Taiwan Pastor honored by CTK Foundation

Melody (right) and James (center) Kariuki are presented with the Fervent Global Love of Lives Award April 9 in Nairobi, Kenya. (Courtesy of Chou Ta-Kuan Foundation)

Taiwan pastor Melody Kariuki and her husband James were recently honored by New Taipei City-based Chou Ta-Kuan Foundation for their efforts in assisting disadvantaged children in Mukuru kwa Njenga, a less well-to-do part of the Kenyan capital Nairobi.

The couple received the foundation’s Fervent Global Love of Lives Medal April 9 in the East African nation, highlighting their selfless commitment and contributions to building a brighter future for the underprivileged.

Kariuki, aka Chien Yun-chung, has helped meet the basic sustenance and schooling needs of young residents since 1998 through the Compassion and Mercy Integrated Development Organization, or Comido Education Centre.

The couple founded Comido after witnessing firsthand the lack of education for children living in Mukuru. What started as a 36-bed nursery, Comdio is now school offering an eight-year curriculum to more than 400 pupils.

Hailing from Pingtung County in southern Taiwan, Karikuri first set foot in Africa 23 years ago on a mission to spread the Christian faith in Uganda. It was there that she met her future husband James, and together they returned to his homeland Kenya and started ministering to the people of Mukuru in 1997.

In addition to direct assistance from the church and community in Mukuru, Comido receives support from Taiwan. Taipei City-based I-Link Community Services Association provides free health care services via an annual medical camp for those using Comido, as well as the entire Mukuru neighborhood.

It is estimated that around 30 percent of students in Kenya are accepted into public high schools, but over 50 percent of Comido graduates make the grade each year. Capitalizing on the opportunities created by education, some of the children are studying abroad and fashioning brighter future for themselves. (YHC-JSM)