The Fr. Jim Karaffa Business Academy for women was initiated as a collaborative effort between Edel Quinn Odongo from Kenya, the Office of Student Affairs at Notre Dame University (USA), the Student International Business Council (SIBC) at the University of Notre Dame (USA) and the Holy Cross Congregation (Catholic priests). The above groups initiated the program so as to participate effectively in emancipating poor women in Kenya and beyond, from the abyss and trap of degradation and poverty to a higher splendor of dignity and prosperity.

The initial idea was to identify poor women, take them through a hand stretch program then give them a small loan with which they could establish small businesses to alleviate poverty, and the stigma that comes with it. When the idea was shared with a team of visiting professors from the University of Notre Dame, USA, it was recommended that the vision be expanded into an Academy so as to respond to a wider concern for women in the Eastern Africa sub-region.

The late Fr. Jim Karaffa was an American Holy Cross priest of Indiana Province. He died in Kenya on June 23, 2002; one year after he had returned to Kenya since 1994. During his short stay in Nairobi Fr. Jim had shown a special interest in helping poor women in Kibera. The poor women always flocked the McCauley Holy Cross formation house gate in Kibera , looking for food and having many other problems. During this time, whenever the bell rang, it would be a poor woman looking for Fr. Jim, “the smiling priest.” It was during this time that Fr. Jim met with Edel Quinn, a Social Worker working under a child center in Kibera. The two shared an interest in helping the poor women of Kibera.

After the death of Fr. Jim Karaffa, Edel Quinn and Dr. David Moss, Assistant Vice President of Student Affairs at the University of Notre Dame, continued with the work of seeking for ways of assisting the poor women of Kibera. Dr. David Moss in turn approached the SIBC who later invited Edel Quinn to the United States for further discussion. Edel Quinn went to the United States in April 2003. The Knights of Columbus (KOC) at the University have also been strong supporters of JKBAW. Their consistent support which began in 2004, has allowed JKBAW to pursue workshop facilitators of the highest caliber.

JKBAW is an organization that concerns itself with improving the lives of vulnerable poor women living in Kibera informal settlement and rural Kenya through holistic trainings and economic empowerment. It focuses on women, Vulnerability in this case is understood to mean women that are unable to access existing forms of assistance and services and also women that may require specific interventions to ensure their physical protection including health and well-being. JKBAW partners with like minded individuals and organizations to ensure that these desperate lives will one day glow in the light of unprecedented opportunities.

JKBAW outlines a holistic human development approach that targets vulnerable women from low incomes by offering focused trainings on economic, social, moral and spiritual issues. In order to empower women economically the academy seeks to provide micro credit for women that are unable to access credit facilities through conventional financial institutions to start up or expand their businesses.

Religious persons are often invited to give spiritual guidance to such women and others that may have despaired through spiritual workshops. Morality is important at JKBAW. The organization does not only respond to risky behaviors but also looks into the prevention of such behavior. JKBAW supports women engaging in risky behaviors such as early teenage pregnancy leading to early marriage by providing an alternative income. Others assisted in income generation are those engaged in illicit alcohol brewing and alcohol and substance abuse.

Young female adults and those older are encouraged to look beyond their current conditions and consider the numerous ways in which they may serve as role models and therefore become advocates for others within the context of an informal settlement environment. The project intends to create an authentic community in a culture that often places tribal, social, economic and other sectarian alliances over human need.