TUSHIRIKIANE (TUSA) - COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATION, first known as AMECEA Refugee Programme (1996- May 2001), Africa Refugee Programme-Great Lakes (June 2001-October 2010) and Tushirikiane Afrika (TUSA) (October 2010- January 2018) has been enjoying the collaboration and the support of the Nairobi Archdiocese in general and in addition, to the parishes that host its activities with and for refugee families.
From 1994-1998, the Great Lakes Region was on fire as a result of the war and genocide in Rwanda and in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). These led to the Influx of refugees to Kenya. Thus, between 1994 and 1997, the majority of refugees were from Rwanda and Burundi with a few Congolese. It was in 1998-1999 that an influx of Congolese refugees arrived in Kenya following a fierce war that broke out in DRC. On their arrival in Kenya, the refugees were welcomed in the parishes mainly around Kayole Catholic Church by Rev. Fr. Herman of The Society of the Divine Word (SVD) missionaries, and Rev. Fr Peter Njau, who facilitated the work of a coordinating team at St Peter Claver. Later on, the Programme used the facilities at St Paul University Chapel alongside its outreach activities which were organized at Kayole Catholic Church, at Our Lady Queen of Peace, and at St John the Baptist Riruta.
In 1994-1996: Fr. Wolfgang Schonecke worked at AMECEA Pastoral Department since 1994, encountered with the refugee families of the Great Lakes Region in Nairobi. He noted that they had many challenges that needed pastoral response. With the blessing of the late His Eminence Cardinal Maurice Otunga, Fr. Wolfgang Schonecke responded to their pastoral needs; starting with a modest pastoral program to support different refugees’ self-groups among them youth associations, women associations, and prayer groups. Later in 1996, “AMECEA Refugee Programme” started to cater for the social and economic needs of these refugees. As the program was running under AMECEA, he reported every year to the Executive Board of AMECEA.
On 22 September 2000, the AMECEA office, chaired by Fr. Wolfgang (in charge of the AMECEA Pastoral Department) called for a meeting for all the organizations working with 56 Great Lakes refugees in Nairobi. The meeting was held in AMECEA, and the Archdiocese of Nairobi was represented by Sr. Mary Laville. The objective of the meeting was to establish a coordination and harmonization of the work with and for refugees within the Archdiocese.
On 06 May 2001, Fr. Wolfgang, in charge of the overall activities of TUSA, and the AMECEA Refugee Programme wrote a letter to His Grace Archbishop Z. Okoth, Chairman Caritas with a copy to His Grace Archbishop R.S. Ndingi Mwana’a Nzeki, (late) Archbishop of Nairobi. In his letter, he explained the work of the Programme Program, its structural management, and the people involved. He shared with them working documents including the 2000 Annual Report.
Despite the huge needs with limited resources, the performance of TUSA has been very good as evaluated by different stakeholders by using various parameters. Over the past 25 years, TUSA has made many significant interventions at the pastoral, educational, medical, and welfare levels and dispose refugees to freely choose from opportunities that may arise with regard to voluntary repatriation, integration in Kenya, or resettlement in the third country. Through the education interventions, TUSA has educated 14,329 children at the primary level, 5,340 children at the secondary level, and 3,970 students in vocational training and language. At the pastoral level, TUSA encourages and facilitates counseling, home visits, sharing experiences, and giving each other moral support. TUSA conducts pastoral activities like the promotion of Non-Violence and social-cultural activities under this program. An amount of Ksh.32, 397,369 has been spent over the past 25years. TUSA has handled up to 4,543 medical cases and spent Kshs. 14,599,136. It has offered emergency assistance to 39, 903 beneficiaries and spent Ksh.68, 191,434. TUSA has also provided support through income-generating activities whereby 4,723 families got grants or interest-free loans to start up a business. By giving support for income-generating activities, TUSA encourages refugees to be active in life and also to acknowledge that they can become economically self-reliant and they are able to contribute to the economy of the host country even if they are doing small business. 89 TUSA’s mission has been instrumental in reaching out to the community members of Great Lakes because of various factors including values, activities, leadership among others in particular: the Spirit of solidarity and volunteerism; Peace, Active Non-Violence, Love, Unity among the members where they perceive TUSA as a community of brothers and sisters; Value of Godliness in running TUSA; willing and supportive partners; committed leadership and administration. TUSA encourages its members to maintain and promote their cultures which bind them together, giving a sense of security. TUSA has been able to achieve its mission to an extent in collaborations with stakeholders at different levels.
