A vision can begin with one person, but its impact is seen in the lives of many.
More than 25 years ago, Dr. Kajira K. Mugambi, Esq., founded Village HopeCore International with a commitment to transforming lives and empowering underserved communities. His recent nomination for the Lifetime Achiever Award at the African CSO Awards 2026 was a moment to recognize his years of commitment and the difference his work has made.
The African CSO Awards 2026, organized by EPIC-Africa and held in Nairobi from October 6-8, recognized visionary individuals whose decades of commitment have transformed communities and strengthened civil society across Africa.
Reflecting on his nomination, Dr. Mugambi shared:
“The fulfillment, happiness, and peace I experienced upon learning of my nomination for the Lifetime Achiever Award reminded me why I founded HopeCore and the opportunity it has given me to transform lives and make a difference in the communities we serve. I am grateful to our staff, Board of Directors, beneficiaries, and partners who have been part of this journey and contributed to the work we do.”
Seeing Dr. Mugambi among the 29 nominees is a moment of immense pride. It is inspiring to witness his decades of dedication and the vision he brings to life recognized alongside others making a meaningful difference across the continent.
“Dr. Kajira Mugambi’s nomination for the Lifetime Achiever Award was well deserved. I have always admired his three-legged African stool model, which recognises that healthier communities, stronger livelihoods, and capacity building for education must go hand in hand. To me, his legacy is not only in what HopeCore has achieved, but also in the community-led approach he built and the leadership he has nurtured to carry it forward.” - Meriba Mwende, Partnerships and Fundraising Coordinator.
Beyond the Award: The Conversations That Matter
The African CSO Awards 2026 also created space for civil society leaders to share experiences and discuss leadership, collaboration, and the future of development work.
For the HopeCore team, the conversations offered an opportunity to reflect on how we can strengthen our impact and remain responsive to the communities at the heart of our work.
‘’At HopeCore, our commitment is to continue working alongside the underserved communities in Tharaka-Nithi County and beyond, listening to their experiences and using what we learn to strengthen our programs. Community feedback and evidence of change must help shape our decisions, ensuring that our work remains relevant to the realities and aspirations of the people we serve.’’ - Kawira Mathu, Managing Director.
But how do we know whether these efforts are making a lasting difference? For Melavin Muthamaki, HopeCore’s MEAL (Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning) Officer, it means looking beyond immediate results to understand the change taking place in people’s lives.
“We remain committed to looking beyond immediate results. The number of people reached matters, but so does what follows: healthier families, stronger livelihoods, young people with greater opportunities, and communities better equipped to shape their own futures. This means continuing to ask difficult but necessary questions, learning from both our successes and our challenges, and making room for the voices of the people whose lives our programs seek to improve.”
These commitments are strengthened through partnership. By working with communities, government, donors, and other organizations, we can learn from one another, combine our strengths, and achieve more together. As we continue to listen, learn, and adapt, we remain committed to making our programs more responsive and ensuring that the work we do today contributes to lasting change tomorrow.
The Work Continues
The Lifetime Achiever Award celebrated Dr. Mugambi's contribution and the foundation he laid more than 25 years ago. But the story does not end with recognition. It continues through the people who carry the work forward and the communities whose lives it seeks to improve.
We remain committed to promoting sustainable livelihoods and family health in Africa through capacity building, microfinance, and access to quality healthcare.
This is how we continue to honor the vision behind HopeCore’s founding.
