Gazelle Impact kenya
Who We Are
At Gazelle Impact, our mission is clear and unwavering. We are dedicated to empowering rural women and youth in economically disadvantaged communities across Kenya. We firmly believe in the potential of these communities to develop sustainable endeavors that can transform their lives, shifting them from poverty-stricken conditions to self-sustaining prosperity.
We are also committed to providing American college students with unique opportunities to broaden their global perspectives through service opportunities in Kenya. This facet of our mission is driven by the belief that fostering a sense of social responsibility and global awareness among the next generation is essential to creating a brighter future for all.
With empowerment at the core of our values, we are determined to inspire change, one community at a time.
Our Story
Gazelle Impact was born out of a vision to break the cycle of poverty and provide opportunities for individuals in rural Kenya to thrive. Dr. Mary Gitau, our founder, embarked on this journey with the belief that education, access to clean water, sustainable farming, and community development are the keys to transforming lives.
In 2021, a group of college students traveled to Kenya and participated in a service-learning opportunity of laying the groundwork for the Bariki Community Center. Over five days, the building shell was completed by U.S. students and local volunteers working together. To expand fundraising and programming for the center, Gazelle Impact on Women & Youth in Kenya, Inc. was founded. The mission of Gazelle Impact is to empower rural communities in Kenya to develop sustainable endeavors that transform them from poverty-stricken communities to self-sustaining. It also provides opportunities for American students with opportunities to widen their global perspectives and social responsibility.[MM1] Since 2020, the construction of the community center has continued, and by 2021 the main shell of the building was completed through individual donations and grants from local institutions. The center is now fully functional and is equipped with a library, computer room, industrial kitchen, dining room, community hall, and organic garden. The center has become a conducive environment to help women learn new gardening and cooking skills as well as providing a space for the youth of Kinangop to develop essential technology skills.
Our Mission
The mission of Gazelle Impact is to empower rural women and youth in economically poor communities in Kenya to develop sustainable endeavors that transform their communities from poverty-stricken to self-sustaining. Another part of the mission centers on providing American college students opportunities to widen their global perspectives through service opportunities in Kenya. Gazelle Impact is governed by a seven-person board of directors whose members are experienced in higher education, nonprofit management, and fundraising. Gazelle impact was created to address the issue of Kenyan women – especially in rural areas – having limited participation in social, economic, and political processes due to historical and sociocultural factors, including an extremely unequal distribution of land and financial capital as well as systemic patriarchy stemming from Kenya’s colonial period.
Our Board
Dr. Mary Gitau
President and Founder of Gazelle Impact on Women & Youth in Kenya
Associate Dean of Access, Belonging and Global Engagement & Clinical Associate,
College of Social Work at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN
Dr. Yu Lu
Gazelle Impact – Treasurer
Associate Professor in the Department of Health and Exercise Science
at the University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma
Marianne Mauss
Gazelle Impact – Secretary
Coordinator of Disabilities Service, Clarke University, Dubuque, IA
Jacinta Gitau Ngumba
Gazelle Impact Coordinator in Kenya
Counseling Psychologist,
Nairobi, Kenya
Wanjiku Gatua
Gazelle Impact – Youth Representative
Litigation Attorney,
St. Louis, Missouri
Dr. Caroline Kobia
Associate Professor
Fashion Design and Merchandising, School of Human Sciences,
Mississippi State University
Sister Mary Day
Sisters of St. Francis, Dubuque, IA
Founder and President
Dr. Mary Gitau is the President and Founder of Gazelle Impact on Women and Youth in Kenya. Raised in Kinangop, Kenya, she brings lived experience and deep knowledge of the challenges facing rural communities, particularly women and youth with limited access to opportunity.
Her academic background spans from Communication, Education, to Social Work. She holds a master’s degree in social work, a master’s degree in communication, and a Ph.D. in Post-Secondary & Adult Education, all from the University of Wyoming, USA. Dr. Gitau serves as Associate Dean of Access, Belonging, and Global Engagement and Clinical Associate Professor at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, College of Social Work.
She has extensive experience in global engagement and has led multiple study abroad programs to Kenya, where students participate in community service projects and meaningful cultural immersion. She is also a two-time recipient of the Carnegie African Diaspora Fellowship Program (2018 and 2021), funded by the Carnegie Corporation of New York, and has built strong, sustained partnerships between institutions in Kenya and the United States.