At the end of 2025, over 4,000 mothers, caregivers, and community ambassadors gathered for GIFT CONNECT Kenya‘s Annual General Meeting (AGM), creating a powerful testament to the transformative impact of our Every Community for Early Years model and the enduring impact of early childhood development.
A Movement Takes Root
Attendees included residents from 20 active community support networks, each one a living demonstration of how parents and caregivers can become agents of change in their own communities. These groups have developed a new understanding of nurturing care from birth to age three and are now teaching it to others.
What made this gathering truly special was watching these mothers showcase what they’ve learned. Through songs, plays, skits, and dances, they brought to life the Six Loving Habits – Speak, Sing, Read, Play, Count, and Serve & Return – the foundational practices that shape healthy early childhood brain development.
When Leaders Listen
The presence of high-profile dignitaries underscored the growing institutional recognition of GIFT CONNECT’s work. Professor Kivutha Kibwana, former Governor of Makueni County, was joined by Members of Parliament, county officials, and local leaders. Among them was Hon. Edith Nyenze, the host MP for Kitui West, and Hon. Phoebe Mutemi, representing Gender, Youth, Sports & Social Services for Kitui County.
But perhaps most telling were the 38 chiefs and assistant chiefs in attendance, alongside 30 pastors, 10 medical officers, and hundreds of teachers and business leaders. When this many community pillars show up, it signals something important: birth to three development is central to community transformation.
Global Meets Local
Beth Waller traveled from Front Royal, Virginia, to witness the AGM firsthand. As a GIFT CONNECT Board Member, she saw firsthand how the Kenya program works. From inspecting exhibition items to shopping for event food at the local market with friends from Uganda and the USA, her hands-on involvement embodied the spirit of international partnership that makes GIFT CONNECT’s model work.
From Learning to Earning
One of the most compelling aspects of the AGM was the vibrant marketplace created by mothers and caregivers. Their exhibition featured models, businesses, designs, artworks, and crafts, demonstrating that economic empowerment through Table Banking is possible. These mothers and caregivers have successfully transitioned from learners to entrepreneurs, investing in enterprises that generate income and build family resilience.
This economic stability isn’t separate from nurturing care; rather, it enables it. When mothers have the financial capacity to support their households, they have more resources and mental space to focus on their children’s developmental needs.
Skills That Save Lives
The Kenya Red Cross brought practical, life-saving knowledge to the event through Burn First Aid training. Equipping mothers and caregivers with emergency response skills added another layer of protection for children in these communities.
Recognition and Celebration
Trophies and cash rewards went to five groups and individuals who demonstrated exceptional mastery of GIFT CONNECT trainings. The Kakeani group took home the Premier Trophy, a recognition of their outstanding commitment to birth to three principles.
Throughout the day, Edutainment songs by Global Ambassador Stellar Mengele, including the Abujubuju Baby Song and My Baby, were played to make learning joyful and memorable. Mengele also delivered an interactive training-style speech, reinforcing practical caregiving skills.
A Message That Resonates
Local television stations broadcast the event, while journalists, bloggers, and online media personalities reported live. The digital reach extended far beyond the physical gathering, with social media coverage on TikTok, Facebook, and YouTube generating significant engagement and new program inquiries.
Mengele led the closing prayer while attendees joined in a unified blessing for children and babies, a beautiful reminder that nurturing the next generation is both a practical and spiritual calling.
A Message That Resonates
The 2025 AGM proved that GIFT CONNECT’s grassroots approach works. When you equip parents and caregivers with knowledge about early childhood brain development, provide economic empowerment tools, and build community support networks for ongoing learning, transformation occurs.
The mothers who performed skits demonstrating the Six Loving Habits weren’t just reciting lessons – they were sharing the practices they use daily at home. This is evidence of sustained behavioral change, the kind that leaves an imprint in families and communities for generations.
Looking ahead, the potential for expansion is enormous. With strong institutional support, proven community adoption, and growing media visibility, GIFT CONNECT Kenya is positioned to amplify its impact across Kitui West and beyond.
The Heart of the Matter
At its core, the 2025 AGM was about parents, caregivers, and children. It celebrated those who have embraced their power to shape young minds and build stronger families. It honored the simple but profound truth that the first years of a child’s life are foundational, and that every parent and caregiver deserves the knowledge and resources to give their child the best possible start.
Four thousand mothers strong. Twenty communities represented. Countless children benefiting. This is what grassroots transformation looks like…and it’s only the beginning.
