05/10/2026
WHERE IT ALL BEGAN
By Cynthia Waggah
As we celebrate Afrikana CIC’s 2nd anniversary this October, I’ve found myself thinking about where this journey really began.
Afrikana may be turning two, but the story behind it started many years ago.
I was a young, energetic girl who had just completed my O-levels, full of dreams and convinced that the world was mine to conquer. I knew I wanted my life to have purpose and to leave a positive mark.
That was when I started visiting rural communities in Kenya, supporting vulnerable children and widows with basic needs.
I still remember the children’s excitement whenever we arrived, the cheers, the smiles and the joy on their faces.
There was one little girl, Mary, who was particularly cheeky. Every time we visited, she would ask us to take her photo. 😁 She always made my day.
I honestly need to find Mary. I wonder where life has taken her and what kind of woman she has become. I hope she knows that, even as a child, she left a little mark on my heart.
And then there were the widows. Their gratitude was unforgettable. They would thank us from the bottom of their hearts, often for things that may have seemed small to us but meant so much to them.
I later joined an organisation whose commitment to giving back resonated deeply with me. It wasn't about the pay. I wanted to be part of work that mattered.
When I joined university, I chose to study part-time so I could work during the day and attend classes in the evening. Those years gave me a deeper understanding of community development and strengthened the foundation that had already been laid.
Years later, that foundation would become Afrikana CIC.
Afrikana was created to bring people together, create spaces for connection and belonging, and open doors for opportunity. Rafikiz Lounge grew from that same idea, creating a space where people can meet, connect and feel at home.
Today, my work is largely with immigrant communities, supporting people as they navigate belonging, connection and building new lives.
The setting has changed. The responsibilities have grown but the purpose remains.
Then came the Community Impact Award.
Receiving that recognition this year, as Afrikana approaches its second anniversary, felt like a full-circle moment.
Being recognised specifically for community impact connected something I started as a young girl in rural Kenya with the work I am building today.
I never set out chasing recognition. I simply followed what I believed was right.
And in that moment, I couldn't help but think:
“God, You really did see the seed You planted in me all those years ago.”
Today, I may have bigger titles and greater responsibilities, but that young girl is still somewhere within me, still believing in people and still willing to take the next step.
So this October, as Afrikana CIC turns two, I’m celebrating more than an organisation.
I’m celebrating the journey that came before it, the choices, the lessons, the people, the faith and every small beginning that led here.
From a young girl visiting rural communities in Kenya to Afrikana CIC today.
The journey has changed. The purpose has not.
Afrikana is turning two and I believe we are only just getting started.
One person. One community. One day at a time.
