision-making power to local community organizations.
Kennedy became a street child at the age of 10 and lived in the Kibera Slum for 23 years. During this time, he experienced extreme poverty first-hand, but also witnessed the palpable hope that persists in slums and recognized that people sought something different for themselves, their families and their communities. Through earning $1 for 10 hours of work at a factory, Kennedy managed to save 20 cents to buy a soccer ball, which he used to bring community members together, and, with that, SHOFCO was born.
Today, SHOFCO impacts more than 2.4 million people annually in Kenya by organizing and strengthening community groups across 68 sites and fostering partnerships to deliver essential services to support them.
Administrator Samantha Power appointed Kennedy to the USAID Advisory Committee and has served as a Fellow with Humanity in Action, Aspen Institute and Echoing Green. He is also a Young Global Leader at the World Economic Forum, an Obama Foundation Africa Leader and a member of the Clinton Global Initiative. Before this, Kennedy served on the United Nations International Commission for Financing of Global Education Opportunities, and on the Board of Directors of Wesleyan University.
Writer. Social Entrepreneur. Community Organizer.
About Kennedy
Kennedy Odede is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer at SHOFCO, Kenya’s largest grassroots movement, and one of Africa’s most esteemed social entrepreneurs and community organizers. He is best known for his award-winning work to transform the lives of slum residents and direct resources and decision-making power to local community organizations.
Kennedy became a street child at the age of 10 and lived in the Kibera Slum for 23 years. During this time, he experienced extreme poverty first-hand, but also witnessed the palpable hope that persists in slums and recognized that people sought something different for themselves, their families and their communities. Through earning $1 for 10 hours of work at a factory, Kennedy managed to save 20 cents to buy a soccer ball, which he used to bring community members together, and, with that, SHOFCO was born.
Today, SHOFCO impacts more than 2.4 million people annually in Kenya by organizing and strengthening community groups across 68 sites and fostering partnerships to deliver essential services to support them.
Administrator Samantha Power appointed Kennedy to the USAID Advisory Committee and has served as a Fellow with Humanity in Action, Aspen Institute and Echoing Green. He is also a Young Global Leader at the World Economic Forum, an Obama Foundation Africa Leader and a member of the Clinton Global Initiative. Before this, Kennedy served on the United Nations International Commission for Financing of Global Education Opportunities, and on the Board of Directors of Wesleyan University.
Find Me Unafraid: Love, Loss, and Hope in an African Slum
Kennedy Odede is the co-author of the New York Times Best Seller Find Me Unafraid: Love, Loss and Hope in African Slum, which he wrote with his wife and business partner, Jessica Posner Odede. His work has been featured by President Bill Clinton, and on multiple occasions by Nicholas Kristof in The New York Times.
The book tells the story of Kennedy and Jessica whose collaboration sparked a successful movement to transform the lives of vulnerable girls and the urban poor and fight against poverty and hopelessness.
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When young people unite with a common goal, magic happens!
In my recent op-ed for @TIME, I highlighted how girls’ education creates generational change, but immediate impact comes from empowering women economically. Read more here: https://time.com/collection/time100-voices/7016128/women-uplift-poorest-communities/
Wealth isn't about money—it's about the strength of community and togetherness. Grateful to join @simonsinek on his podcast to discuss the power of unity in driving social impact. Listen in as we explore how collective efforts can create lasting change.