Ugali Youth

Adam Gerhardstein
Author of I Hope I Get Well: A Memoir of Bipolar Disorder​​​

​​Ugali was started in 2001 by Adam Gerhardstein after he returned from a Global Routes internship in the rural town of Ebukhaya, where he lived with a host family, the Isiches, and taught in the local secondary school. Adam fell in love with Kenya. He was deeply moved by the generosity of the people he met and felt compelled to contribute to their success. He witnessed students deeply committed to their studies but receiving an inconsistent education because they could not always afford school fees. He returned to the United States with the simple idea of paying the school fees for students at Ebukhaya Secondary School so they could get an uninterrupted education.
When he returned to his hometown of Cincinnati, Ohio, Adam founded Ugali and began fundraising. He named the organization after the staple food of Kenya because he loved it and he thought of education as a staple for a fulfilling life.
In 2002, soon after he enrolled in Xavier University, Adam met Patrick Odongo, a student from Kenya, and they became close friends. Patrick had worked as a social worker for youth in Kenya and was intimately familiar with how to support youth facing challenges in Kenya. Adam welcomed Patrick’s partnership in Ugali’s work. Patrick’s deep knowledge of how to build a sustainable organization was critical to Ugali’s long-term success.
Since 2004, Patrick has been the primary leader of Ugali. In the last 20 years, Ugali moved away from a student sponsorship model, becoming an adaptable organization meeting various needs in numerous communities throughout Kenya. It remains committed to the success of young people and those who care for them.
Ugali is a 501 (c) (3) public charity, founded to fulfill the mandate of Matthew 25 “To care for the needy, to clothe the naked, to feed the hungry and welcome the strangers.” Our vision is to provide vital resources and assistance to the youth in Kenya, to help them see opportunity and realize dreams for a better tomorrow.
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​Patrick Odongo
Director
Patrick has been involved with Ugali Youth since its beginning in 2001. He came to the U.S. as a Presidential Scholar at Xavier University in Cincinnati, Ohio, where he earned a degree in psychology. He now works with Iwata Bolts Inc. in Cincinnati and works to support Ugali Youth’s programs.

Emma Kinyua
Member​

Florence Keya
Member​

Dr. Angela Migowa
Board Member​

Sylvia Chemweno
Board Member

Dr. Mercy Kitavi
Board Member

Rosemary Wachera
Board Member

David Omondi Okoth
Member

Christopher G. Odongo
Board Member

Larry Liza
​Member

Steve Kariithi
​Member

Jamie Gobeille
​Board Member

Coach AJ
​Member