MESSAGE FROM EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

I was grateful to spend two months in Kenya in 2025, witnessing firsthand the impact of Matibabu Foundation’s work and strengthening our partnerships with Africa Cancer Foundation and Boda Girls Kenya. As a breast cancer survivor, I am especially encouraged by the cancer collaboration’s project with the JOOTRH teaching and referral hospital working to strengthen patient navigation systems. In 2026, a new mobile clinic will be deployed to rural areas for early detection. In anticipation of increased diagnostic demand, we also plan to strengthen the laboratory at Matibabu in the coming year.

It was my privilege to work closely with Nancy Akeyo, now CEO of Boda Girls Kenya, to register a new Kenyan NGO led by a 100% women’s board with deep expertise. Together, we launched Boda Girls in two additional counties and are positioned for continued growth in 2026. In partnership with Matibabu Foundation and hospital partners, Boda Girls is addressing one of the greatest barriers women face: distance to care.

As demand grows, expanding Boda Girls into new regions will require identifying donors willing to provide matching funds alongside local hospitals, enabling this proven model to reach more communities while maintaining strong local partnership and ownership.

It has been an incredible journey, and none of this would be possible without your continued support.

With gratitude,

Diane Dodge
Executive Director, Tiba Foundation

DOWNLOAD 2025 Annual Report (7.3MB PDF)

A letter from our executive director

As we celebrate our 20th anniversary in 2024, we reflect on two decades of incredible growth and impact, sparked by the shared vision of Gail Wagner and Dan Ogola to provide accessible, quality healthcare in rural Kenya. We also launched a new era of growth for the partnership.

Tiba’s third decade begins with a change in board leadership as Gail steps down from the presidency, while continuing as a board member leading our growing cervical and breast cancer initiatives. Bill Plautz, a retired ER and Lifestyle Medicine Physician, and a long-time board member, major donor, and volunteer for 14 years, has stepped up to the board’s helm, with Rhiana Menen, a breast surgery specialist and Boda Girls enthusiast, as Vice-President. Arne Wagner continues as Secretary-Treasurer. Norma Bozzini, one of the founding board members, has transitioned to Tiba’s advisory board. We are truly grateful for her years of commitment and service!

This report shares some new opportunities for growth that we are exploring—opportunities that will take time and dedication to fully develop. We could not be here without the unwavering support of our partners, volunteers, and donors, and we humbly request your continued support as we start this exciting new decade!

With gratitude,

Diane Dodge

DOWNLOAD 2024 Impact Report (5.5MB PDF)

a note from our executive director

Most foundations have short-term relationships with restricted funding, and they miss the transformative power of long-term partnership. However, at this moment, the Tiba community is reaching a unique milestone in our two-decade partnership with The Matibabu Foundation. In 2024, we celebrate our 20th anniversary, and we can reflect on the incredible impact our partnership has had on the health of rural communities. We can also envision a future where our partners expand and sustain their achievements, creating a model of grassroots community leadership.

I am thrilled to share some exciting updates from this perspective. The long-awaited operating theater is now complete and is in the process of being equipped. Kenyan surgeons will soon begin performing surgeries, and in mid-January, we will celebrate the FIGS Operating Theater Open House with Ram Ramachandra and FIGS volunteer teams, FIGS CEO’s and Tiba board members attending. This theater will not only provide high-quality surgery for a community of 500,000 but also contribute to sustaining the Matibabu Foundation through national health insurance remittances.

We are also proud of the expansion of the Boda Girls program, the success of our cervical cancer awareness initiative, and the launch of the Nursing Promise.

Thank you, Tiba community. The remarkable progress you will read about in the following pages would not be possible without your generous efforts in sharing our story, investing, and volunteering. In light of what we’ve achieved together, I humbly ask you to celebrate by increasing your support for Tiba’s work in this special year. Our goal is to raise $200,000 in the next few months, and with your help, we believe it’s entirely achievable.

With gratitude,

Diane Dodge

How can 10 days volunteering in Kenya create a ripple effect in a whole rural community, for years to come?

This is exactly what Aminta Steinbach, a senior martial arts student and also co-director of the self defense program at Hand to Hand Kajukenbo did, by teaching self-defense to 40 remarkable Boda Girls. The Boda Girls are then transferring this newly gained knowledge to hundreds of girls in high school, to whom they are mentors.

Watching this process unfold was nothing short of inspiring. I know that several of these Boda Girls have survived physical assaults in their pasts, and have entered a traditional male industry of motorcycle taxis. The impact of Aminta’s training was profound, as I saw the Boda Girls’ assertiveness and confidence soaring within just one day. In a few short days, they were ready to pass on the torch, teaching an hour-long class focused on the principles of Think, Yell, Run, Fight, and Tell to 250 high school girls attending the Lifunga Girls STEM Camp, sponsored by Matibabu College of Health Sciences. This endeavor was made possible through the dedication of teacher Rebecca Girard of Notre Dame High School Belmont and graduate and UCB student, Abiya Baqai.

