The Team — Sawa Sawa Foundation, Inc.

Our Team

oreo kws.JPG — Karen Smith

This is a lifelong dream that started back in 1998 while I was visiting Ghana as part of a team and was amazed by the African people doing all that they could with nothing; they always did it with a smile. As I stood in a concrete block building watching children sit on the dirt floor doing their math problems in the dirt with sticks, the thought ran through my mind that if I was ever unencumbered, I wanted to come back and do what I could to help. A year and a half later I went to Kenya on vacation with a good friend to see the animals of Africa and again those same thoughts ran through my mind.
I had an epiphany late one night watching "Oprahs' Most Memorable Guests" in 2011. It was a story about a woman who had accomplished an incredible journey and at that moment it brought me back to 21 years before when I remembered what I had said about if I was ever unencumbered what I would do so that started my year long quest to go to Kenya for a year a do volunteer work which I did in 2012 to 2013.
I had known Phil 25 years before professionally and we met up by chance and that is how Sawa Sawa was born. We have now been going for 8 years and the work expands as we get to know the people and what we can to do empower them to make changes for themselves

Phil Pryjma

I wanted to spend my "freedom years" after 65 doing something of value and as a physician escaping the "managed care" chaos depersonalizing medicine, I was influenced by several people close to me to try something completely outside of my traditional comfort zone. My wife's dreams of mission work and Gordon Clark, a good friend’s, persistence to work with him on a humanitarian adventure in Kenya 5 years ago led to a passion for creative projects in Kenya that have actually brought me closer to understanding the need to do similar work in any community you are part of. The need for an evolution in living to bring us closer to what is needed everywhere has a perfect laboratory in the poverty areas I have worked in. Having to work and be creative with very little resources and working side by side with caring and inspiring people in less than ideal circumstance fosters a sense of richness that cannot be explained. Meeting other creative spirits, like Karen Smith and my son Luke's dedication to enriching the world one small step at a time has led to Sawa Sawa Foundation, a group energized by these simple principles and doing sawa (meaning good in Kiswahili) work. When working in Kenya, it is a pleasure to rediscover the many good things you have learned that can be given to others and multiplied in return. I currently am director of St. Francis Art Gallery in my hometown area and bring the same energy to this endeavor as well so its resources can contribute to the support of the foundation and enrich the community.
St. Francis Gallery is a showplace for local artists to display their work. The proceeds of the sale of their works goes to them and a percentage goes to SAWA SAWA so that we may continue our work.

Rosemary Okwaro is the co founder and runs TakaTaka2Pesa in Kenya. Learn more about TakaTaka2Pesa on our Partners page.

Joseph Agunda runs the agricultural program in Angyia and also set up the table banking program which enables local community members to access loans.

Thelma Muziki taught our half-term music and drama class.

David Abdallah is our administrative assistant and helps makes sure any administrative tasks get done and has been with Sawa for 5 years

Isaac Odhiambo is one of the teachers at Angiya and was one of our volunteer assistants during half-term and also has been helpful with setting up the Food Bank Project in Angiya.