TRIBE Means: Empowerment

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George Muchiri

Malaika Kids Graduate, Land Development Team Member, Maai Mahiu, Kenya

&

Carly and Clayton Christopher

Actress/Model/Entrepreneur & Co-Founder of Sweat Leaf Tea and Deep Eddy Vodka, Austin, TX  

 

 

All answers from George include commentary from his interviewer, Elvis Ndung'u, our Financial Manager in Kenya.

 

"I have to admit that getting George out of his work was really hard. He made me walk with him to where his supervisor was to ask for permission to talk to him for a couple of minutes. I asked him why he had to that and he said he feared that he would be fired if he was found not doing what he was told to do. "

 

1. What does your typical day look like?

 

Carly:  Well, a few weeks ago I was working on flipping properties, managing short term rentals, taking acting classes and booking modeling and acting jobs. Now my days look slightly different as we welcomed a sweet baby boy on Wednesday, Sept 29th (he arrived a month early). James Grant Christopher is now how I spend my days, taking care of my sweet little man! 

 

George:  "The first thing I do when I get to work is to water the fruit orchard that is close to the gate and then go straight to feed the goats." He posed and looked at me for a while and then pointed to a he goat and said, "Hii inafaa inyolewe (this one needs a shave)." I wonder what he will say when he sees Zane's new look.

 

2. What are your favorite things to do? What makes you happy?

 

Carly:  I love anything to do with health and wellness, yoga, meditation, spirituality, cooking, traveling, acting, modeling, and especially working with non-profits in Austin. A perfect evening is cooking up a killer meal with my husband at our house, listening to music, eating outside and hanging out with Baby James and our dog Betty. 

 

George:   "Sarah." He said and stopped at that. Sarah is one of the Malaika kids that he really likes.

 

 

3. What are your favorite memories from CTC?

 

George: "Hanging out with my friend Steve." he said without hesitation. He then remembered that he has a girlfriend and said, "Na nilipata bibi pia." (I have a wife too).

 

4. Not having been to Kenya to witness CTC's work firsthand, what compelled you to join TRIBE?

Carly & Clayton: There are so many reasons why we love and support CTC. The mission reaches humans in a holistic way, impacting the entire Maai Mahiu community and instilling a sense of empowerment, entrepreneurism and sustainability. Not only that, every person that purchases a CTC product participates in this amazing circle of impact. The earned-revenue model is one of the most sustainable ways to help others and CTC is leading the way for other non-profits. I love the culture of CTC, fundamentally driven by empowering individuals, respecting them, serving and listening with humility and so much more. Joining TRIBE was a no-brainer for us!

Not to mention the involvement and passion of one of our closest friends, Jim McDermott. Just hearing him talk about his time in Kenya and how committed he is to his work on the Board, it's hard not to dive in. 

 

5. How do you feel about your CTC Family?

 

George: "I love them." He pointed toTabitha and Lucy. He didn't have a response on what CTC meant to him.

 

 

6. What would you say to those that ask, "Why support and invest in Kenya when we have plenty of our own problems here?"

 

Carly & Clayton: We are called to help others no matter where they live. We choose to invest in all human life. As a couple we strive to help those in our own community and elsewhere, acknowledging that our resources and assistance should not be limited to our zip code. 

 

 

7. What do you remember about life before CTC?

George: "I want a soda." he demanded before he continued (Damon, you owe me 80 shillings). After a prolonged sip he said, "I don't know.

8. Especially now being brand new parents, what does the Malaika Kids program mean to you?

Carly & Clayton: The Malaika Kids program, serving and educating children with special needs and disabilities (the most marginalized youth of all in Kenya), is an unprecedented and monumental program. It’s sounds insane but after being a parent for only a few short weeks we cannot imagine a world for our sweet child, without a safe and loving home in which to thrive, and an abundance of educational resources for his future. To think about other youth not having the same resources and opportunities just breaks my heart, especially those born with disabilities and special needs. Every single child deserves to be loved, cared for, and given equal opportunity. The Malaika Kids program holds a special place in our heart and it’s often the first thing we tell people about when they ask about CTC. 

 

 

9. How does working for CTC make you feel?

George: "Very good...(laughs hard)...good." Trust me, you can't get George out of the land before time to go home. "I love pastor Jeremiah," he said after a long laugh.

 

10. What interests you most about CTC's approach to development?

Carly & Clayton: CTC is creating an environment in which a community is able to pursue self-sufficiency, sustainability, and longevity. They aren’t sticking a “band-aid” on a problem, CTC is developing and empowering an entire community to thrive, drastically changing the long-term outcome of upwards of 60,000 people. This approach to development is so much more impactful and sustainable long-term. This is why we choose to invest my time, resources and energy in supporting CTC and being a TRIBE member. 

 

11. You are a very happy person, what advice would you give to the CTC family on how to be happy?

George: "They should eat a lot of food." He looked at my tummy and compared to his. He laughed hard. I have to admit he values his round tummy. "They should also love Tabitha and Lucy". I'm not sure where that came from.

12. What does TRIBE mean to you? What is one word you would use to describe TRIBE?

Carly: Growing up my parents had an amazing group of friends that we spent a lot of time with, went on trips together, and were essentially raised together. This group became an integral network of support for our family and my parents lovingly referred to them as their “tribe,” linked together by something beyond blood ties. Since a young age I have associated the word “tribe" with guidance, love, commitment, and especially working together to support the greater good of the group. The closest word I would use to describe “tribe” is “family.” I take care of my family and love them fiercely, and my tribe is an extension of that love. 

13. You're known for your great dancing, how can someone learn to dance like you?

George:  "They should dance like this," he stands to demonstrate. I wish I finished with this question because he couldn't sit to answer any more question as he was dancing to the song from Tabitha's phone. Managed to get him to sit again by buying a green smoothie (You now owe me 180 shillings).

14. Are you two coming to the LIFE Event on October 24th?

Carly & Clayton: We are so excited to attend the LIFE Event on October 24th! It’s holding a permanent spot on our calendar and I’m already working on childcare so that we can be there!

15. What do you feel when you meet our teams coming from the US?

16. Clayton, your company (Deep Eddy Vodka) is a TRIBE ExE supporter, what is attractive about CTC to brands like Deep Eddy?