The Boda Girls took ownership of the self-defense curriculum, weaving their own stories and unique style into the practice sessions. The results were extraordinary, evident in the enthusiastic participation and skill demonstrations by the high school girls. The Boda Girls are now committed to extending their self-defense teaching efforts as they visit schools this year to educate 8th graders about menstrual health, and providing free sustainable menstrual kits from our partners at Days for Girls. Next summer, we aim to expand our reach with self-defense and STEM volunteer teachers, hoping to equip younger girls at the Lifunga feeder schools with valuable skills and knowledge.

What does it take for a village girl to earn a degree in STEM in a community where most women don’t finish high school, often experience gender violence, get married young, and earn about $1 US dollar per day?

What does it take for a village girl to earn a degree in STEM in a community where most women don’t finish high school, often experience gender violence, get married young, and earn about $1 US dollar per day? It’s not easy, but Lifunga girls have the necessary determination and grit. What we can help them with is exposure to STEM, teacher training, college scholarships, and paid work experiences.

The Nursing Promise, led by our partners at Matibabu College of Health Sciences, is building a pathway to help girls earn a college diploma and start a professional degree that earns 15 times more than what women typically earn—plus an opportunity to give back to their own rural communities where there is a shortage of well-trained nurses.

We are thrilled to share our first step in this endeavor- – the Lifunga Girls STEM Camp! Led by amazing volunteer educators Rebecca Girard and Abiya Quai from Notre Dame Belmont in California, the STEM camp nurtured scientific curiosity through hands-on experiments and teamwork – all essential experiences for the 120 budding scientists in the 11th and 12th grades. Witnessing the students’ excitement as they delved into the world of science, technology, engineering, and math was truly heartwarming for me as a former teacher. The enthusiasm was palpable!

During the week, Rebecca and Abiya also collaborated closely with Kenyan teachers to foster engaging instructional techniques that transcend rote memorization. Following the camp, 15 Kenyan teachers started a two-year fellowship to improve instructional methods in partnership with TeachUnited from Uganda.

Each participating fellow has received a laptop generously donated by Chris Robertson of Life 360 to recognize the teachers’ commitment to the fellowship.

Meanwhile, as part of the afterschool program during the STEM Camp, Aminta Steinbach, a passionate instructor from Kajukendo Hand to Hand Self Defense in Oakland, trained 40 Boda Girls to teach self-defense classes. In small groups after school, the Boda Girls taught all 250 girls at Lifunga School how to “Think, Shout, Run, Fight, Tell” and say “NO!.” It was amazing to see the impact of these classes on women’s safety and confidence. The Boda Girls plan to add these lessons to the reproductive health classes they teach to 2,000+ girls in the community.

On the last day of camp, we had a fun celebration for the students and their parents, and we planted 22 avocado trees in honor of all Kenyan and US teachers and a tree for each class. We wanted to mark that something significant was taking root.

The Nursing Promise pathway has four main components:

• Annual STEM Camp
• Teacher’s 2-Year Fellowship Program in Instructional Methods
• Full college scholarships at Mary Ann van Dam School of Nursing ($1k per year for 2-3 year programs)
• 6-month paid internships and mentoring with Matibabu Hospital

Together, we are making strides in shaping a brighter tomorrow for these young women. We ask for your support with connections, volunteering, and especially scholarship funds. We thank you for helping Lifunga girls achieve their full potential. Let’s do this together!

In partnership,

Diane Dodge
Executive Director – Tiba Foundation

I am delighted to share some remarkable news that reflects the collective efforts of our amazing community. Through your unwavering support, our recent Gala event and Boise Fundraiser have generated an impressive $492,000, earmarked to fuel our transformative projects in Kenya.

Celebrating International Women’s Day!

In honor of International Women’s Day, Tiba recognizes the exceptionally smart, driven, dedicated, inspiring and selfless women who are The Boda Girls.

Founded in April 2022, The Boda Girls are on track to achieve the following goals:

• Develop a pathway for women to enter the traditionally male-dominated field of motorcycle taxi service;
• Teach reproductive health to girls at 84 schools;
• Distribute over 2,000 sustainable menstrual kits to help keep girls in school;
• Provide 40 free rides a week to women seeking maternal care or cancer screenings;
• Tripled the number of women getting cervical cancer screenings;
• Increase the numbers of pregnancy ultrasounds and of women giving birth in the hospital We honor you! The world is a better place because of your contributions.

If you would like to give to Tiba in honor of a special women in your life, or you can’t make it to the Gala and would still like to give a gift, press the button below.

Best wishes,

Diane Dodge
Executive Director – Tiba Foundation

EMPOWERING WOMEN,

ELEVATING COMMUNITIES: MEET THE BODA GIRLS

REVOLUTIONIZING RURAL LIFE