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This is a significant moment for Kesho-UK. The transition from a community group to a registered Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) is more than just a legal hurdle; it is the act of building a permanent home for the community’s spirit.

As a social writer and mobiliser, I have expanded your AGM notes into a cohesive, soul-stirring article. It maintains the “Elder” voice from your previous piece—wise, grounded, and calling for collective action.

From Tragedy to Transformation: Reflections on the 2024 AGM

We gathered for our 2024 Annual General Meeting with hearts full of gratitude. We thank God for keeping us safe and for blessing us with the gift of health, allowing us to stand together for another year.

However, we did not gather without a sense of loss. We took a solemn moment to remember our brother, George Obel, who transitioned to heaven last year. Many of us had the honour of attending his send-off, and his absence remains a quiet ache in our collective heart. We also look across the oceans to our motherland, Kenya. Our hearts bleed with those who lost loved ones in the recent clamour for change and transformation. We stand in solidarity with those mourning; their struggle for a better society is our struggle, too.

Our Story: A House Built on Resilience

Kesho-UK was born in 2016 out of a tragedy that befell our community. We did not choose to start in grief, but we chose not to stay there. Since that time, we have risen from strength to strength. Yet, as the saying goes, we cannot rest on our laurels. To honour those we have lost, we must be better. Indeed, we will be better.

Building on Solid Ground: The Path to Charity Status

Since our last meeting, the leadership has worked tirelessly on a new constitution. This is not merely a document of rules; it is the blueprint for our future. It meets every requirement of the Charity Commission, and we are now making a renewed attempt to register Kesho-UK as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO).

But a house is not made of bricks alone; it is made of people. To achieve this milestone, we need members to step forward and volunteer as Trustees. We need your vision, your integrity, and your time. This is an invitation to transition from being a member to being a guardian of our community’s legacy.

Opening the Doors: A Call for Growth

We must be honest about our challenges. We have faced difficulties in registering new members, partly due to the changes made during our last AGM. Whilst those changes were made with good intentions, we must now ask ourselves: Are we making it too difficult for our brothers and sisters to join us?

A village that does not grow eventually fades. I call upon every member to review these changes. We must facilitate ease of recruitment and ensure that the “threshold” to join Kesho-UK is welcoming, not a barrier. We need the energy of the youth and the wisdom of the new arrivals to keep our mission alive.

Investing in our Future

Finally, we must face a new reality. To serve our community effectively, we must grow our revenues. In this AGM, we are addressing a vital question: How do we invest our limited resources to create sustainable growth? We are moving away from a model of mere survival towards a model of investment. We want to ensure that Kesho-UK has the financial strength to support our children, our elders, and our projects back home for decades to come.

The New Village Awaits

The journey of the immigrant is often one of individual survival, but the journey of Kesho-UK is one of collective thrive. We are no longer just a group of people who share a homeland; we are a formalised force for good in the United Kingdom.

I invite you to look at the person sitting next to you. They are your co-architect. Together, we are building a “New Village” that is transparent, financially robust, and deeply rooted in love.

Let Us Take the Next Step Together

• Would you consider stepping into a leadership role as a Trustee? Your community needs your expertise.

• How can we make our recruitment process more inclusive while maintaining our core values?

Please share your thoughts below or reach out to the leadership team directly. Let us build a Kesho-UK that our children will be proud to inherit.