Sasa Harambee, Modeling Mussar

Recently I was invited to join the board of a small nonprofit organization, Sasa Harambee, based in western Kenya. Founded by Carol Carper, a Conifer Rotarian now living full time in Kenya, the nonprofit supports projects that empower local farmers, youth and people with disabilities. The name “Sasa Harambee” means “now we do it together,” reflecting the organization’s collaborative spirit.

I was at a bechirah (choice) point. I valued the organization, yet I wondered whether I wanted to join another nonprofit board. To make my decision, I thought about the Mussar (Jewish ethics) traits that Sasa Harambee embodies and how I could enhance my own Mussar practice through this organization. I considered:

Responsibility: One of the roots for the Hebrew word, achrayut, responsibility, is acher, which means “other.”  In Mussar, we learn about bearing the burden of the other by looking past our own needs and attending to the needs of others. This aligns with the Jewish value of tikkun olam - repairing the world, often through social action.

One example in Sasa Harambee was partnerships to protect 52 natural springs by constructing a cement basin and retaining wall with a leach field behind them. That brings clean, potable water to about 6,000 people in the Sigomere Ward of rural, southwest Kenya. Based on health records, mortality rates went down to zero, and no one drinking the protected spring water complains of constant stomachaches as they did before.

A Hebrew translation of “sasa harambee” could be “bo’u meileich.” Could I strengthen my own contribution to tikkun olam by pulling together with others in this organization?

Honor: Sasa Harambee’s focus on sustainability and capacity-building is one of its greatest strengths. With 25 trained local staff, Sasa Harambee helps farmers achieve food security and guides teens to make healthier life choices. For example, 13-year-old Loice attends training sessions at one of Sasa Harambee’s youth programs, which serves 12–17-year-olds in 26 schools. She is learning to become a confident young woman with leadership skills. At the end of each training session, she receives a packet of sanitary napkins, which means she won’t miss school. That’s a critical need as many African girls stay home during menstruation due to lack of personal hygiene supplies.

How could I learn to honor others if I agreed to be part of the board?

Humility: In Mussar, we often define humility as taking up the right amount of space. Many well-meaning NGOs swoop in with foreign “experts” to tell locals what they need and how to achieve their goals without empowering them. Sasa Harambee is different in that it doesn’t assume that foreigners have all the answers. Instead, the organization functions on the belief that native Kenyans can become leaders and teachers to identify and undertake needed projects in their own communities.

For example, locally trained farmers share their knowledge among the neighboring villages to promote sustainability. Farmers now grow traditional vegetables, raise chickens, produce organic hay for livestock, and propagate local seeds. The Kenyan project director of Sasa Harambee, George Oyeho, is a native Kenyan who recently received his Ph.D. in social transformation.

Would joining this board give me the opportunity to practice humility by treating all people as my teachers?

Loving-kindness: In Kenya, cultural stigma often means that children with disabilities are hidden away—sometimes literally under the bed. Sasa Harambee is working to change this reality by empowering caregivers through information and peer support. The organization has already trained the caregiver of one child with cerebral palsy and a Community Health Promoter, who will provide education and support to other families. In February 2026, the nonprofit will launch 20 caregiver groups to expand this effort.

Could I fill my heart with loving kindness as a board member?

By looking at my potential service on the Sasa Harambee board through a Mussar lens, it was easy to reach a decision. I said, “Yes, I will be honored to serve on your board.”

If you’d like to learn more about Sasa Harambee, visit the website, sasaharambee.org